Event Notification Report for July 26, 2019

FITNESS FOR DUTY REPORT - CONFIRMED POSITIVE TEST FOR ALCOHOL

A non-licensed employee supervisor had a confirmed positive for alcohol during a random fitness-for-duty test. The employee's access to the plant has been terminated.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

INVALID CONTAINMENT VENTILATION ISOLATION ACTUATION

"This 60-day telephone notification is being submitted in accordance with paragraphs 10 CFR 50.73(a)(1) and 50.73(a)(2)(iv)(A) to report an invalid Containment Ventilation Isolation (CVI) actuation at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) Unit 2.

"On July 26, 2019, at 1003 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), the Train A CVI actuated due to an invalid High Radiation signal from 2-RM-90-130, Containment Purge Air Exhaust Monitor. Prior to and following the invalid High Radiation alarm, all radiation monitors except 2-RM-90-130 were stable at their normal values. All required automatic actuations occurred as designed. Upon investigation, the cause of the invalid High Radiation alarm was due to a failed ratemeter for 2-RM-90-130.

"Control room operators performed appropriate checks and confirmed that the subject indication was an invalid high radiation signal. The ratemeter for 2-RM-90-130 was replaced and the monitor returned to service. At the time of the event, plant conditions for a High Radiation alarm did not exist; therefore, the CVI was invalid.

"The NRC Resident Inspector was notified."

EN Revision Imported Date: 1/14/2022

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST BRACHYTHERAPY SEED

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

"It has come to our attention during our IMPEP review that we have some events that were not directly reported to the HOO as required. They were reported to NMED, but we are now reporting them directly to the HOO.

"Abbott Northwestern Hospital (ANH) reported the loss of a 6.845 MBq (185 microCi) I-125 localization seed (Best Medical International model 2301, lot #48287) from the ANW Piper Breast Center on 7/26/2019. A tissue specimen containing the seed was removed from a patient and transported to pathology. The pathology assistant removed the seed from the specimen and placed it adjacent to the specimen in the workspace. After the pathologist and surgeon examined the specimen, the assistant noticed that the seed was missing. ANH conducted radiation surveys of the surrounding area (staff clothing, shoes, and adjacent hallways), but did not locate the seed. ANH believes that while the pathologist and surgeon were examining the specimen, the seed was bumped into the sink and washed down the drain. Corrective actions included procedure modification and providing additional training to personnel. During subsequent procedures, pathology staff will place the seed into a lead container before the pathologist and surgeon examine the specimen."

Minnesota event number: 190004

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