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Information Notice No. 94-14: Failure to Implement Requirements for Biennial Medical Examinations and Notification to the NRC of Changes in Licensed Operator Medical Conditions
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 February 24, 1994 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 94-14: FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR BIENNIAL MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AND NOTIFICATION TO THE NRC OF CHANGES IN LICENSED OPERATOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS Addressees All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power and non-power reactors and all licensed reactor operators and senior reactor operators. Purpose The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice to remind addressees of the requirements for licensed reactor operators and senior reactor operators (licensees) to be examined by a physician every 2 years and for facility licensees to notify the NRC of changes in a licensed operator's physical or mental condition, as determined by a physician, that cause the operator to fail to meet the medical requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 55, "Operators' Licenses" (10 CFR Part 55). It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this information notice are not NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required. Background 10 CFR 55.21, "Medical examination," requires NRC-licensed operators to be examined by a physician every 2 years. The purpose of this examination is to determine if the individual meets the requirements of 10 CFR 55.33(a)(1). Further, 10 CFR 55.23 specifies that an authorized representative of the facility licensee shall complete and sign NRC Form 396, "Certification of Medical Examination by Facility Licensee," to certify the medical fitness of the individual. By signing NRC Form 396, the facility licensee certifies that (1) the guidance in American Nuclear Society Standard, ANSI/ANS 3.4-1983, "Medical Certification and Monitoring of Personnel Requiring Operator Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants," was followed in determining the medical fitness of an operator for power reactors, or (2) the guidance in ANSI/ANS 15.4-1988, "Selection and Training of Personnel for Research Reactors," was followed in determining the medical fitness of an operator for non-power reactors. If the guidance in these documents was not used, a facility licensee may certify that an alternative method, acceptable to the NRC, was used. As indicated in 10 CFR 50.54(i), the facility licensee is responsible for ensuring that (1) facility controls are manipulated only by operators licensed 9402170298. IN 94-14 February 24, 1994 Page 2 of 3 under 10 CFR Part 55 and (2) only operators so licensed are permitted to direct manipulation of the facility controls. This responsibility includes ensuring that any conditions or limitations to an operator's license are followed. Controls in this sense are defined in 10 CFR 55.4 as apparatus and mechanisms the manipulation of which directly affects the reactivity or power level of the reactor. Description of Circumstances During recent inspections of the implementation of the above requirements, the NRC determined that some facility licensees did not ensure that the restrictions or limitations to an operator's license were followed. Further, the NRC found examples where facility licensees failed to notify the NRC of changes in a licensed operator's medical condition. An inspection of licensed operator medical records at the Brunswick Steam Electric Plant found that a physician had determined that (1) the eyesight of four licensed operators did not meet the medical standards described in ANSI/ANS-3.4-1983 and (2) a licensed operator's medical condition required that the operator not perform licensee duties alone. These changes in the licensed operators' conditions should have been reported to the NRC as required by 10 CFR 55.25. In 1993, NRC inspectors found 74 instances at Region III facilities where licensed operators had not had a medical examination within the 2-year period prescribed by 10 CFR 55.21. In one instance, the time since the last medical examination exceeded 4 years. Discussion The responsibility for ensuring that only personnel licensed in accordance with 10 CFR Part 55 are permitted to manipulate or direct the manipulation of the controls of a licensed facility rests with the facility licensee. The NRC considers proper certification to medical standards, as required by 10 CFR 55.23, to be the basis for finding that a licensed operator's medical condition and general health will not adversely affect performance of assigned operator duties or cause operational errors that endanger public health and safety. 10 CFR Part 55 Subpart C, "Medical Requirements," states that licensed operators shall have a medical examination by a physician every 2 years. If, during the term of the license, the operator develops a permanent physical or mental condition that causes the operator to fail to meet the requirements of 10 CFR 55.21, the facility licensee shall, in accordance with 10 CFR 55.25, notify the Commission within 30 days of learning of the diagnosis. Deficiencies were found during NRC inspections in facility medical examination programs for applicants for licenses and for licensed operators. The results of these inspections indicate that some facility programs may not be receiving sufficient management oversight to ensure that the medical qualifications of licensed operators and applicants for licenses are maintained at the required level. This information notice reminds facility licensees that, prior to submitting NRC Form 396, the facility licensee needs to ensure that medical examinations performed by physicians for certifying the fitness of operators . IN 94-14 February 24, 1994 Page 3 of 3 are complete and accurate and that any restriction or limitation to an operator's license resulting from the examination is complied with. 10 CFR 55.25 requires that the NRC be notified when a licensed operator's medical condition no longer meets the original licensing standard and that an appropriate certification form be submitted if the facility licensee is requesting a conditional license to accommodate the change in the operator's physical or mental condition. NRC Information Notice 91-08, "Medical Examination for Licensed Operators," February 5, 1991, provides additional information on this subject. This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact one of the contacts listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager. ORIGINAL SIGNED BY Brian K. Grimes, Director Division of Operating Reactor Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Technical contacts: R. J. Conte, RI J. L. Pellet, RIV (610) 337-5210 (817) 860-8159 T. A. Peebles, RII P. J. Morrill, RV (404) 331-5541 (510) 975-0293 M. A. Ring, RIII D. J. Lange, NRR (708) 829-9703 (301) 504-3171 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Friday, May 22, 2015
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