PNO-IV-98-015A, on 980409,contaminated Film Badges Update Made.Sabotage of Badges Suspected.No Indication of Any Internal Contamination by Any of Workers at Lab.Wa State Univ Still Investigating Incident & FBI Involved
| ML20248J444 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/03/1998 |
| From: | Linda Howell, Mclean M NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-IV-98-015A, PNO-IV-98-15A, NUDOCS 9806090132 | |
| Download: ML20248J444 (1) | |
.~
June 3,1998 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-IV-98-015A 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 Region IV staff in Arlington, Texas on this date.
Facility Licensee Emeraency Classification Washington Agreement State Notification of Unusual Event Washington State University Alert Pullman, Washington Site Area Emergency License No: WN-C003-1 General Emergency X Not Applicable
Subject:
CONTAMINATED FILM BADGES (UPDATE)
This is an update to a report received by the NRC on April 9,1998, from the state of Washington. The state reported that on April 8,1998, a representative from the Washington State University (WSU) reported a problem with personnel film badges having been contaminated.
The original report from the state noted that WSU had been notified by its badge processor that it was unable to read five badges due to phosphorus-32 contamination. On June 2, 1998, the state told the NRC that 180 badges had been contaminated and that 175 of the badges had been contaminated by the original five contaminated badges. In addition, the state reported that only three April badges were found contaminated. These badges were worn by a husband and wife team who worked in the same laboratory. The woman, who was pregnant, wore two badges, one for herself and a second to monitor fetal radiation exposure. Sabotage of the badges is suspected. There is no indication of any intemal contamination by any of the workers at the laboratory.
WSU is still investigating the incident, and the FBI is involved in the investigation.
This information is current as of 2:30 p.m. (CDT) and has been confirmed with representatives of the Washington Radiation Control Program.
i Region IV has notified OEDO, OPA, NMSS and OSP.
Contact:
M. Linda McLean Linda L. Howell (817)860-8116(817)860-8213 gs y.-@ *! j '
9906090132 990603 ap p l> ' ' L tt m % ,roa: L L -- -- __