Information Notice 1994-14, Failure to Implement Requirements for Biennial Medical Examinations and Notification to the NRC of Changes in Licensed Operator Medical Conditions
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555
February 24, 1994
FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR BIENNIAL
MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AND NOTIFICATION TO THE
NRC OF CHANGES IN LICENSED OPERATOR MEDICAL
CONDITIONS
Addressees
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
and non-power reactors and all licensed reactor operators and senior reactor
operators.
PurDose
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information
notice to remind addressees of the requirements for licensed reactor operators
and senior reactor operators (licensees) to be examined by a physician every
2 years and for facility licensees to notify the NRC of changes in a licensed
operator's physical or mental condition, as determined by a physician, that
cause the operator to fail to meet the medical requirements of Title 10 of the
Code of Federal Regulations Part 55, "Operators' Licenses" (10 CFR Part 55).
It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability
and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this information notice are not NRC requirements;
therefore, no specific action or written response is required.
Background
10 CFR 55.21, "Medical examination," requires NRC-licensed operators to be
examined by a physician every 2 years. The purpose of this examination is to
determine if the individual meets the requirements of 10 CFR 55.33(a)(1).
Further, 10 CFR 55.23 specifies that an authorized representative of the
facility licensee shall complete and sign NRC Form 396, "Certification of
Medical Examination by Facility Licensee," to certify the medical fitness of
the individual.
By signing NRC Form 396, the facility licensee certifies that
(1) the guidance in American Nuclear Society Standard, ANSI/ANS 3.4-1983,
"Medical Certification and Monitoring of Personnel Requiring Operator Licenses
for Nuclear Power Plants," was followed in determining the medical fitness of
an operator for power reactors, or (2) the guidance in ANSI/ANS 15.4-1988,
"Selection and Training of Personnel for Research Reactors," was followed in
determining the medical fitness of an operator for non-power reactors.
If the
guidance in these documents was not used, a facility licensee may certify that
an alternative method, acceptable to the NRC, was used.
As indicated in 10 CFR 50.54(i), the facility licensee is responsible for
ensuring that (1) facility controls are manipulated only by operators licensed
9402170298 p
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--iN 94-14 February 24, 1994 under 10 CFR Part 55 and (2) only operators so licensed are permitted to
direct manipulation of the facility controls. This responsibility includes
ensuring that any conditions or limitations to an operator's license are
followed. Controls in this sense are defined in 10 CFR 55.4 as apparatus and
mechanisms the manipulation of which directly affects the reactivity or power
level of the reactor.
Description of Circumstances
During recent inspections of the implementation of the above requirements, the NRC determined that some facility licensees did not ensure that the
restrictions or limitations to an operator's license were followed. Further, the NRC found examples where facility licensees failed to notify the NRC of
changes in a licensed operator's medical condition. An inspection of licensed
operator medical records at the Brunswick Steam Electric Plant found that a
physician had determined that (1) the eyesight of four licensed operators did
not meet the medical standards described in ANSI/ANS-3.4-1983 and (2) a
licensed operator's medical condition required that the operator not perform
licensee duties alone. These changes in the licensed operators' conditions
should have been reported to the NRC as required by 10 CFR 55.25. In 1993, NRC inspectors found 74 instances at Region III facilities where licensed
operators had not had a medical examination within the 2-year period
prescribed by 10 CFR 55.21. In one instance, the time since the last medical
examination exceeded 4 years.
Discussion
The responsibility for ensuring that only personnel licensed in accordance
with 10 CFR Part 55 are permitted to manipulate or direct the manipulation of
the controls of a licensed facility rests with the facility licensee. The NRC
considers proper certification to medical standards, as required by
10 CFR 55.23, to be the basis for finding that a licensed operator's medical
condition and general health will not adversely affect performance of assigned
operator duties or cause operational errors that endanger public health and
safety.
10 CFR Part 55 Subpart C, "Medical Requirements," states that
licensed operators shall have a medical examination by a physician every
2 years.
If, during the term of the license, the operator develops a
permanent physical or mental condition that causes the operator to fail to
meet the requirements of 10 CFR 55.21, the facility licensee shall, in
accordance with 10 CFR 55.25, notify the Commission within 30 days of learning
of the diagnosis.
Deficiencies were found during NRC inspections in facility medical examination
programs for applicants for licenses and for licensed operators.
The results
of these inspections indicate that some facility programs may not be receiving
sufficient management oversight to ensure that the medical qualifications of
licensed operators and applicants for licenses are maintained at the required
level. This information notice reminds facility licensees that, prior to
submitting NRC Form 396, the facility licensee needs to ensure that medical
examinations performed by physicians for certifying the fitness of operators
Att'avthment
February 24, 1994 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
Information
Date of
Notice No.
Subject
Issuance
Issued to
92-36, Supp. I
94-I3
94-12
94-11
Intersystem LOCA
Outside Containment
Unanticipated and Un- intended Movement of
Fuel Assemblies and
Other Components due to
Improper Operation of
Refueling Equipment
Insights Gained from
Resolving Generic
Issue 57: Effects of
Fire Protection System
Actuation on Safety-
Related Equipment
Turbine Overspeed and
Reactor Cooldown during
Shutdown Evolution
Failure of Motor-Operated
Valve Electric Power
Train due to Sheared or
Dislodged Motor Pinion
Gear Key
Release of Patients with
Residual Radioactivity
from Medical Treatment and
Control of Areas due to
Presence of Patients Con- taining Radioactivity
Following Implementation
of Revised 10 CFR Part 20
Potential for Surveil- lance Testing to Fail
to Detect an Inoperable
Main Steam Isolation Valve
02/22/94
02/22/94
02/09/94
02/08/94
02/04/94
02/03/94
01/01/94
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission medical
licensees.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
94-10
94-09
94-08 OL = Operating License
CP - Construction Permit
K-'
\\%U-4N 94-14 February 24, 1994 are complete and accurate and that any restriction or limitation to an
operator's license resulting from the examination is complied with.
10 CFR 55.25 requires that the NRC be notified when a licensed operator's
medical condition no longer meets the original licensing standard and that an
appropriate certification form be submitted if the facility licensee is
requesting a conditional license to accommodate the change in the operator's
physical or mental condition. NRC Information Notice 91-08, "Medical
Examination for Licensed Operators," February 5, 1991, provides additional
information on this subject.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response.
If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
one of the contacts listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Odginal signed by
Brian IL Grmes
Brian K. Grimes, Director
Division of Operating Reactor Support
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contacts:
R. J.
(610)
Conte, RI
337-5210
J. L.
(817)
Pellet, RIV
860-8159 T. A.
(404)
M. A.
(708)
Peebles, R11
331-5541 Ring, RIII
829-9703
P. J. Morrill, RV
(510) 975-0293 D. J.
(301)
Lange, NRR
504-3171 Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
SEE PREVIOUS
Region I
RConte*
01/27/94 CONCURRENCE*
Region II
TPeebles*
01/28/94 Region III
MRing*
01/27/94 Region IV
JPellet*
01/25/94 Region V
PMorrill*
02/02/94 HOLB:DRCH:NRR
DLange*
01/26/94 TechEd
RSanders*
01/13/94 C/HOLB:DRCH:NRR
RGallo*
01/24/94 OGCB:DORS:NRR
JBirmingham*
02/03/94 C/ONDD:NRR
SWeiss*
01/27/94 AC/OGCB:DORS:NRR
AJKugler*
02/07/94 D/DRCH:NRR
BBoger*
01/26!/
9
9-O$7IC/94 OFFICIAL DOCUMENT NAME:
94-14. IN
K...AIN 94-14 February 24, 1994 are complete and accurate and that any restriction or limitation to an
operator's license resulting from the examination is complied with.
10 CFR 55.25 requires that the NRC be notified when a licensed operator's
medical condition no longer meets the original licensing standard and that an
appropriate certification form be submitted if the facility licensee is
requesting a conditional license to accommodate the change in the operator's
physical or mental condition. NRC Information Notice 91-08, "Medical
Examination for Licensed Operators," February 5, 1991, provides additional
information on this subject.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
one of the contacts listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Brian K. Grimes, Director
Division of Operating Reactor Support
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contacts: R. J. Conte, RI
J. L. Pellet, RIV
(610) 337-5210
(817) 860-8159 T. A. Peebles, R11
P. J. Morrill, RV
(404) 331-5541
(510) 975-0293 M. A. Ring, RIII
D. J. Lange, NRR
(708) 829-9703
(301) 504-3171 Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
K.- /
IN 94-XX
February X, 1994 It is important that the NRC be notified when a licensed operator's medical
condition no longer meets the original licensing standard and that the
facility licensee is requesting a conditional license to accommodate the
change in the operator's physical or mental condition. NRC Information Notice 91-08, 'Medical Examination for Licensed Operators," February 5, 1991, provides additional information on this subject.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response.
If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
one of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Brian K. Grimes, Director
Division of Operating Reactor Support
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contacts:
R. J.
(215)
Conte, RI
337-5210
J. L.
(817)
Pellet, RIV
860-8159 T. A.
(404)
M. A.
(708)
Peebles, RII
331-5541 Ring, RIII
829-9703
P. J. Morrill, RV
(510) 975-0293 D. J.
(301)
Lange, NRR
504-3171 Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE*
Region I
Region II
RConte
TPeebles
01/ /94
01/ /94 Region III
MRing
01/ /94 Region IV
JPellet*
01/24/94 Region V
PMorrill
01/ /94 HOLB:DRCH:NRR
DLange*
01/26/94 C/HOLB:DRCH:NRR
RGallo*
01/24/94 D/DRCH:NRR
BBoger*
01/26/94 C/ONDD:NRR
SWei ss
01/ /94 TechEd
RSanders
01/13/94 OGCB:DORS:NRR
JBirmingham
01/ /94 C/OGCB:DORS:NRR
GHMarcus
01/ /94 D/DORS:NRR
BKGrimes
01/ /94 OFFICIAL DOCUMENT NAME: MDCLEXAM.JLB
IN 94-XX
January, XX, 1994
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
one of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Brian K. Grimes, Director
Division of Operating Reactor Support
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contacts:
R. J. Conte, RI
(215) 337-5210
J. L. Pellet, RIV
(817) 860-8159
T. A. Peebles, RII
(404) 331-5541 P. J.
(510)
Morrill, RV
975-0293 Lange, NRR
504-3171 M. A.
(708)
Ring, RIII
829-9703 D. J.
(301)
Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE*
Region I
Region II
RConte
TPeebles
01/ /94
01/ /94 Region III
MRing
01/
/94 Region LYAc-Region V
JPelletC"'f6PMorrill
01/xqJ/94
01/
/94 HOLB:DRCIJ:VR
C/HOLB:D
DLangej0
..
,j
.RGallo*
01 A /94L d1
01/24/94 TechEd
P OGCB:DORS:NRR
RSandefst* JBirmingham
01/13/94
01/ /94 RCH:NRR
O /
/94 C/ONDD:NRR
SWeiss
01/ /94 D/DORS:NRR
BKGrimes
01/ /94 C/OGCB:DORS:NRR
GHMarcus
01/ /94 OFFICIAL DOCUMENT NAME:
MDCLEXAM.JLB
j.-1 IN 94-XX
January, XX, 1994
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
one of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Brian K. Grimes, Director
Division of Operating Reactor Support
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contacts:
L. H. Bettenhausen, RI
215-337-5291 J. L. Pellet,
817-860-8159 RIV
L. L. Lawyer, RII
404-331-4700
M. A. Ring, RII
708-790-5602 P. J. Morrill,
510-975-0293 RV
D. J. Lange, NRR
301-504-3171 Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE*
Region I
Region II
LBettenhausen
LLawyer
O/ /94
01/ /94 Region III
MRing
01/ /94 Region IV
JPellet
01/ /94 Region V
PMorrill
01/ /94
- NRR
M0
0 1
/
C/HOLB: RES5ERR
RGallo MP
01/y294 D/DRCH:NRR
BBoger
01/ /94 C/ONDD:NRR
SWeiss
01/ /94 D/DORS:NRR
BKGrimes
01/ /94 OGC
SLewis
01/ /94 TechEd 8 8 RSandergl
01/13/94 OGCB:DORS:NRR
JBirmingham
01/ /94 C/OGCB:DORS:NRR
GHMarcus
01/ /94 OFFICIAL DOCUMENT NAME: MDCLEXAM.JLB
IN 94-XX
January, XX, 1994
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
one of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Brian K. Grimes, Director
Division of Operating Reactor Support
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contacts:
R. J.
(215)
Conte, RI
337-5210
J. L. Pellet, RIV
(817) 860-8159 T. A.
(404)
Peebles, RII
331-5541 P. J.
(510)
Morrill, RV
975-0293 Lange, NRR
504-3171
M. A. Ring, RIII
(708) 829-9703 D. J.
(301)
Attachment:
List of Recently
SEE PREVIOV ON(
Region IWjL#
RConte
01/247/9 C/HOLB:DRCH:NRR
RGallo*
01/24/94 TechEd
OGCB:
RSanders
JBJrm
01/13/94 Xf11/1
Issued NRC Information Noti
Region I
TPeebl es
01/1949 Region V
a
.PMorril
I
n
JX/ /94 -e--
A
9 /21t
D/DRCH:NRR
BBoger
01/
/94
- DORS:NRI,
ni ng ham//%X
/94 o01z 7/94 C/OGCB:DORS:NRR
D/DORS:NRR
GHMarcus
BKGrimes
01/
/94
01/
/94
2.
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT NAME:
MDCLEXAM.JLB
IN 94-XX
February X, 1994 operators are complete and accurate and that any restriction or limitation to
an operator's license resulting from the examination is complied with.
It is important that the NRC be notified when a licensed operator's medical
condition no longer meets the original licensing standard and that the
facility licensee is requesting a conditional license to accommodate the
change in the operator's physical or mental condition.
NRC Information Notice
91-08, 'Medical Examination for Licensed Operators," February 5, 1991, provides additional information on this subject.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response.
If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
one of the persons listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Brian K. Grimes, Director
Division of Operating Reactor Support
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contacts:
R. J.
(610)
Conte, RI
337-5210
J. L.
(817)
Pellet, RIV
860-8159
T. A. Peebles, RII
(404) 331-5541
P. J. Morrill, RV
(510) 975-0293
D. J. Lange, NRR
(301) 504-3171 M. A.
(708)
Ring, RIII
829-9703 Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE*
Region I
Region II
RConte*
TPeebles*
01/27/94
01/28/94 Region III
MRing*
01/27/94 Region IV
JPellet*
01/25/94 Region V
PMorrill*
02/02/94 HOLB:DRCH:NRR
DLange*
01/26/94 TechEd
RSanders*
01/13/94 C/HOLB:DRCH:NRR
RGallo*
01/24/94 OGCB:DORS:NRR
JBirmingham*
02/03/94 C/ONDD:NRR
SWeiss*
01/27/94 AC/OGCB:DORS:NRR
AJKugler J k-
02/7/94 D/DRCH:NRR
BBoger*
01/26/94 D/DORS:NRR
BKGrimes
02/
/94 OFFICIAL DOCUMENT NAME: MDCLEXAM.JLB
IN 94-14 February 24, 1994 are complete and accurate and that any restriction or limitation to an
operator's license resulting from the examination is complied with.
10 CFR 55.25 requires that the NRC be notified when a licensed operator's
medical condition no longer meets the original licensing standard and that an
appropriate certification form be submitted if the facility licensee is
requesting a conditional license to accommodate the change in the operator's
physical or mental condition.
NRC Information Notice 91-08, 'Medical
Examination for Licensed Operators," February 5, 1991, provides additional
information on this subject.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
one of the contacts listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Odginal -tgned by
Brian K. Grims
Brian K. Grimes, Director
Division of Operating Reactor Support
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contacts:
R. J. Conte, RI
(610) 337-5210
J. L.
(817)
Pellet, RIV
860-8159 T. A.
(404)
M. A.
(708)
Peebles, RII
331-5541 P. J.
(510)
Morrill, RV
975-0293 Lange, NRR
504-3171 Ring, RIII
829-9703 D. J.
(301)
Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE*
Region I
Region II
RConte*
TPeebles*
01/27/94
01/28/94 Region III
MRing*
01/27/94 Region IV
JPellet*
01/25/94 Region V
PMorrill*
02/02/94 HOLB:DRCH:NRR
DLange*
01/26/94 TechEd
RSanders*
01/13/94 C/HOLB:DRCH:NRR
RGallo*
01/24/94 OGCB:DORS:NRR
JBirmingham*
02/03/94 C/ONDD:NRR
SWeiss*
01/27/94 AC/OGCB:DORS:NRR
AJKugler*
02/07/94 D/DRCH:NRR
BBoger*
01/26 9
21t/94 OFFICIAL DOCUMENT NAME: 94-14.IN