DEP Fines Radiographer $33,000 for Radiation Protection Act Violations

The Department of Environmental Protection has received $33,000 from NVI LLC based in Gray, La., as a result of a consent assessment of civil penalty for violations of the Radiation Protection Act in Wyalusing, Bradford County.

NVI conducts radiographic testing at temporary job sites in Pennsylvania to determine if there are flaws in building materials and welded pipelines.

“Companies that operate radiological equipment in Pennsylvania must be accountable to the provisions of the Radiation Protection Act,” DEP South-central Regional Director Rachel Diamond said. “Its regulations protect the safety of workers, and the department is committed to their enforcement.”

NVI notified DEP on Nov. 1, 2011, that an employee had received radiation exposure above the annual occupational dose due to a radiation source being unlocked and unshielded. Although the worker presented no immediate health effects following the incident, the employee was restricted from working around radiation sources to prevent additional exposure. 

DEP reviewed a 30-day report submitted by NVI that revealed the company had also failed to check survey equipment to ensure proper functioning, did not conduct a visual inspection of the survey equipment at the job site and failed to follow proper emergency procedures. DEP issued a notice of violation on Dec. 20, 2011. 

The report documented corrective actions taken by NVI to address the violations and verified that NVI is now in compliance.

For more information, visit www.dep.state.pa.us or call 717-705-4700.