ENS 40152: Difference between revisions

v t e ENS Event
14:32 Sep 12, 2003
Title	Improper Scanning of Lead Rods for the Product Engineering Laboratory
Event Description	NRC BULLETIN 91-01 24 HOUR NOTIFICATION FACILITY: Westinghouse Electric Company, Commercial Fuel Fabrication Facility, Columbia SC, low enriched (<5.0 wt,% U-235) PWR fuel fabricator for commercial light water reactors. License: SNM-1107. TIME AND DATE OF EVENT: April 4, 2001 - -- September 5, 2003 REASON FOR NOTIFICATION: Lead-filled rods in a small number of replica fuel assemblies were scanned using an improper instrument. The rods were to be verified as free of uranium prior to delivery to the Product Engineering Lab. The verification is accomplished by either scanning each individual rod with a hand-held instrument or scanning an assembly with a combination of a thimble tube probe and an external hand-held instrument. A few of the hand-held scans were performed with a marginal instrument. DOUBLE CONTINGENCY PROTECTION: Double contingency protection for the VIPER test loop vessel is assured by preventing uranium with greater than 1.0 weight percent uranium-235 from entering the Product Engineering (PE) Lab and preventing that uranium from entering the VIPER test loop vessel. Although lead-filled rods are not tested in the VIPER test loop, the improper scans left less than previously documented double contingency protection for the system. In accordance with Westinghouse Operating License (SNM-1107), paragraph 3.7.3 (c.5), this event satisfies the criteria for a 24-hour notification. AS FOUND CONDITION: See "Reason for Notification" above. NCS detected the absence of a procedure number listing during a normal special routing review. Inquiries led to the discovery that the incorrect instrument was being used to scan lead-filled rods. It was subsequently determined that the response of the instrument used was inadequate to reliably detect a single uranium rod mixed with lead-tilled rods. The initial investigation revealed a weakness in the procedure structure for scanning lead-filled rods. The procedure steps for scanning lead-filled rods are contained in a procedure for transfer and release of potentially contaminated equipment or materials and not addressed in the instrument procedures. SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY: 1). An improved procedure is now in place requiring that all lead-filled rods be individually scanned with the appropriate instrument. 2). All health physics personnel have been trained on the new procedure and proper instrument. CONCLUSIONS: 1). Loss of double contingency protection occurred. 2). At no time was the health or safety to any employee or member of the public in jeopardy. No exposure to hazardous material was involved. 3). The Incident Review Committee (IRC) determined that this is a safety significant incident in accordance with governing procedures. 4). Notification was the result of a weakness in the procedure structure, not a deficient NCS analysis. 5). A causal analysis will be performed.

ENS 40152 +/-
Where
Westinghouse Electric Corporation Columbia, South Carolina (NRC Region 2)
License number:	SNM-1107
Reporting

Response
Time - Person (Reporting Time:+1 h0.0417 days <br />0.00595 weeks <br />0.00137 months <br />)
Opened:	Ed Steck 15:32 Sep 12, 2003
NRC Officer:	John Mackinnon
Last Updated:	Sep 12, 2003
40152 - NRC Website
v • d • e

v t e Emergency Notification System
Westinghouse Electric Corporation with Response
WEEKMONTHYEAR2005-08-19T19:30:00 [Table view]
[ENS list for Westinghouse Electric Corporation]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 | facility = Westinghouse Electric Corporation
 | Organization =
-| license number = Snm-1107
+| license number = SNM-1107
 | region = 2
 | state = South Carolina

ENS 40152: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 18:43, 24 November 2018

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ENS 40152: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 18:43, 24 November 2018

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