NRC ISSUES $15,000 FINE AND CONFIRMATORY ORDER TOPROFESSIONA

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NRC ISSUES $15,000 FINE AND CONFIRMATORY ORDER TOPROFESSIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC.The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a $15,000 civil penalty and ConfirmatoryOrder to Professional Service Industries, Inc. (PSI) for safety and security related violations involving the performance of industrial radiography by its employees.The violations were identified during an NRC inspection at PSI’s office in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., Rock Springs, Wyo., and at a temporary job site in Wyo. The inspection also included an investigation conducted by the NRC’s of Office of Investigations (OI). OI determined a manager at the Rock Springsoffice willfully assigned an individual to perform radiography knowing the person was not qualified. OIalso determined the individual who performed the radiography knew he was not properly qualified. As a result of an Alternative Dispute Resolution meeting which used a mediator to resolve the issues, PSI agreed to abide by a Confirmatory Order and pay a $15,000 fine as part of the order. A Confirmatory Order is a legally binding commitment that outlines a number of actions PSI has agreed to take to ensure the NRC’s concerns will be addressed. Some of the commitments include: develop and implement a disciplinary program for radiation safety and security infractions; provide enhanced trainingto radiographers and assistant radiographers; provide training to radiation safety officers; and enhanceannual reviews of the Radiation Safety Program.PSI has agreed to address these issues according to the timelines established in the ConfirmatoryOrder and to send the NRC a letter documenting completion of the actions within 30 days after they are done.The violations were identified during the period of March 2009 to July 2009. The eight safetyviolations included in part failures to: ensure radiographers and radiographer assistants had propertraining and were qualified to perform radiography; provide personnel dosimeters while conductingradiographic operations; conduct annual reviews of its Radiation Protection Program; provide annual dosereports to individuals; use physical barriers for restricted areas; prevent unauthorized personnel frombeing within restricted area while radiographic equipment was in use; and conduct surveys to assure compliance with public dose limits. Details on the security related violations are not publically available.
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The NRC’s Confirmatory Order and safety violations will be made publically available through the Agency Documents Access And Management System (ADAMS) at the NRC website. ###