Event Notification Report for April 07, 2020
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
04/06/2020 - 04/07/2020
Agreement State
Event Number: 54654
Rep Org: UTAH DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
Region: 4
City: SALT LAKE CITY State: UT
County:
License #: UT 1800001
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TIM BUTLER
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Licensee: THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
Region: 4
City: SALT LAKE CITY State: UT
County:
License #: UT 1800001
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TIM BUTLER
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Notification Date: 04/09/2020
Notification Time: 09:21 [ET]
Event Date: 04/07/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 04/09/2020
Notification Time: 09:21 [ET]
Event Date: 04/07/2020
Event Time: 00:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 04/09/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
GREG PICK (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
GREG PICK (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - IRRADIATOR APERTURE FAILED TO CLOSE
The following information was received via E-mail:
"The aperture electronic opening and closing mechanism malfunctioned on a J.L. Shepard Mark I series irradiator while the aperture was open. There was a smell of burning wires and visible smoke. The analysts cut power to the unit and notified department management. Utilizing portable shielding, and following ALARA principles, the attenuator of the device was able to be closed, which significantly reduced dose rates. Currently, the aperture is stuck partially open and the attenuator is closed. At 1.5 meters from the point of highest dose, the rate is approximately 10 mR/hr. Both analysts were wearing Mirion Instadose dosimeters and the measured dose to both dosimeters was less than the minimum read amount of 1 mrem.
"The irradiator is located in a shielded calibration room located in the waste building. There is no dose rate above background in any area, accessible by either non-radiation workers or members of the public, around the building where the calibration room is located. The area has been securely locked, the door alarm is activated, and there are signs placed to remind everyone to not use the device.
"Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control personnel were notified of the incident via normal work E-mail after the conclusion of the business of the day on April 8, 2020. The notification was not read until the morning of April 9, 2020 when normal business resumed and was then assigned to appropriate staff.
"The device manufacturer has been contacted to determine repair options."
Utah Event Report ID No.: UT 200004
The following information was received via E-mail:
"The aperture electronic opening and closing mechanism malfunctioned on a J.L. Shepard Mark I series irradiator while the aperture was open. There was a smell of burning wires and visible smoke. The analysts cut power to the unit and notified department management. Utilizing portable shielding, and following ALARA principles, the attenuator of the device was able to be closed, which significantly reduced dose rates. Currently, the aperture is stuck partially open and the attenuator is closed. At 1.5 meters from the point of highest dose, the rate is approximately 10 mR/hr. Both analysts were wearing Mirion Instadose dosimeters and the measured dose to both dosimeters was less than the minimum read amount of 1 mrem.
"The irradiator is located in a shielded calibration room located in the waste building. There is no dose rate above background in any area, accessible by either non-radiation workers or members of the public, around the building where the calibration room is located. The area has been securely locked, the door alarm is activated, and there are signs placed to remind everyone to not use the device.
"Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control personnel were notified of the incident via normal work E-mail after the conclusion of the business of the day on April 8, 2020. The notification was not read until the morning of April 9, 2020 when normal business resumed and was then assigned to appropriate staff.
"The device manufacturer has been contacted to determine repair options."
Utah Event Report ID No.: UT 200004
Non-Agreement State
Event Number: 54649
Rep Org: TILDEN MINING CO.
Licensee: TILDEN MINING CO.
Region: 3
City: ISHPEMING State: MI
County:
License #: 21-26748-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LARRY GRAY
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Licensee: TILDEN MINING CO.
Region: 3
City: ISHPEMING State: MI
County:
License #: 21-26748-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: LARRY GRAY
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Notification Date: 04/08/2020
Notification Time: 11:25 [ET]
Event Date: 04/07/2020
Event Time: 14:09 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/08/2020
Notification Time: 11:25 [ET]
Event Date: 04/07/2020
Event Time: 14:09 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/08/2020
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Person (Organization):
MICHAEL KUNOWSKI (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
MICHAEL KUNOWSKI (R3DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
STUCK SHUTTER
The following is a summary of the report received from the licensee:
On 4/7/2020 a trained technician was in the process of performing the bi-annual inventory/shutter checks when he reported that an Ohmart gauge (Model Number ED-6, Serial Number 65902, 100 mCi, Cs-137) located on 9B DTU (Deslime Thickener U/Flow) in the Deslime basement had a frozen shutter mechanism, rendering the shutter non-operable. The technician notified the Radiation Safety Officer who then instructed the technician to replace the gauge with the stuck shutter with a spare gauge. However, the replacement will not take place until the line it is on goes down for repair (estimated May 1, 2020). If the line goes down prior to this time, the licensee will replace the gauge at that time.
The licensee noted that they have had events similar to this in the past and have not had an exposure to any individuals. The licensee additionally noted that in the event of an emergency, the gauge will be removed, placed on a piece of lead and brought into storage.
The following is a summary of the report received from the licensee:
On 4/7/2020 a trained technician was in the process of performing the bi-annual inventory/shutter checks when he reported that an Ohmart gauge (Model Number ED-6, Serial Number 65902, 100 mCi, Cs-137) located on 9B DTU (Deslime Thickener U/Flow) in the Deslime basement had a frozen shutter mechanism, rendering the shutter non-operable. The technician notified the Radiation Safety Officer who then instructed the technician to replace the gauge with the stuck shutter with a spare gauge. However, the replacement will not take place until the line it is on goes down for repair (estimated May 1, 2020). If the line goes down prior to this time, the licensee will replace the gauge at that time.
The licensee noted that they have had events similar to this in the past and have not had an exposure to any individuals. The licensee additionally noted that in the event of an emergency, the gauge will be removed, placed on a piece of lead and brought into storage.