Event Notification Report for July 26, 2018

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
7/25/2018 - 7/26/2018

** EVENT NUMBERS **


53508 53509 53510 53512 53513 53526

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Agreement State Event Number: 53508
Rep Org: NC DIV OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: APPLIED TECHNICAL SERVICES
Region: 1
City: STONEVILLE   State: NC
County:
License #: 1510-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TRAVIS CARTOSKI
HQ OPS Officer: OSSY FONT
Notification Date: 07/17/2018
Notification Time: 08:58 [ET]
Event Date: 06/25/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 07/17/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
MARC FERDAS (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA SOURCE UNABLE TO RETRACT

The following information was received via email.

"North Carolina (NC) Radioactive Materials Branch (RMB) is submitting the following reportable event: Radiography Camera Source Unable to Retract.

Reportable per: 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) & 10 CFR 34.101(a)(2)
Event Date & Discovered Date: 6/25/18
Date Reported to RMB: 6/26/18
Location where event took place: Stoneville, NC
Reporting Licensee: Applied Technical Services [ATS]
NC License Number: 1510-1
Radiography Camera Manufacturer: QSA Global, Inc.
Radiography Camera Model #: Delta 880
Radiography Camera S/N: D5059
Source: Ir-192
Source Activity: 71.4 Ci
Source Manufacturer: QSA Global, Inc.
Source Model #: A424-9
Source S/N: 65909G

"While conducting radiography shots at a water tank construction site, ATS radiography crew experienced a source hang up. Radiographers initially believed the cause to be a crimped guide tube due to source not moving in either direction. While maintaining a 2 mR/hr boundary, additional personnel were dispatched to the work site by ATS with additional shielding material and [the] RSO [radiation safety officer] who is responsible for source retrievals. Lead blankets were placed on the guide tube and the RSO determined that the guide tube was not compromised, kinked, crimped or otherwise damaged. Probable cause was determined to be in the control assembly. RSO unthreaded the guide from the outlet adapter and exercised the controls with no effect. Guide tube was reconnected and RSO began to troubleshoot the connection side of the camera by removing the housing from the connection to observe the cable while again exercising the controls. Cable would flex but was observed to be either wedged or pinned at the connector. During this process, it was observed that since the cable would not flex on the outlet side of the camera it was determined that extreme force on the controls side would not result in the cable being disconnected from the pig tail. The housing was reattached, and extreme force was used on the controls to break the cable free and the source was returned to its secured and shielded position. The RSO observed the control assembly crank did have more movement than usual, and root cause was determined to be debris from a damaged bearing that had moved down the control cable housing and locked up the controls. This equipment had quarterly maintenance and weekly inspections conducted on it. [The] controls were shipped to QSA for repair or disposal. All personnel involved in the source retrieval received doses well within annual limits for radiation workers.

"RMB has concluded its investigation and consider this event Closed & Complete. No other agencies were informed of this event and no other generic issues identified."

NMED Event ID: 180329
NC Tracking ID: 180029

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Agreement State Event Number: 53509
Rep Org: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MGMT. AGENCY
Licensee: TOWER PLASTICS MFG., INC.
Region: 3
City: BURR RIDGE   State: IL
County:
License #: 9210428
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: GIBB VINSON
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK
Notification Date: 07/17/2018
Notification Time: 12:20 [ET]
Event Date: 12/03/2015
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/17/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
KARLA STOEDTER (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

TWO GAUGES DESTROYED IN A FIRE

The following information was received via email.

"Tower Plastics Mfg., Inc. reported that their two remaining generally licensed NDC Model 103 gauges (SN's 2160 and 2161 containing 150 mCi/Am-241 each) were destroyed in a fire on December 3, 2015. This was reported during the IEMA [Illinois Emergency Management Agency] 2018 annual source reconciliation. The licensee reported that the site was completely destroyed in the fire and debris was hauled to a landfill. Records of the disposal and an IEMA survey of the site are pending."

Item Number: IL180030

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

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Agreement State Event Number: 53510
Rep Org: KANSAS DEPT OF HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
Licensee: DBI INC
Region: 4
City: OVERLAND PARK   State: KS
County:
License #: 21-B805
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JIMMY UHLEMEYER
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK
Notification Date: 07/17/2018
Notification Time: 12:34 [ET]
Event Date: 05/06/2015
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/17/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
CALE YOUNG (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
PATRICIA MILLIGAN (INES)

Event Text

POTENTIAL OVER EXPOSURE FROM RADIOGRAPHY OPERATION

The following information was summarized from an email received from the state of Kansas:

[The licensee RSO] (DBI) reported to the KDEM [Kansas Division of Emergency Management] 24-hour number that they had a potential over exposure during a radiography operation.

The radiographer was in the process of setting up the last shot of the day. While returning to the crank, the radiographer was radioed by the refinery's QC person. At the same time, he was adjusting the collimator, which had shifted. The QC person called over the radio 'come on' which the radiographer's assistant (on the same radio channel) took to mean to crank out the source. When the radiographer felt the vibration of the source being cranked out, he dropped the collimator, exited the area immediately, and got the source retracted.

Preliminary worst case calculations indicated a possible extremity over exposure. The radiographer's badge was sent in for processing and the report came back with 33 mR for the period since April 9. With this information, the extremity dose will be recalculated to determine the actual exposure to the individual.

PQT Services Inc. and REAC/TS consulted on the incident. The worst case scenario is that the radiographer could have received a dose from 50 - 100R to the hands. Pictures of the radiographers were inspected for signs of radiation burns. No signs at this time. The plan is to continue to monitor his hands until June 20, 2015. Both PQT Services and REAC/TS agree that this should be a sufficient time to assure the safety of radiographer. The radiographer's annual dose was DDE 262 mR.

Root cause of incident was determined to be weakness in the communication procedures established between personnel during radiographic operations. A visual 'ALL CLEAR' confirmation from the radiographer setting up the exposures must be made with the person operating the exposure device before the source is exposed.

All DBI Inc. employees have been notified of this incident and the importance of a visual confirmation prior to exposing the source. This has been implemented in DBI's protocol.

This event is considered closed.

Item Number: KS150004

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Agreement State Event Number: 53512
Rep Org: WISCONSIN RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: AURORA BAYCARE MEDICAL CENTER
Region: 3
City: GREEN BAY   State: WI
County:
License #: 009-1017-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MEGAN SHOBER
HQ OPS Officer: BRIAN LIN
Notification Date: 07/17/2018
Notification Time: 17:54 [ET]
Event Date: 07/17/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/17/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
KENNETH RIEMER (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - TOTAL DOSE DELIVERED DIFFERED FROM PRESCRIBED DOSE BY GREATER THAN 20 PERCENT

The following information was received from the state of Wisconsin via email:

"On July 17, 2018, the licensee identified a medical event where the total dose delivered differed from the prescribed dose by 20 percent or more. The licensee implanted 83 seeds containing Pd-103 for prostate brachytherapy. The prescribed dose to the prostate was 125 Gy; the dose delivered was 96.25 Gy. The dose received by the prostate (D90) was 77 percent of the intended dose. The patient has been notified. The implant occurred on June 8, 2018, and post-implant dosimetry was completed on July 17, 2018. The department will perform a site investigation to determine the root cause of this medical event."

Event Report ID No.: WI180011

A Medical Event may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient.

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Agreement State Event Number: 53513
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: TRC
Region: 4
City: MOUNTAIN VIEW   State: CA
County:
License #: 2536-43
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: L. ROBERT GREGER
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH
Notification Date: 07/17/2018
Notification Time: 20:32 [ET]
Event Date: 07/16/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 07/17/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
CALE YOUNG (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

RECOVERY OF A STOLEN TROXLER MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was obtained from the state of California via email:

"On July 16, 2018, the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) contacted RHB [California Radiation Health Branch] to report the recovery of a stolen moisture density gauge. The gauge recovery was reported to OES by the San Jose Police Department. The service truck containing the moisture density gauge was stolen from a private residence sometime over the weekend, and was found by the San Jose Police Department during patrol early on July 16, with the gauge still chained to the bed of the truck. The San Jose Police Department cut the chain and stored the gauge at the station. The moisture density gauge is a CPN Model MC-1DR-P, S/N MD60508312, containing 10 mCi of Cs-137 and 50 mCi of Am-241. The gauge was collected by RHB and put in RHB storage on July 16. RHB will be following up with the licensee concerning adherence to regulatory and license requirements."

California report no.: 5010-071618

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Power Reactor Event Number: 53526
Facility: VOGTLE
Region: 2     State: GA
Unit: [3] [4] []
RX Type: [3] W-AP1000,[4] W-AP1000
NRC Notified By: KEVIN DURRWACHTER
HQ OPS Officer: DAVID AIRD
Notification Date: 07/26/2018
Notification Time: 17:51 [ET]
Event Date: 07/26/2018
Event Time: 10:40 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 07/26/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
26.719 - FITNESS FOR DUTY
Person (Organization):
SCOTT SHAEFFER (R2DO)
FFD GROUP (EMAIL)
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
3 N N 0 Under Construction 0 Under Construction
4 N N 0 Under Construction 0 Under Construction

Event Text

CONTRACTOR SUPERVISOR SUBVERTS A FOR-CAUSE FITNESS FOR DUTY TEST

"At 1040 [EDT] on July 26, 2018, a contractor supervisor violated the licensee's Fitness-for-Duty (FFD) program by subverting the Fitness for Duty program. The contractor's site access has been terminated."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021