NRC CAL – NOVCP $7,500

On October 27, 2020, the NRC issued a Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty (CP) in the amount of $ 7,500 to The Queen’s Medical Center (Queen’s) for a Severity Level III problem associated with three related violations. The violations involve Queen’s failure to monitor exposure to radiation and radioactive material at levels sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the occupational dose limits of 10 CFR Part 20. Specifically, nine interventional radiologist physicians, whose occupational exposure exceeded 10 percent of the limits in 10 CFR 20.1201(a), were not monitored over the course of several years (from January 2011 to May 28, 2019). Additionally, the licensee failed to provide adequate instructions regarding the proper use of dosimeters to the nine radiologist physicians who were likely to receive in a year an occupational dose in excess of 100 mrem, in violation of 10 CFR 19.12(a)(3). Finally, in violation of 10 CFR 20.1101(a), Queen’s failed to implement a radiation protection program commensurate with the scope and extent of licensed activities and sufficient to ensure compliance with 10 CFR Part 20. Specifically, the licensee’s radiation safety committee failed to adequately review (1) the quarterly summary report of occupational exposure records for compliance with dosimeter usage and (2) the summary report of the radiation safety program regarding safety and compliance, as well as failed to recommend action to correct deficiencies. Queen’s policy and the Radiation Safety Plan failed to address actions to be taken when dosimeters were returned unused or recorded unexpectedly low exposures.