Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
SSINS No.: 6835
IN 83-81
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
DECEMBER 7, 1983
Information Notice No. 83-81: ENTRY INTO HIGH RADIATION AREAS FROM
AREAS WHICH ARE NOT UNDER DIRECT
SURVEILLANCE
Addressees:
All licensees authorized to use portable radiography devices in radiography
programs.
Purpose:
This information notice is provided as a notification of a potentially
significant problem pertaining to entry into high radiation areas from
outside the area under direct surveillance.
Description of Circumstances:
During a recent routine radiographic operation on a pipeline in Alaska, an
incident occurred which could have resulted in a significant exposure to a
member of the public. The work involved the radiographic examination of
welds on a 24-inch-diameter pipeline. While the exposures were being made, a
welder was crawling through the pipe near the section being radiographed.
The welder had entered the pipe on a crawler some 300 feet from the
radiographic operation and was to perform "backweld" repairs from within the
pipeline. His presence in the pipe was unknown and undetected by the
radiography crew.
Radiographers or their assistants are required by 10 CFR 34.41 to maintain
direct surveillance of radiographic operations to protect against
unauthorized entry into a high radiation area except when the high radiation
area is equipped with a control device or an alarm system or where the high
radiation area is locked to protect against entry. During this operation,
the radiography crew was employing direct visual surveillance from their
positions external to the pipe. The high radiation area inside the pipe was
not under surveillance nor was access to it controlled by the radiography
crew.
Discussion:
It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability
to their operations and consider actions, if appropriate, to preclude a
similar problem from occurring.
8311010029
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IN 83-81
December 7, 1983
Page 2 of 2
We suggest that radiography crews be aware that high radiation areas are not
always within vision. While access to these areas may normally be considered
unlikely, it remains the responsibility of the licensee to control access
when radiographic operations are in progress.
No written response to this information notice is required. If you have any
questions regarding this matter, please contact the Regional Administrator
of the appropriate NRC regional office, or this office.
James G. Partlow, Acting Director
Division of Quality Assurance, Safeguards
and Inspection Programs, IE
Technical Contact: J. R. Metzger, IE
(301) 492-4947
Attachment:
Recently Issued IE Information Notices
.
