An internal review of the radiological services function at Pennsylvania Power & Light Co.'s Susquehanna nuclear plant has found that improvements in radiological safety can be accomplished in several areas.
The review was conducted by PP&L's Independent Safety Evaluation Services section after a group of health physics technicians, who monitor radiological conditions at the Susquehanna plant, wrote to PP&L chairman William F. Hecht raising safety concerns about a planned elimination of six health physics positions.
"Safe operation of the Susquehanna plant is a top priority at PP&L, and we appreciate the opportunity to improve radiological safety practices that this evaluation has given us," said Herbert D. Woodeshick, PP&L's special assistant to the president for Susquehanna.
"The ISES report notes that improvements are needed, particularly in monitoring of tools and materials leaving the radiologically controlled area in the plant's Turbine, Reactor and Radwaste buildings and in following health physics and waste management procedures," Woodeshick said.
Last month the utility had reported that it had found 67 tools, mostly small hand tools, that should not have been outside the radiologically controlled area. About one-third of the tools had radioactive contamination levels that are above the limit allowed for release to the environment, Woodeshick said.
The ISES report also noted that health physics and waste management written procedures were not strictly followed. According to the report, "it is not clear (in the procedures) what is guidance and information and what must be rigorously followed."
Also, the ISES report concluded that a health physics staffing study conducted in 1995 suports the management decision that the technician staff can be reduced to 40 persons without adversely affecting the ability to do the necessary work, Woodeshick said.
Currently, there are 44 health physics technicians at the plant, Woodeshick said. Two positions to be eliminated have been vacant since 1994. The six positions are part of the reduction of 300 bargaining unit positions companywide that PP&L announced in November 1995.
The 1995 staffing study at the nuclear plant showed that the positions could be reduced because the workload for the technicians has dropped, so fewer are needed, Woodeshick explained. Improvements that have reduced the workload include equipment modifications to reduce radiation exposure levels, use of computer-automated equipment to track personnel radiation exposure and reductions in the volume of radioactive waste.
In conducting its review, the ISES group interviewed 25 of the health physics technicians at the plant. The technicians raised safety concerns in a number of areas.
The ISES report said that plant management was notified of the concerns as the ISES group identified them and that corrective actions are in progress.
"PP&L took immediate action to address the concerns including strengthening controls at exits from the radiologically controlled area and providing additional training of workers in the proper procedures," Woodeshick explained.
"We appreciate the health physics technicians bringing the concerns to the attention of the company's management," he added. "Not only does it give us an opportunity to improve radiological safety, but also we believe strongly that plant safety is best served by maintaining a work environment in which employees feel free to raise concerns to management."
The Susquehanna nuclear plant, located on Route 11 north of Berwick, is jointly owned by PP&L and Allegheny Electric Cooperative Inc.