ENS 43510
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
23:00 Jul 20, 2007 | |
| Title | Radiography Camera Source Stuck in Guide Tube |
| Event Description | A manager from the licensee's company called to inform the NRC of a problem involving a radiography camera with a source stuck in the guide tube. The radiography camera, an INC IR-100 with a 97 curie Iridium-192 source, was being used at the Cenex Refinery in Laurel, MT. The camera was perched at an elevated location on an I-beam when the collimator fell and put a sharp bend in the guide tube. The radiographer attempted to retract the source but was unable to get it past the bend. The radiographer left the camera and unretracted source in its work location to minimize his exposure to the source after ensuring that it was well secured.
The radiographer established a 2 millirem boundary around the camera location and then attempted to call the RSO. The radiographer also called a company manager who responded to the site and subsequently contacted the NRC. Currently there is no health and safety concern because the area is cordoned off and the location of the camera is in a part of the refinery that is being expanded (new construction) so there is no concern about refinery worker exposure. The RSO is not at his home and cannot be reached by cell because of the spotty cell coverage in many parts of Montana. The licensee plans to maintain 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> around the clock coverage of the boundary and camera until expertise can be brought to the site to recover the source or place it in a condition where it can be removed from its current location without excessive exposure. There are currently 5 employees from the company onsite to maintain this coverage. The licensee will continue to attempt to contact the RSO but the worst case condition may require coverage to be extended until normal working hours on Monday morning (7/23) when the RSO comes back to town. The licensee is also trying to contact the RSO of a competitive radiography company in the area that could lend assistance. The licensee's representative plans to brief the NRC in approximately 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br /> on the status of their efforts to secure the source.
The licensee was able to fabricate a tool using a 15 foot section of conduit with a vice grip taped to the end. Using this tool, they were able to push the collimator up level with the camera and straighten the bend in the guide tube. The radiographer was then able to crank the source back into the camera. The source is now in its safe shielded position and has been secured in the company truck and the licensee is preparing to leave the site. The licensee did not know what level of exposure the radiographer received during this event but did not believe it was excessive. R4DO (Gody), R4 (Wert), and NMSS EO (Brach) notified. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Mattingly Testing Services Laurel, Montana (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | 25-21479-01 |
| Organization: | Mattingly Testing Services |
| Reporting | |
| Other Unspec Reqmnt | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+-2 h-0.0833 days <br />-0.0119 weeks <br />-0.00274 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Dennis Ficek 21:00 Jul 20, 2007 |
| NRC Officer: | Bill Huffman |
| Last Updated: | Jul 20, 2007 |
| 43510 - NRC Website | |
Mattingly Testing Services with Other Unspec Reqmnt | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 435102007-07-20T23:00:00020 July 2007 23:00:00
[Table view]Other Unspec Reqmnt Radiography Camera Source Stuck in Guide Tube 2007-07-20T23:00:00 | |