Radioactive Materials Inspections - What To Expect

           

INSPECTORS• Cliff R. Harris, PhD

• Western Region

• Sharn M. Jeffries• Central Region

• Randy Crowe• Southeast Region

• Henry Barnes• Grant T. Mills

• IC/Security Inspections Statewide

Regional Map

CC

Cliff

Sharn Randy

Vacant

Inspections

• Inspection Frequencies:– Health & Safety

• Typically every 4 or 5 years• Depends on possession limits• More Frequently for Losses, Thefts, Escalated

Enforcement

Inspections• “Un-announced”

– Mandated by USNRC (Feds)• Inspect Against:

– License– Application– Regulations

• Tour Facility• Conduct Interviews• Records Review

Inspections

• Inspect Against– License

• Licensee’s Radioactive Materials License– Application

• Application submitted to obtain the Radioactive Materials License

– Regulations• Applicable regs outlined in 15A NCAC 11 North

Carolina Regulations for Protection Against Radiation

Inspections

• Opening Conference with Management– Introduction– Discuss inspection– Discuss scope of inspection– Discuss previous inspection findings– Discuss required PPE and/or Training for

Inspector– Request Management Closeout meeting

Inspections

• FACILITY TOUR– Walk through facility where Radioactive

Material is used or stored– Observe surroundings– Conduct confirmatory surveys– Observe security– Observe required postings– Take Photos (with permission)

Inspections

• CONDUCT INTERVIEWS – During Facility Tour– Radiation Workers– Non Radiation Workers in Area

– Discuss general safety, training, length of employ, emergencies, spills, emergency contacts, thefts, security………..

Inspections• REVIEW RECORDS

– Receipt– Sources– Disposals– Leak Tests, Shutter Tests, Inventory– Service and Installation– Storage– Training– Annual Review– Organizational Chart– Emergencies– Losses or Thefts– Security

Inspections

• Purpose:– To ensure the health and safety of:

• The Public• Radiation Workers• The Environment

– When using radioactive materials

Inspections

• TOP 10 INSPECTION FINDINGS

Inspections

• #10 No Radiation Protection Program– Buyouts– Change in Ownership– Personnel Changes/Retirements– Bankruptcy– Abandonment

Inspections

• #9 Security– Unsecured Devices– Unsecured Storage– Unsecured Facilities

Inspections

• #8 Leak Testing– “Device Specific”

• 6 month • 3 years

– Records must be on file

Inspections

• #7 Physical Inventory– 6 months– Recorded for each device

• “Eyes On”• Isotope• Serial Number• Manufacturer• Date• Name of person conducting inventory

Inspections

• #6 Shutter Testing– Device– Serial Number– Shutter Test– Pass Fail– Date– Name of person conducting shutter test

Inspections

• #5 Training– Authorized Training from Manufacturer or

other training approved by Agency– Specific to Job/Device/Isotope

• Awareness• Leak Testing/Shutter Testing/Inventory• Removal and Relocation

Inspections

• #4 Disposal Records– RAM Waste records must be kept for the

lifetime of the licensee– Written documentation and disposal

confirmation – Transferred or disposed to a licensee only

Inspections

• #3 Receipt & Installation Records– Must show receipt date– Must show approved installation

(manufacturer)– Installed in accordance with Device Registry– Records must be complete– Must fit within requirements of the RAM

License

Inspections

• #2 Loss, Thefts, Improper Disposals– Numbers Increasing b/c of economy

• Plant shut downs• Bankruptcy

– Lack of security– Disgruntled employees– “Metal Recyclers”

Inspections

• #1 Annual Program Review– .1603 Annual Radiation Protection Program

Review– Program Specific– Must Conduct & Document

• “Like your Taxes”– Most frequently cited violation across all

licensees

Inspections

• Questions?