Re: Ohio Nuke plant inadequately checked

["Roger Pedersen" <RLP1@NRC.GOV>]

Matt, 



You are correct, they are separate issues.   



The first issue , which started the NRC investigations, concerns the workers that had received radioactive material intakes from a planned activity (steam generator jumping).  Several of these workers apparently left the plant with small amounts of external contamination.  This contamination was detected at several locations offsite.  However, the special onsite inspections conducted by the NRC to look into this contamination issue identified two additional regulatory issues concerning several apparent deficiencies in the work planning, radiological controls and dosimetry implemented for this work activity.  The licensee apparently failed to recognize that they were exposing the workers to significant amounts airborne fission products and transuranic isotopes.  Therefore, 1) the radiological controls implemented by the licensee were apparently inadequate (i.e., did not limit the intake with respiratory protection devices) to ensure the exposures were within the regulatory dose!

 limits, and 2) the assessments of the doses resulting from this work activity were inadequate (the wholebody counts used to quantify the radioactive material intakes are adequate for gamma emitting isotopes but not for transuranics).



These issues were discussed at a public meeting on 10/16/02.  They are preliminary inspection findings and may change (if additional information is presented) before they are made final.







>>> <willim01@mskcc.org> 10/16/02 06:04PM >>>

     

The company said it has made changes to how it judges 

radiation levels inside the plant and now requires all 

workers who go inside the steam generator to wear 

respirators. 

     

     I guess this would make sense if the workers were ingesting the 

     contamination and turning it out the other end in their hotel rooms.  

     I don't know what respiratory protection has to do w/ a RPP not 

     finding contamination on personnel.  Examples of barriers that should 

     be in place, hot particle checks, IPMs, investigating IPM alarms, exit 

     WBCs, portal monitors, history, etc.

     

     

     Matt Williamson

     

     my ramblings only...



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