Keypads... Remember

["J. J. Rozental" <josrozen@netmedia.net.il>]

Only  to remember...

J.J. Rozental <josrozen@netmedia.net.il>
Consultant, Raadiation Safety & Regulation
for Developing Countries


====================================

United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
                Office of Public Affairs, Region I
                      475 Allendale Road  King of Prussia, PA 19401
                      Phone:  610/337-5330      Fax:  610/337-5241
                      Internet:    dps@nrc.gov  or vld@nrc.gov


I-96-56
August 23, 1996     
Contact:  Diane Screnci                                               FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
               Victor Dricks


NRC STAFF PROPOSES $2500 CIVIL PENALTY
AGAINST NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

     The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a $2500 fine
against the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for failing to secure from
unauthorized access licensed radioactive materials used in research at the
NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

     NRC found during inspections beginning on July 6 and October 23 of last
year that small quantities of radioactive materials were kept inside
unlocked refrigerators within unlocked laboratories, with no one present to
control access to the materials.  

     The violations found in July 1995 were identified by an NRC augmented
inspection team, while those identified in October 1995 were found by
another NRC special team inspection.  The augmented inspection team was sent
to NIH as the result of the ingestion of radioactive phosphorus-32 by a
pregnant researcher and 26 additional NIH staff members. Investigations of
the ingestion of radioactive material have not yet been completed, and NRC
has not yet reached a decision on enforcement action for these events. 

     In notifying NIH of the proposed fine, NRC Regional Administrator
Hubert J. Miller said, "It is a significant regulatory concern that NRC
inspectors repeatedly have been able to gain access to licensed materials at
your facility without challenge, because it indicates that members of the
public may do so as well."

     The NRC is particularly concerned with the number of examples of this
violation and the fact that previous violations of security requirements
were identified during NRC inspections in April through May 1994, and in
June 1995, Mr. Miller said.

     NRC acknowledged that NIH has recently taken corrective actions,
including immediate confiscation of unsecured radioactive materials,
amendment of its security policy and initiation of a security monitoring
program.  However, these corrective actions were not appropriately
comprehensive to prevent recurrence of the security violations, NRC said.
An additional NRC inspection on November 7 through 9, 1995, identified three
more instances in which unattended licensed radioactive materials were not
locked up. 
     The NRC also cited NIH for several other violations, for which fines
were not proposed.  The additional violations include:

     --   Workers not wearing extremity radiation monitoring badges, and not
returning
          the film badges and ring badges each month, as required;

     --   Users obtaining radioactive materials without providing required
information
          regarding the identity of the intended users or the signature of
an authorized
          investigator;

     --   Researchers performing licensed activities without first receiving
required
          training; and

     --   Failing to perform thyroid bioassay measurements of researchers
who handled
          certain quantities of Iodine-125.

     NIH has 30 days either to pay the fine or protest its imposition.

________________________________________________________

Return to NRC News Release Listing
Return to Office of Public Affairs Page

Send Questions or Comments to opa@nrc.gov




_