ENS Event | |
|---|---|
21:40 Apr 7, 2022 | |
| Title | Proportional Counter Failure |
| Event Description | The following information was received from the Washington State Department of Health via email:
The Radiation Protection Manager (RPM) for US Ecology (USE) notified the Washington State Department of Health (WDOH) on April 7, 2022, at 1440 PDT, of equipment which failed to function as designed in accordance with WAC 246-221-250 (2)(d). This was identified during an internal surveillance of the calibration program by the licensee. Specifically, the equipment is a Canberra Series 5 Extreme Low Background Alpha Beta Proportional counter (XLB). The spreadsheet used to calculate alpha efficiency to determine alpha activity from smears and air samples was off by 1 percent. The error for this matter will require USE to review all data from September 2021 through April 6, 2022. The preliminary cause was identified as a human performance error. An investigation is ongoing to determine the impact to health and safety. WDOH is planning a follow up investigation the week of May 9, 2022, to follow up for this matter. No media attention currently. WA incident no.: WMS-INC-22-01 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Us Ecology Washington Inc. Richland, Washington (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | WN-I019-2 |
| Organization: | Wa Office Of Radiation Protection |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+16.5 h0.688 days <br />0.0982 weeks <br />0.0226 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Gregorio Rosado 14:10 Apr 8, 2022 |
| NRC Officer: | Brian Lin |
| Last Updated: | Apr 8, 2022 |
| 55832 - NRC Website | |
Us Ecology Washington Inc. with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 558322022-04-07T21:40:0007 April 2022 21:40:00
[Table view]Agreement State Proportional Counter Failure 2022-04-07T21:40:00 | |