The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is in the process of rescinding or revising guidance and policies posted on this webpage in accordance with Executive Order 14151 Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, and Executive Order 14168 Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. In the interim, any previously issued diversity, equity, inclusion, or gender-related guidance on this webpage should be considered rescinded that is inconsistent with these Executive Orders.

Event Notification Report for November 11, 2019

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center

Event Reports For
11/8/2019 - 11/11/2019

** EVENT NUMBERS **


543635436854378


Agreement State Event Number: 54363
Rep Org: ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MGMT. AGENCY
Licensee: FIRST AMERICA METAL CORP
Region: 3
City: MORRIS   State: IL
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: GARY FORSEE
HQ OPS Officer: THOMAS KENDZIA
Notification Date: 10/31/2019
Notification Time: 17:13 [ET]
Event Date: 10/31/2019
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 10/31/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(i) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>1000X
Person (Organization):
KENNETH RIEMER (R3DO)
ILTAB (EMAIL)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

GENERAL LICENSEE LOST THREE PORTABLE DEVICES CONTAINING AM-241

The following was received from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via phone and email:

During Agency [Illinois Emergency Management Agency] efforts to pursue an annual self-inspection report from a general licensee (First America Metal Corp), it was discovered that three Niton XLp-818 XRF [x-ray fluorescence analyzer] devices containing 30 milliCuries of Am-241 each could not be accounted for. The facility is located in Morris, IL. On October 28, 2019, the Agency asked for physical verification of the devices. The devices were initially shipped from the manufacturer in 2005 and 2006. Agency staff confirmed with the manufacturer that these devices had not been received or returned (confirmation received 10/31/19). The Agency again contacted the licensee on October 31, 2019. At that point, the licensee confirmed that search activities have ceased and they were officially declaring the devices as lost. Correspondence from the US Dept. of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, dated February 16, 2010, indicates there may have been export of Niton XRF devices by this general licensee; however, it does not appear to be related to the devices missing at this time. There is no indication of theft or intentional diversion. The quantity of material present, while not presenting an immediate exposure concern to any individuals requires immediate reporting to IEMA/NRC.

By design, electronic opening of the shutter requires that the operator power on the unit and enter a password. As a precaution, the instrument will only operate for a six year period before an inspection by the manufacturer is required. Due to the fact the unit has not been serviced, the software in the instrument will not allow the instrument to be operated. In the shielded position, the radiation levels surrounding the device are indistinguishable from background. Should the tungsten source holder be manually opened, exposure rates may be up to 122 mR/hour at 5 cm.

Illinois Item Number: IL190034

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


Agreement State Event Number: 54368
Rep Org: MISSISSIPPI DIV OF RAD HEALTH
Licensee: MISTRAS
Region: 4
City: Pascagoula   State: MS
County: Jackson
License #: 12-16559-02
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: JASON MOHA
HQ OPS Officer: DAN LIVERMORE
Notification Date: 11/03/2019
Notification Time: 11:38 [ET]
Event Date: 11/02/2019
Event Time: 10:40 [CST]
Last Update Date: 11/08/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2202(b)(1) - PERS OVEREXPOSURE/TEDE >= 5 REM
Person (Organization):
JOHN DIXON (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)

Event Text

POTENTIAL OVEREXPOSURE OF RADIOGRAPHER

The following was received from the Mississippi Division of Radiological Health via phone:

A radiographer was exposed to a 100 Curie Ir-192 source for 8 minutes while changing film during a radiography shot. The radiographer was not wearing dosimetry and did not have a hand held radiation meter. While changing film, the radiographer realized the source had not been retracted and left the area. This was not an equipment malfunction, and the source was retracted when it was realized that the radiographer had been exposed. The radiographer reported the event to the Mistras Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). Estimated dose is 20 Rem to the hands and 19.6 to 19.7 Rem whole body. The radiographer was sent to a local hospital for bloodwork.

* * * UPDATE FROM ROBERT SIMS TO HOWIE CROUCH VIA EMAIL AT 1706 EST ON 11/8/19 * * *

"[A state of Mississippi Health Physicist investigator] interviewed the RSO on 11/7/2019 and investigated the incident. After reviewing and questioning the incident details, [the investigator] found the following evidence that may determine this may not have been an overexposure. The assistant radiographer retracted the source, but did not perform the bump test to fully retract the source into the locked position. This caused the assistant radiographer to believe the source was still in the collimator. When returning to change the film, he saw the red button on the camera instead of green which would indicate the source was in the locked position. The assistant was not using dosimetry, rate alarm or survey instrumentation. He appears to have panicked, came down the ladder, and couldn't get the crank to move in. The lead radiographer then grabbed the crank and cranked out and back in immediately to fully retract the source into the camera. [The investigator] reviewed compliant leak tests of camera and wipes along with maintenance and service reports before and after the incident and the RSO could not replicate any problems that would prevent them from retracting the source. There was no malfunction with the camera or the cranks. It appears that the source was in the end of the camera but not in the fully shielded position, which could allow some radiation out of the tube that the source enters. However, we do not know how much because the assistant was not wearing any dosimetry. The other assistant's dosimetry only picked up 1 milliRem of dose but he was approximately 25 ft. away with steel shielding from the tank they were working on in between him and the source. [The investigator is] waiting on the emergency reading of the doses recorded on the OSL badges used by the crew and follow up doctor's visit. [The investigator] interviewed [the assistant radiographer on] 11/8/2019 at 1549 CST. [The assistant radiographer] reports that he had more blood drawn today and will provide results next week. He said he feels great and has had no sickness such as nausea, pain or redness and swelling in the hands. Will update again next week after receiving lab results."


Power Reactor Event Number: 54378
Facility: HARRIS
Region: 2     State: NC
Unit: [1] [] []
RX Type: [1] W-3-LP
NRC Notified By: CHUCK YARLEY
HQ OPS Officer: BRIAN P. SMITH
Notification Date: 11/09/2019
Notification Time: 13:28 [ET]
Event Date: 11/09/2019
Event Time: 06:35 [EST]
Last Update Date: 11/09/2019
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(v)(A) - POT UNABLE TO SAFE SD
Person (Organization):
ERIC MICHEL (R2DO)
Unit SCRAM Code RX Crit Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
1 N N 0 Refueling 0 Refueling

Event Text

BOTH SOURCE RANGE INSTRUMENTS FOUND INOPERABLE

"At November 9, 2019, at 0635 EST, it was discovered that both source range instrumentation channels were simultaneously inoperable; therefore, this condition is being reported as an eight-hour, non-emergency notification per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(A). The neutron flux monitoring system was OPERABLE during this time period.

"NRC Resident Inspectors have been notified."

It was determined that with one of two source range instruments out of service for planned maintenance, an operator found the other operable source range instrument out-of-calibration. Upon further investigation, the out-of-calibration instrument had a bad potentiometer with its power supply, thus rendering both instruments inoperable.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 25, 2021