The State provided the following information via facsimile:
Incident: A Metco crew was working at the PPG facility [Lake Charles, LA] the evening of May 24, 2006, when they reported a disconnected source [to the LA Department of Environmental Quality on May 26, 2006].
Timeline of events:
1. 6:25 pm - Crew set up to make three exposures in PPG at the area known as the loading dock.
2. 6:45 pm - Crew makes their first exposure.
3. 6:48 pm - The crew retracts the source but the camera does not lock and the survey meter is still giving high readings.
4. 6:50 pm - [Worker 1] and [Worker 2] were notified of the disconnect.
5. 7:05 pm - [Worker 1] and [Worker 2] meet at the Metco shop and leave to go to PPG facility.
6. 7:13 pm - [Worker 1] and [Worker 2] arrive at PPG.
7. 7:20 pm - The source is retrieved.
8. 7:21 pm - The camera and equipment were examined to see where the malfunction occurred and the investigation began.
Investigation: After further review of the incident, it was determined that the source was never connected to the drive cable before making an exposure. The crew had performed only one shot when they realized the source did not retract fully.
Key Points:
1. A perimeter of 150' was maintained after the disconnect occurred. This was inside of a building that had 1.5' concrete walls.
2. The barrier was kept at 2 mrem/hr after the disconnect occurred.
3. The source remained in the collimator and laid facing the floor until [Worker 1] and [Worker 2] arrived onsite.
4. None of the radiographers present on site received a dose of more than 15 mrem.
5. [Worker 1], who performed the source retrieval, received a total dose of 365 mrem.
Exposure Device Manufacturer: Amersham
Model No.880 Sigma
S/N S1712
Isotope: Ir-192
Source Activity: 91 Ci
LA Report ID No.LA060013