Press Release-IV-12-029, NRC Issues Confirmatory Order to Quality Inspection and Testing Agreement Is Reached Under Alternative Dispute Resolution

Press Release-IV-12-029: NRC Issues Confirmatory Order to Quality Inspection and Testing Agreement Is Reached Under Alternative Dispute Resolution

ML12227A772
Person / Time
Issue date:	08/14/2012
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-12-029
Download: ML12227A772 (2)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Region IV 1600 E. Lamar Blvd.

Arlington, TX 76011-4511 Telephone: (817) 860-8100 Site: www.nrc.gov Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov No. IV-12-029

Contact:

Victor Dricks (817) 200-1128 August 14, 2012 Lara Uselding (817) 200-1519 E-Mail: OPA4.Resource@nrc.gov NRC ISSUES CONFIRMATORY ORDER TO QUALITY INSPECTION AND TESTING AGREEMENT IS REACHED UNDER ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION Quality Inspection and Testing (QIT) of New Iberia, La., has agreed to pay a $3,500 fine and take corrective actions related to securing radiography equipment and complying with job site procedures under an agreement reached with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In addition, the NRC banned a radiographer from conducting any licensed activities for one year and issued a notice of violation (NOV) to a second employee.

The settlement with QIT was achieved under the NRCs Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process, which was requested by QIT. The object was to reach a settlement agreement and address four apparent violations that included failures to secure radiography equipment used to photograph pipe welds, wear required dosimetry, and carry the required documents in a vehicle on site. These were detailed in an inspection report on June 5. In addition, the NRC found that both a radiographer and an assistant deliberately failed to follow procedures on which they had been trained.

When an NRC inspector arrived at a job site, she found QIT employees had left a radiography camera unsecured and unattended, and they were not wearing the required radiation monitoring equipment. When asked for required documents, the two did not have them on site.

Due to this deliberate misconduct, the radiographer has been prohibited from performing, supervising or engaging in any industrial radiographic operations for a period of one year. The assistant received an NOV. An NOV is a written notice signifying a violation of regulations has occurred and normally requires a written response by the recipient.

An ADR mediation session with QIT took place on June 27 and led to an agreement detailed in the Confirmatory Order issued by the NRC on Aug. 10. ADR is a process in which a neutral mediator with no decision-making authority assists the parties in reaching an agreement or resolving any differences regarding a dispute. Under the agreement, QITs actions will include the following:

Develop and implement a comprehensive training program for all employees that clearly explains the consequences for violating NRC regulations, the importance of following proper procedures when using a radioactive source, and properly securing the material.

Revise procedures to improve how employees conduct work at job sites, how they report concerns, and address the securing of licensed material and equipment.

Copies of the enforcement actions will be posted on the NRC web site at:

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/enforcement/actions.

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