ENS 43513
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
13:00 Jul 20, 2007 | |
| Title | Agreement State - Stuck Radiography Camera Source |
| Event Description | On the morning of July 20, [DELETED], RSO for McNDT, called. He was taking some radiographs while inside a water tower in Darien, IL and the magnetic cable stand used to hold the film cartridge fell over onto the cable and crushed the guide tube. He reported that he could not retract the source to the shielded position in the camera. The source is a 34 Ci Ir-192 source; the camera is a QSA 660B. The scene was secured and under constant oversight by the RSO. [DELETED] reported that there have been no overexposures or any injuries. [DELETED] estimated that some 6 inches of guide tube used to position the radiography source had been crushed/deformed by equipment that had been used to position the radiography source 8 feet high up against the wall of the tank. The guide tube was then stretched straight along the floor of the water tower which is approximately 50 feet in diameter. The damaged section of the tube was approximately 30 inches from the end of the 14 foot length of guide tube. A 'hot zone' barrier required by regulations was established around the water tower before the radiography job was begun. Dose rates around that zone were less than 60 milliR/hr. The water tower is near the intersection of Plainfield and Cass Avenues in Darien behind a retail shopping area. As the area is a construction area, there is fencing surrounding the work site so control of the scene has been relatively easy to maintain.
Upon arrival at the scene, the investigators added bags of lead shot to the area where the source was determined to be. The drive cables and crank were then physically secured with the camera and a strong force was applied to the cranking mechanism. This resulted in the successful return of the cable with the Ir-192 source back into the radiography camera. Afterwards, the guide tube was surveyed and found to be free of contamination. The camera ports were likewise monitored with negative removable contamination present. The device (AEA QSA, Inc. model 660B w/ S/N B2020) has been secured and tagged as out of service until it can be returned to the manufacturer for source exchange and recertification. Surface dose rates on the radiography camera were at the expected 5 to 10 milliR/hr. Total exposures to personnel as measured by pocket dosimeters were very low (70 milliR to the RSO, 60 milliR to [DELETED] and 55 milliR to [DELETED]). [DELETED] was advised of our expectations for return of the potentially damaged source cable and the need to send in his own dosimetry in for immediate analysis to confirm the measured exposure prior to our staffs' arrival. Illinois Item Number: IL070040 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Mcndt Leasing Inc Darien, Illinois (NRC Region 3) | |
| License number: | IL-01875-01 |
| Organization: | Illinois Emergency Mgmt. Agency |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+74.6 h3.108 days <br />0.444 weeks <br />0.102 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Daren Perrero 15:36 Jul 23, 2007 |
| NRC Officer: | Jason Kozal |
| Last Updated: | Jul 23, 2007 |
| 43513 - NRC Website | |
Mcndt Leasing Inc with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 435132007-07-20T13:00:00020 July 2007 13:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State - Stuck Radiography Camera Source 2007-07-20T13:00:00 | |