Event Notification Report for January 04, 2012
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
01/03/2012 - 01/04/2012
Agreement State
Event Number: 47568
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: COILPLUS TEXAS, INC.
Region: 4
City: SAN ANTONIO State: TX
County:
License #: 02242
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KAREN BLANCHARD
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Licensee: COILPLUS TEXAS, INC.
Region: 4
City: SAN ANTONIO State: TX
County:
License #: 02242
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KAREN BLANCHARD
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Notification Date: 01/04/2012
Notification Time: 16:24 [ET]
Event Date: 01/04/2012
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/04/2012
Notification Time: 16:24 [ET]
Event Date: 01/04/2012
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/04/2012
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
MICHAEL VASQUEZ (R4DO)
CHRISTEPHER MCKENNEY (FSME)
MICHAEL VASQUEZ (R4DO)
CHRISTEPHER MCKENNEY (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - GAUGE SHUTTER FAILED IN CLOSED POSITION
The following information was received via facsimile:
"On January 4, 2012, the licensee reported to the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services, Inspection Unit, Radiation Branch] that it had had a gauge shutter fail in the closed position during a routine shutter test on an Xact Ray, Model 5310, which houses a 1,000 millicurie Americium-241 source. The gauge is on a machine that is not in service and the shutter is kept closed. When the licensee attempted to open the shutter for the routine check, it would not open. More information will be provide as it is obtained."
Texas Incident #: I-8915
The following information was received via facsimile:
"On January 4, 2012, the licensee reported to the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services, Inspection Unit, Radiation Branch] that it had had a gauge shutter fail in the closed position during a routine shutter test on an Xact Ray, Model 5310, which houses a 1,000 millicurie Americium-241 source. The gauge is on a machine that is not in service and the shutter is kept closed. When the licensee attempted to open the shutter for the routine check, it would not open. More information will be provide as it is obtained."
Texas Incident #: I-8915
Agreement State
Event Number: 47591
Rep Org: LOUISIANA RADIATION PROTECTION DIV
Licensee: MISTRAS GROUP
Region: 4
City: BATON ROUGE State: LA
County:
License #: LA-10986-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: SCOTT BLACKWELL
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Licensee: MISTRAS GROUP
Region: 4
City: BATON ROUGE State: LA
County:
License #: LA-10986-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: SCOTT BLACKWELL
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO
Notification Date: 01/13/2012
Notification Time: 15:34 [ET]
Event Date: 01/04/2012
Event Time: 09:30 [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/13/2012
Notification Time: 15:34 [ET]
Event Date: 01/04/2012
Event Time: 09:30 [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/13/2012
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
DALE POWERS (R4DO)
RICHARD TURTIL (FSME)
DALE POWERS (R4DO)
RICHARD TURTIL (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA NOT PROPERLY SECURED
The following information was received by facsimile:
"This is a report of a transportation incident where an Industrial Radiography Camera was not properly secured. The RSO stated that two radiographers, one an instructor, conducted a radiography job in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. On January 4, 2012, while returning to the Baton Rouge, LA office, they decided to meet with another radiographer who is an instructor on the radioactive materials license for Mistras and one of the other radiographer's father. The father offered to take the radiography camera to the office in Baton Rouge, LA. The instructor from the radiography job in Bay St. Louis agreed, but did not realize that the father did not have his radiography truck. The father put the camera in the trunk of his personal vehicle unsecured and unbraced. After noticing that the father and son did not have some of the required paperwork, the instructor pursued them. Approximately 2 miles down the road, the father and son in the same vehicle were pulled over for speeding. After they were pulled over, the son, who was driving, was suspected of intoxication and tested. The RSO received a call from the father regarding the impending arrest of the son for DUI at [2130 CST]. The son was arrested for DUI and the instructor from the radiography job secured the radiography camera. The father was arrested for outstanding warrants. Both the father and son were suspected of being under the influence, but the father refused to be tested by law enforcement. The RSO arrived to the site at [2200 CST]. The camera was placed in the Mistras storage vault around [0030 CST on January 5, 2012].
"Mistras is conducting an internal investigation. Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is investigating. So far, the son's employment has been terminated. The father's Trustworthy and Reliability status has been suspended. All radiographers will be drug tested. Additional information will be forthcoming."
Louisiana Incident Number: LA120001
The following information was received by facsimile:
"This is a report of a transportation incident where an Industrial Radiography Camera was not properly secured. The RSO stated that two radiographers, one an instructor, conducted a radiography job in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. On January 4, 2012, while returning to the Baton Rouge, LA office, they decided to meet with another radiographer who is an instructor on the radioactive materials license for Mistras and one of the other radiographer's father. The father offered to take the radiography camera to the office in Baton Rouge, LA. The instructor from the radiography job in Bay St. Louis agreed, but did not realize that the father did not have his radiography truck. The father put the camera in the trunk of his personal vehicle unsecured and unbraced. After noticing that the father and son did not have some of the required paperwork, the instructor pursued them. Approximately 2 miles down the road, the father and son in the same vehicle were pulled over for speeding. After they were pulled over, the son, who was driving, was suspected of intoxication and tested. The RSO received a call from the father regarding the impending arrest of the son for DUI at [2130 CST]. The son was arrested for DUI and the instructor from the radiography job secured the radiography camera. The father was arrested for outstanding warrants. Both the father and son were suspected of being under the influence, but the father refused to be tested by law enforcement. The RSO arrived to the site at [2200 CST]. The camera was placed in the Mistras storage vault around [0030 CST on January 5, 2012].
"Mistras is conducting an internal investigation. Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is investigating. So far, the son's employment has been terminated. The father's Trustworthy and Reliability status has been suspended. All radiographers will be drug tested. Additional information will be forthcoming."
Louisiana Incident Number: LA120001
Agreement State
Event Number: 47584
Rep Org: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MGMT. AGENCY
Licensee: STERIS, INC
Region: 3
City: LIBERTYVILLE State: IL
County:
License #: IL-01123-02
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAREN PERRERO
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Licensee: STERIS, INC
Region: 3
City: LIBERTYVILLE State: IL
County:
License #: IL-01123-02
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAREN PERRERO
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Notification Date: 01/10/2012
Notification Time: 17:02 [ET]
Event Date: 01/04/2012
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/10/2012
Notification Time: 17:02 [ET]
Event Date: 01/04/2012
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/10/2012
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
RYAN LANTZ (R4DO)
RICHARD TURTIL (FSME)
RYAN LANTZ (R4DO)
RICHARD TURTIL (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DOOR SAFETY INTERLOCK ON DRY IRRADIATOR FOUND TO BE NON-FUNCTIONAL
The following report was received via e-mail from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Radioactive Materials Section:
"The licensee's radiation safety officer called the Agency to advise of a failure of a safety feature associated with the operation of their self shielded dry storage irradiator. This irradiator is used to conduct testing of samples prior processing. During the performance of routine weekly safety checks of the irradiator, it was discovered that the device could be operated without closing both shielded collar doors that allow access to the sample chamber. Further investigation showed that a proximity sensor associated with one of the doors failed in the 'on' configuration which gave a false indication that the unit was ready for operation and the irradiation sequence could be initiated. No samples were being irradiated in the unit at the time of the safety check and there were no exposures of personnel as a result of the failure, nor were any elevated radiation levels detected from the device. The device was subsequently locked out of service pending repair. The next day, the licensee obtained the necessary replacement part and repairs were affected by their trained technical staff according to the manufacturer's instructions.
"The licensee has contacted the authorized service vendor, Best Industries, to discuss the matter as well as the irradiator manufacturer, MDS Nordion. This device contains an IAEA Category I quantity of radioactive material (Co-60) in a permanently shielded configuration."
Illinois Report Number IL12001
The following report was received via e-mail from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Radioactive Materials Section:
"The licensee's radiation safety officer called the Agency to advise of a failure of a safety feature associated with the operation of their self shielded dry storage irradiator. This irradiator is used to conduct testing of samples prior processing. During the performance of routine weekly safety checks of the irradiator, it was discovered that the device could be operated without closing both shielded collar doors that allow access to the sample chamber. Further investigation showed that a proximity sensor associated with one of the doors failed in the 'on' configuration which gave a false indication that the unit was ready for operation and the irradiation sequence could be initiated. No samples were being irradiated in the unit at the time of the safety check and there were no exposures of personnel as a result of the failure, nor were any elevated radiation levels detected from the device. The device was subsequently locked out of service pending repair. The next day, the licensee obtained the necessary replacement part and repairs were affected by their trained technical staff according to the manufacturer's instructions.
"The licensee has contacted the authorized service vendor, Best Industries, to discuss the matter as well as the irradiator manufacturer, MDS Nordion. This device contains an IAEA Category I quantity of radioactive material (Co-60) in a permanently shielded configuration."
Illinois Report Number IL12001