On 1/26/04, about 8:00 am (
CST), [Kansas Department of Health and Environment] KDHE staff retrieved a phone message from the Assistant Radiation Safety Officer (
ARSO), of Taylor Forge Engineered Systems, Inc (TFES). The
ARSO called on 1/23/04, Friday, about 10:20 pm, stating that one of their radiographers may have received an exposure greater than 5
Rem. This was the initial phone call stating that an unusual event may have occurred. Around 5:30 pm, on 1/23/04, a radiographer was performing radiographic operations in the middle bullpen cell, using a
Co-60, 62.1 curie source. According to the radiographer, the gamma alarm malfunctioned, thereby the lights, bells and alarms weren't working. He entered the vault to try and determine the cause of the malfunction, but failed to retract the source, resulting in a possible
overexposure to himself. The radiographer was in the area about 10 - 15 minutes. The radiographer contacted the
ARSO later that evening and related the above events.
On 1/26/04, about 8:00 am, KDHE staff retrieved a phone message from the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). The RSO called on 1/24/04, Saturday, about 7:00 am, stating that one of their radiographers had received an overexposure greater than the 5 Rem limit. This was the official 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> emergency notification. The radiographer's chirping alarm rate meter and pocket ion chambers (PICs 200 mrems / 500 mrems) were found to be off-scale. The radiographers film badge was overnighted to Landauer dosimetry services for processing. The radiographer has been relieved of his duties as they relate to IR. Preliminary dose calculation estimates, from the RSO, are that radiographer received between 15 - 30 rems whole body and up to 87 rems to the hand. TFES is currently investigating the incident and is trying to recreate the above mentioned conditions (using a dummy source) to determine what happened. KDHE is currently investigating the incident. We will provide updates when they occur.
Source:
Cobalt 60, 62.1 Curies
Manufacturer: AEA Technologies
Model Number: TECHOPS A-424-14
Serial Number: S/N 2899
Device:
Manufacturer: AEA Technologies
Model Number 660-B
Serial Number: S/N B-234