ML20154L589
| ML20154L589 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/01/1998 |
| From: | Woodruff R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Larkins P NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9810200002 | |
| Download: ML20154L589 (8) | |
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/* 6pr 8.idt .b O Y en neo UNrfED STATES f ug'o, ., g - e
- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION iJ .
,h ATLANTA ERAL CENTER
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, U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION 11 OFFICE, ATLANTA, GEORGIA NUMBER OF PAGES: 8 including this page i
DATE: SEPTEMBER 1,1998 '
i TO: PAT LARKINS, OSP FAX # 301-415-3502 FROM: RICHARD L. WOODRUFF US NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 61 FORSYTH ST., SW, SUITE 23T85 l ATLANTA,GA 30303 ,
FAX # 404-562-4955 :
INTERNET: rlw@nrc. gov MESSAGE:
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COPY OF REPORT PROVIDED TO ALABAMA AND KENTUCKY I/
CONCERNING THE GAUGE INCIDENT AT US STEEL IN N BIRMINGHAM, AL
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Donald E. Williamson, MD _.
Sure Hakh Officer July 29,1993 Mr. Bonaventure Cahill Radiation Safety Officer Ronan Engineering Company 8050 Production Drive Florence, Kentucky 41042 Re: Response to Notice of Violation Dated July 2.1998
Dear Mr. Cahill:
We have received and reviewed your response to the items cited as violations from the incident at US Steel. You addressed the issue of item one by saying field work must not be performed unless "the personnel doing the work are properly prepared and trained for the field work to be perfonned." Our particular cencern with the relocation of the device by Mr. Ryan was that he did not use a meter to mcke a survey and thereby establish that the source was actually transfe: red to the source holder and was in the shielded configuration. Obviously since Mr. Ryan had not come prepared to work with the sourec, he did not h:ve a survey meter. In Alabt.ma we require that the individual installing, commissioning, or relocating a gauge have a calibrated meter on location and utilize same to confirm that the source is correctly shielded. The failure of Mr. Ryan to have and utiliza a meter contributed significantly to the potential for hann in this incident.
We will review this during future Ronan tource installations in Alabama.
Sincerely, imj YANihn.<
r hmes L. McNees, Director Radioactive Ma:erials Compliance Branch Office of Radiation Control JLMinwf ec: Vicki Jef&, State of Kentucky T)w Mr Tc.w . m .\tcn.nv krue . Entpary. AL MW, r.O.k WM7. 4,gimsry, At 161mNt?
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. CO W W I July 20,1998 State of Alabama Department of Public Health Radioactive Material Compliance Branch Office ofRadiation Contrul ,
RSATower 201 Monroe Street P.O. Box 30317 ,
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-3017
. Attn: James L. McNees, Director Re: Letter, July 2,1998, Ronan Engineering /Ky 201-260-95
Dear Mr. NcNees:
l In response to your letter dated July 2,1998, you cited us for two (2) items ofnon-compliance: l 11 cati: pertains to the activity ofMr. Ryan, Ronan employee, a) His report is attached, l
b) Comments; He was visiting US Steel, doing engineering consultant work. He was not sent to do a start-up or commissioning of their desice.
'Ihcrefore, reciprocity was not requested in advance of his visit. He is knowledgeable of the design of the SA-15 device, but is not a field service engineer, experienced with start-up ofdevices. However, during this visit, he was requested by US Steel and their R.S.O., Reggie Jennings, to demonstrate the commissioning of the device. (The device was shipped, and in storage, but had never been commissionod). He should have declined, or called his supervisor on this matter, e): Cog.cetive Action:
- 1) Notice to all employees instructing them that reciprocity from NRC or Agreement States must be granted and precede any source device related activity in the fic!d.
- 2) The employee was advised that he erred in not advising his supervisor that he was requested to do this activity, and that he l
nadfor Ronan did this work withontproper agency noti & cation.
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Pertains to the activity of Mr. Huber, Ronan employee, Mr. Huber's report is attached, b) Commems:
Mr. Huber responded to the request of the Sales Department at a late bour in the day to make an emergency visit to U Steel. His focus was to make last minute arrangements to get to Birntinghem, Alabama and resolve the emergencyissue. Because this action occurred afternormal working hours, the person responsible for filing reciprocity was not present.
c) Corrective Action:
The policy on handling reciprocity has been reviewed, particularly in th cases of emergency and after hour service requests. Clear definitions of procedures to notify the NRC or agreement states in these inctances has been addressed All field service engineers will bereafter possess the twenty-four (24) hour telephone number and be responsible for notification prior to service.
Qu" ?ity Atmrnnee Investiptlen of Device Failutra E r See Q.C. report f;n ments The device failure would not have occurred ifproper handling procedures had been observed, i
Summarv: !
If this device had been installed by a trained field service engineer, following written installation procedures, provided by Ronan Engineering for this device, sotuceholder damage would probably have not occurred.
Employees have been advised, through administrative action, that any field work don source-related activities ntust not be performed unless authorized by the Ronan Fic!d Service Manager, whose responsibility in'to see that reciprocity is granted and the personnel doing the work are properly prepared and trained for the field work to be performed.
Regards, !
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Bon Cahill VP/ Gen Mgr
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cc: Vicki JefTs, State ofKentucky
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l 7/6/98 RONAN REF:QUALITY INCIDENT ASSURANCE INVESTIGATIO.*f AND CORRECTIVE ACTION AT U.D. STEEL CORP. FAIRFIELD, ALABAMA.
INVESTIGATION:
THE SA-15 SOURCE EOLDER WAD RECEIVED AT RONAN ENGINEERING ON 7/3/98.
ANALYSIS OF THE SOURCE ROD SHOWED EVIDENCE THAT THE WELD BROKE DUE TO HOVING THE SOURCE ROLDER WHILE THE
! EXTENSION ROD WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE SOURCE ROD. THE j THREADED END OF THE EXTENSION ROD WAS ALSO BENT, CONFIRMING THIS ANALYSIS.
i THIS NOVEMENT CAUSED THE TUBE EOLDING THE l REMAIN IN TEE SOURCEAT SOURCE TO SEPARATE THE WELD AND THE SOURCE CAPSULE TO WELL. THE SOURCE CAPSULE WAS NOT DAMAGED.
CORRECTIVE ACTION:
THE INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BREN REVISED TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF VERIFYING THE POSITION OF THE SOURCE ROD DURING INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL. THE SOURCE HOLDER MUST NOT BE MOVED UNTIL THE EXTENSION ROD IS REMOVED FROM THE' SOURCE HOLDER FOR INSTALLATION AND THE SOURCE ROD LOCKED IN THE STORAGE POSITION FOR REMOVAL. COPIES OF THE
- REVISED PROCEDURE HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED AND DISCUSSED WITH TER APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL TO ENSURE A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING AS TO THE IMPORTANCE OP USING AND FOLLOWING THIS PROCEDURE.
KT CR G A. CARIS l
QUALITY MANAGER
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RONAN ENGINEERING FIELD SERVICE REPORT CUSTOMER _U S Steel Fairfield Works SO# _AL-10255 FS ENGINEER HM HUBER FS#_
DATE 6 '24 - 98 _ PO#_ 486-49285 __
['urcose To secure a possibly damaged 3 mci Cs.13^/ source. '
Field Service Report
. US Steel personnel notified Ronan Engineering late on 6 23-98 concerning a po source serial number KK.847, a 3 mci Cs-137 source.
e Personnel at US Steel felt that the source rod was still inside the mold.
Talking holder. with James Ryan of Ronan Engineering.indiented that the sourec shou Left the office in Florence, Ky. at 6:00pm, arrived at tip Louisville, Ky. airpor Louisville, Ky. at 9:00pm, arrived in Atlanta, Ga. at 10:15pm, departed Atla arrived at Birmingham, A1. at 12:05am on 6 24 98, arrived at the hotel at 1:30am.
Arrived on site at 8:15am on 6-24-98.
e Mct with Jack Mayben (Electronics Supervisor), Kim Rice (Area Manager),
(Maimen-(RSO). c),
! Gerald Howard (Maintenance), Dale Baker (Senior Area Ma e
Jack Mayben briefed me on the history regarding the source a
e Found the mold was roped off to 4 feet in circumference before my anival, Survey meter = Victoreen / Model # 491-30 / Sesial # 2060 / Re4alibration date 11-11-98.
Surveyed the source holder, finding it to be empty of any radioactive material,
- Surveyed the bloom mold which revealed the source inside the sourte well of the mold.
. The largest reading around the mold was SmR/ilt @ 12 inches on the exterior closes .
Upen examining the source holder I found it to be secured and locked both at the e the shipping phte.
- Iinstructed both locks to be removed from the sourte holder.
Attached the extension rod, then pushed out the contents of the source bolder section of the Ronan source tube.
e Examining the Ronan source tube revealed 4 broken spot welds.
Upon examining the mold, I found the bottom section of the Ronan tource tube, which source rod, inside the source well.
I cvacuated the area except for rnyself.
Removed Y the source rod r.nd inspected it for damage visually -no dama a the source sod with a rag and tested forgross ccntaminat meter-nogg q$
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i 1 l Reinstalled the source rod into the bottom section of the Ronan source tube.
i . Placed the top section of the Ronan source tube onto the bo' ttoni section of the Ronan so I .
Placed the somcc and tube into the Ronan source holder.
Replaced the bottom plate of the source holder, which kept the top and bottom sections o source rod intact within the holder for shipment.
Secured and locked the Ronan source holder.
Surveyed the Ronan source holder - 0.7mR/Hr @ 12 inches on the bottom. '
Prepared the Ronan source holder for shipment back to Ronan Engineering.
During this process I received 0.12mR to my hands for the 10 seconds ofexposure time.
. 0.69mR to my whole body for the 20 minutes of exposure time.
At the request of the RSO I helped with the exposure calculations of Willie Etheridge and Howard.
Estimation of Wi!!ie Etheridge's exposure after working around the source while in the between 45 minutes and I hour as,5.2mR/Hr. I
. I Estimation of Gerald Howard's exposure aner picking'up the source with a pair of plI e
for the 30 seconds to the hands and 0.69tnR for the 1 minute whole body.
These estiraates were relayed to Regi Jennings (R50),
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- The source lor US Steel on 6 25-98 at 2.00pm via Yellow Truck Line.
The Source arrived at Ronan Engineering on 7-2 98 at 10:00am.
1 i Follow-up Action Required Receive shipment of the source at Ronan Engineering.
Wipe-test the source rod for contamination upon arrival at Ronan Engineering.
Diagnose the failure of the source rod container.
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...M'C.Yt/l.Licdnsp Fai:404-56249551 ~ ' 'Mp T'95 ~10i33 P2Gd.rf Report of Events at US Steel. Birmirteham Alabama '
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Employee: James Ryan
Title:
Aeolication Engineer Date: fib 0/1998 Reason for visit: To have a roceting to discuss design of the inold level gage system with reg to thcltnew round mold caster.
- i Casterpersonal and the R.S.O., Reggic Jenkins asked rue to insert the equipment (SA into a prepared trial mold to check the fit. I told them this is sometidng that normally wou l
be handled by a field service technician. I was familiar wfth the design and operation of the equipment, so I agreed to insert the equipment to test the fit. In hindsight I should not have ogreed. but with their R.S.O. supervising the installation, and not being aware of the fact that I would need reciprocity to do so Iinstalled the equipment. 1 i
- I removed shipping plate and locks from the source holder and placed it in properposition on the mold. I attached the extension rod and lowered th'e soun:e rod Into the sI mold housing. De rod inserted easily. Then I removed the seurte holder and visually saw th source rod in the wcll.
At this time R.S.O. (Reggic Jenkins) surveyed the area with a survey meter to check the radiationlevels arour.d the mold.
When I went to remove the source rod with the help of Ronan'd representative Bill A '
I had problems getting the extension rod to align with the source rod.
I had to lift the source holder up somewhat from the mold housing to at:ach the extension rod to the source rod. I visuelly checked to make sure we had proper connection, then the source rod was lifted back into the source holder. ne holder was removed and I bel contained the source rod. As far as I could discem the source md was properly removed.
However because I had problems with attaching the extension rod, I advised US Steel personal not to use the device until this problem had been reviewed.
Caster personal and the R.S.O. were standing more than four feet away from the mold housing during the test. I was the only one in close proximity to the source rod, which was about two feet away. De duration of my time around the mold housing was approximately 30 minutes. My personal film badge was worn during this procedure.
- With Off@.
installation complete Ireattached the shipping flange and locks then returned to caster i
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