NRC Daily Event Report of Problem with Survey Instrument-FYI

[Judd Sills <sillsj@GAT.COM>]

The NRC Daily Event Report contained information of a 10CFR21 report
made by Victoreen regarding a defect with the model 530 survey instrument
that could result in unplanned personnel exposures under some circumstances.
Radsafers using these instruments may wish to evaluate the problem
or contact Victoreen for further details.

Best regards to all
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====
+----------------------------------+              +-----------------------+
    
|GENERAL INFORMATION or OTHER      |              |EVENT NUMBER:  32017   |
    
+----------------------------------+              +-----------------------+
    
+------------------------------------------------+--------------------------
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|LICENSEE: VICTOREEN, INC.                       |NOTIFICATION DATE:
03/25/97  |
|    CITY: SOLON                  REGION: 3      |NOTIFICATION TIME: 18:23
[ET]|
|  COUNTY:                         STATE: OH     |EVENT DATE:
04/15/96  |
|LICENSE#:                     AGREEMENT: N      |EVENT TIME:
18:23[EST]|
|  DOCKET:                                       |LAST UPDATE DATE:
03/25/97  |
|
+-----------------------------+
|                                                |PERSON
ORGANIZATION|
|                                                |ROGER LANKSBURY      RDO
   |
|                                                |
   |
+------------------------------------------------+
   |
|NRC NOTIFIED BY: LINDA NASH                     |VERN HODGE           NRR
   |
|HQ OPS OFFICER:  RUDY KARSCH                    |
   |
+------------------------------------------------+
   |
|EMERGENCY CLASS: NOT APPLICABLE                 |
   |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |
   |
|CDEG 21.21(c)(3)(i)      DEFECTS/NONCOMPLIANCE  |
   |
|                                                |
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|                                                |
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|                                                |
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|                                                |
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+------------------------------------------------+--------------------------
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                                   EVENT TEXT
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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| RESISTOR NETWORKS IN MODEL 530 INSTRUMENTS CAN CRACK, CAUSING IT TO
BECOME   |
| NON-FUNCTIONAL. MEASUREMENTS MADE WITH DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENTS COULD RESULT
   |
| IN ADDITIONAL RADIATION EXPOSURES. IF THE INSTRUMENT IS USED AS A
   |
| CALIBRATION STANDARD, ALL CALIBRATED DEVICES WOULD BE IN ERROR. SURVEY
   |
| METERS AND PERSONAL DOSIMETERS COULD BE AFFECTED. RADIATION WORKERS COULD
   |
| BE EXPOSED UNNECESSARILY, POSSIBLY EXCEEDING ALLOWED LIMITS.
   |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Judd M. Sills, CHP           |   Office: (619)455-2049
General Atomics, Room 01-166C|      Fax: (619)455-3181
3550 General Atomics Court   |   E-Mail:  sillsj@gat.com
San Diego, CA  92121         |