Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-20-05-.141 - NOTIFICATION OF INCIDENTS

(1) Immediate notification. Notwithstanding other requirements for notification the requirements of this rule are controlling. Licensees and registrants shall notify the Division as soon as possible but not later than 4 hours after discovery that a source of radiation possessed by the licensee or registrant has caused, may have caused or threatens to cause any of the following:

(a) An individual to receive:

1. A total effective dose equivalent of 25 rems (0.25 Sv) or more;

2. A lens-dose equivalent of 75 rems (0.75 Sv) or more; or

3. A shallow-dose equivalent to the skin or extremities of 250 rads (2.5 Gy) or more;

(b) The release of radioactive material that could cause an individual present for 24 hours to receive 5 times or more the annual occupational limit on intake. This does not apply to locations where personnel are not normally stationed during routine operations, such as hot-cells or specific process enclosures; or

(c) Prevention of immediate protective actions necessary to avoid exposure to radiation or releases that could exceed regulatory limits (events may include fires, explosions, toxic gas releases, etc.).

(2) Twenty-four hour notification. Licensees and registrants shall notify the Division within 24 hours after discovery that a source of radiation possessed by the licensee or registrant may have caused or threatens to cause any of the following:

(a) An individual to receive, in a period of 24 hours:

1. A total effective dose equivalent exceeding 5 rems (0.05 Sv),

2. A lens-dose equivalent exceeding 15 rems (0.15 Sv), or

3. A shallow-dose equivalent to the skin or extremities exceeding 50 rems (0.5 Sv);

(b) The release of radioactive material that could cause an individual present for 24 hours to receive an intake exceeding one annual occupational limit on intake. This does not apply to locations where personnel are not normally stationed during routine operations, such as hot-cells or specific process enclosures; or

(c) Any of the following events involving licensable material:

1. An unplanned contamination event that:

(i) Requires restricted access to the contaminated area for more than 24 hours. Restriction may be by imposing additional radiological controls or by prohibiting entry into the area;

(ii) Involves a quantity of material greater than five times the lowest annual limit on intake specified for the material in Schedule RHS 8-30 of Rule 0400-20-05-.161; and

(iii) Restricts access to the area for a reason other than to allow isotopes with a half-life of less than 24 hours to decay prior to decontamination.

2. An event in which equipment is disabled or fails to function as designed when:

(i) The equipment is required by regulation or license condition to:

(I) Prevent releases exceeding regulatory limits,

(II) Prevent exposures to radiation exceeding regulatory limits, or

(III) Mitigate the consequences of an accident;

(ii) The equipment is required to be available and operable when it is disabled or fails to function; and

(iii) No equipment meeting the same performance standards is immediately available, operable and capable of performing the required safety function.

3. An event that requires unplanned medical treatment at a medical facility of an individual with spreadable radioactive contamination on the individual's clothing or body.

4. An unplanned fire or explosion damaging any licensable material or any device, container or equipment containing licensable material when:

(i) The quantity of material involved exceeds five times the lowest annual limit on intake specified for the material in Schedule RHS 8-30 in Rule 0400-20-05-.161, and

(ii) The damage affects the integrity of the licensable material or any device, container or equipment containing licensable material.

(3) Preparation and submission of reports. Licensees and registrants shall make reports in response to the requirements of this rule as follows:

(a) Licensees and registrants shall make reports required by paragraphs (1) and (2) of this rule by telephone to the Division.

1. The telephone number for the Division is:

(615) 532-0364 7:00 a.m. Central Time to 4:30 p.m. Central Time except weekends and holidays

(615) 741-0001 Tennessee Emergency Management Agency at all other times.

2. To the extent that the information is available at the time of notification, the information provided in these reports shall include:

(i) The caller's name and call back telephone number;

(ii) A description of the event, including date and time;

(iii) The exact location of the event;

(iv) The isotopes, quantities, and chemical and physical form of the licensable material involved; and

(v) Any personnel radiation exposure data available.

(b) Written report. Licensees and registrants who make a report required by paragraph (1) or (2) of this rule shall submit a written follow-up report within 30 days of the initial report. This requirement may be satisfied by submitting written reports prepared under other regulations that contain all necessary information and are appropriately distributed. Licensees and registrants shall send these written reports to the Division at the address given in Rule 0400-20-04-.07. The reports shall include the following:

1. A description of the event, including the probable cause and the manufacturer and model number (if applicable) of any equipment that failed or malfunctioned;

2. The exact location of the event;

3. The isotopes, quantities, and chemical and physical forms of the licensable material involved;

4. Date and time of the event;

5. Corrective actions taken or planned and the results of any evaluations or assessments; and

6. For each individual exposed:

(i) The name, Social Security number and date of birth. The report shall be prepared so that this information is stated in a separate and detachable part, and

(ii) The extent of exposure of each individual without identification of individuals by name.

(4) This rule does not include doses that result from, and are within the limits for, planned special exposures reported under Rule 0400-20-05-.144.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-20-05-.141

Original rule filed February 22, 2012; effective May 22, 2012.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 68-202-201 et seq., and 4-5-201 et seq.