PNO-IV-89-043, on 890626,licensed Operator Radiologically Contaminated When Valve Packing Blew Out While Operator Operating Valve.Approx 2,000 Square Ft of Turbine Bldg Contaminated.Valve Repacked & Returned to Normal Position

PNO-IV-89-043:on 890626,licensed Operator Radiologically Contaminated When Valve Packing Blew Out While Operator Operating Valve.Approx 2,000 Square Ft of Turbine Bldg Contaminated.Valve Repacked & Returned to Normal Position

ML20246A855
Person / Time
Site:	River Bend
Issue date:	06/27/1989
From:	Madsen G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:
References
PNO-IV-89-043, PNO-IV-89-43, NUDOCS 8907070110
Download: ML20246A855 (2)

- _ _ _

m

) ' June 27, 1989 PREOMINARYNOTIFICATIONOFEVENTORUNUSUALOCCURRENCE--PNO-IV-89-43

! This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE ,

-safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received

}

without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the

, Region IV staff on this.date.

I FACILITY: . Gulf States Utilities Licensee Emergency Classification:

1- River Bend Station Notification of Unusual Event DN: 50-458 Alert Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable

SUBJECT:

FERSONNEL CONTAMINATION ~

On June 26,1989,~ at approximately 7 p.m., a licensed operator was radiologically contaminated when a valve packing blew out while he was operating the valve.. The individual was contaminated to 800 dpm on his arms, hands, and clothes. The contamination was easily removed with soap and water.

No internal contamination of the individual occurred.

The operator was opening a condensate pump discharge bypass valve in preparation to start the remaining pump. The reactor was at 70 percent thermal power with the-condensate system pressure at 450 psig. The individual slightly injured his back when he jumped from the 4-foot elevated platform.

Approximately 2000 square feet of the radiologically controlled turbine building was contaminated by the event. No additional injuries or personnel contaminations have been noted. The licensee has repacked the valve and returned it to its normal position. No other plant equipment was affected. The licensee is investigating the cause of the event. The resident inspector is monitoring licensee actions.

Neither the licensee nor the NRC plans to issue a press release.

The state of Louisiana has been informed.

Region IV received notification of this occurrence by telephone from the resident inspector at 8 a.m., June 27, 1989.

This information has been confirmed with a licensee representative.

CONTACT: G. L. Madsen, 728-8134 RP RA M g DRP/C GLMadsen; [df JLMilhoan RDMartin 9 j 6/0/89 6/q/89 6/ /89 /

O 10 890627 PNO-IV-sp-043 PDC l

j I j P50 4 89-43' DISTRIBUTION:-

OWFN NMBB NL MAIL: DCS(Orig.IE34)

.Chmn. Zech SECY .NMSS ROU ES ' DOT (Transp. Only)

Comm. Roberts- CA NRR ARM Comm. Carr. 0GC OIA OGC' FAX:

~ (5520: 6 /E_f/89 V/EW - 1 Comm.'Rogehs GPA OI- 'INP0 _ Regions & HQ)

Comm. Curtiss PA SLITP- H-St PDR ]

ACRS 'EDO OE PDT - NSAC 'l '

EW-W RRI E[KP NRC Ops Ctr ,

Licensee (Reactor)

DISTRIBUTION:

NRCRES, RESPN' Research (Paula Dorm')

NRCRM, AE00 AE0D'(Patty Wilson)

NRCRM, BROWN ARM (Karen Brown)

NRCRMP, 01ADW Inspector.&- Auditor (Displaywriter/PC)

NRCRMP, OIDW~ -Investigations (Displaywriter/PC)

INRC02, OPAPN --GPA:Public Affairs (Glady Ordaz) 11NRC0304, SLIPN, GPA: State / Local Indian Tribes Program (Brenda Hill)

'1NRC0304, NMSSPN NuclearMaterialSafety& Safeguards (PatGraaf)

INRC0506,2NMSSPN Nuclear Material Safety & Safeguards (Cathy Jenkins) .

INRC0708, OEPN Enforcement (Betty Summers)

-1NRC1112, NRRPN. Nuclear-Reactor Regulet, ion (Donna' Berean)

INRC1516, OGCPN General Counsel (Edna Downs)

INRC1718, ZECHPN Chairman (LoisAltoft)

INRC1718 EDOPN Executive Director for Operations (Doris Day)

INRC1718, 0CAPN GPA: Congressional Affairs (Janice Hester)

NRCRI, RIPN Region I

.NRCRII, RIIPN .

Region II NRCRIII, RIIIPN Region III NRCRIV, RIVPN Region IV.

~

NRCRV, RVPN Region V i

_ ___ - __- __ ___