Press Release-I-97-039, NRC Staff Cites Washington Hospital Center for Alleged Violations, Proposes $5,000 Fine
| ML003707233 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/11/1997 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs Region I |
| To: | |
| Category:Press Release | |
| References | |
| Press Release-I-97-039 | |
| Download: ML003707233 (2) | |
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UnitedStatesNuclearRegulatoryCommissionOfficeofPublicAffairs,RegionI475AllendaleRoadKingofPrussia,PA19401Phone:610/337-5330Fax:610/337-5241Internet:dps@nrc.govornas@nrc.govI-97-39April11,1997Contact:DianeScrenciFORIMMEDIATERELEASENeilA.SheehanNRCSTAFFCITESWASHINGTONHOSPITALCENTERFORALLEGEDVIOLATIONS,PROPOSES$5,000FINETheNuclearRegulatoryCommissionstaffhasproposeda$5,000civilpenaltyagainstWashingtonHospitalCenterin Washington,D.C.,forfiveallegedviolationsofagency requirementsinitsuseofradioactivematerialsformedical
services.TheerrorswerefoundduringanNRCinspectionconductedSeptember17through26oflastyearandasubsequent investigationbytheNRCOfficeofInvestigations.Twooftheallegedviolationsinvolvemultipleinstancesoffailuretoperformrequiredthyroidbioassays,orexposure measurements,onemployees,aswellasafailuretoprovide adequatetraininginthisarea.Theotherthreeviolations pertaintothelossofaniodine-125seed;failuretoperforman adequatesurveyinanattempttorecoverthemissingmaterial; andfailuretonotifytheNRCofthelossofthematerial.Inthecaseofthebioassayviolations,theNRCdeterminedanumberofhospitalstaffersfailedtomeasuretheirthyroid exposurewithin72hoursofadministrationofiodine-131to patients,eventhoughthefacility'sradiationsafetyofficer (RSO)remindedthemtodoso.Moreimportantly,theRSOand RadiationSafetyCommitteechairmanwereawareoftheproblembut apparentlyfailedtorecognizeitssignificance;didnotraise theissueinacommitteemeetingortouppermanagement;anddid nottakeeffectivecorrectiveactiontopreventarecurrence.
Theperformanceofbioassaysisimportantbecauseindividuals involvedinthepreparationandadministrationofiodine-131 dosescanreceiveasignificantuptakeoftheradioactive material.Minusabioassay,anyunsafelevelsofexposurecould goundetected."Collectively,thetwoviolationsareofsignificantregulatoryconcernbecausetheyareindicativeofalackof managementattentiontowardslicensedresponsibilities,"Region1 AdministratorHubertJ.MillerwrotetoWashingtonHospital
Center.
Regardingtheiodine-125seed,theNRChasexpressedconcernaboutthepotentialsafetyconsequencesofthelossoflicensed material.Theseedthatcouldhavedeliveredasignificant radiationdoseifithadcomeintocontactwithanindividual's skin.What'smore,theNRChasexpressedconcernthat,duetoan apparentlackofunderstandingoftherequirements,thelossof theseedhadnotbeenreportedtotheagencyasofJanuary31, evenaftertheNRCinformedthehospitalithadtobereported.Thehospitalhas30daystopaytheproposedfineorrequestinwritingthatallorpartofthepenaltybewithdrawn.