Press Release-I-96-023, NRC Staff Suspends Radioactive Materials License of Eastern Testing and Inspection, Inc, of Thorofare, New Jersey

Press Release-I-96-023, NRC Staff Suspends Radioactive Materials License of Eastern Testing and Inspection, Inc, of Thorofare, New Jersey

ML003710962
Person / Time
Issue date:	04/01/1996
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-96-023
Download: ML003710962 (1)

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(more)UnitedStatesNuclearRegulatoryCommissionOfficeofPublicAffairs,RegionI475AllendaleRoadKingofPrussia,PA19401Phone:610/337-5330Fax:610/337-5241Internet:dps@nrc.govorvld@nrc.govI-96-23April1,1996Contact:DianeScrenciFORIMMEDIATERELEASEVictorDricksNRCSTAFFSUSPENDSRADIOACTIVEMATERIALSLICENSEOFEASTERNTESTINGANDINSPECTION,INC,OFTHOROFARE,NEWJERSEYTheNuclearRegulatoryCommissionhasissuedanordersuspendingalicensetouseradioactivematerialsheldbyEastern TestingandInspection,Inc.,(ETI)ofThorofare,NewJersey.

Theorderiseffectiveimmediately.ETIholdstwoNRClicenses.Oneauthorizesthecompanytopossessanduseiridium-192andcobalt-60sealedradiography sourcesforuseinaradiographicsourceexposuredevice.The licensewaslastrenewedonDecember16,1994,andexpireson December31,1999.Asecondlicense,authorizingtheuseof portablegauges,wasissuedonMay23,1991,andexpiresonMay 31,1996.Theorderrequiresthat:allNRC-licensedmaterialinthepossessionofthecompanybeplacedinlockedstorage,all activitiesauthorizedbythecompany'sNRClicensebesuspended, noNRC-licensedmaterialbereceivedwhiletheorderisin effect,andallrecordsrelatedtolicensedactivitiesbe maintainedintheiroriginalform.AnNRCinvestigationfoundthatETIdeliberatelyusedanemployee,withnopriorradiographyexperience,toperform radiographyonedayafterhewashired,eventhoughthe individualhadnotreceivedtherequiredtraining.Investigators determinedthatETIpresident,HimatSoni,andcompanyradiation safetyofficerJosephBadiali,deliberatelycreatedinaccurate recordscertifyingthattheemployeehadbeenadequatelytrained andwasauthorizedtoperformthedutiesofaradiographer.Further,investigatorsfoundthatonSeptember29,1995,HimatSonithreatenedaformeremployeewithphysicalharm,based onthebeliefthattheformeremployeemayhavecooperatedwith anNRCinvestigationand/orinspectionofETI.Inaddition,theinvestigatorfoundthatETIpersonneldidnotcompleteutilizationrecordson97occasionsbetweenJanuary 1,1994andAugust31,1995,inviolationofNRCrequirements. NRCinspectionsonMay24,July11and13,andAugust1,2and23,1995,foundanadditional11violationsofNRC

requirements.Afollow-upNRCinspectiononMarch14,1996,concludedthatthelicenseedeliberatelyfalsifieddocumentsofradiographer examinationsanddocumentedotherviolations.Intheorder,JamesLieberman,Director,OfficeofEnforcement,said,"Theactionsofthelicenseeanditssenior officialshaveraisedseriousdoubtastowhetherthelicensee anditsemployeescanberelieduponinthefuturetocomplywith NRCrequirementsandtomaintaincompleteandaccuraterecordsof licensedactivities."Hewentontosayhelackedtherequiredreasonableassurancethatthelicensee'scurrentoperationswouldbe conducted"incompliancewiththeCommission'srequirementsand thatthehealthandsafetyofthepublic,includingthe Licensee'semployees,willbeprotected."Thelicensee,oranyotherpersonadverselyaffectedbytheorder,has20daystorequestahearing.