ENS 43644
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
03:00 Sep 15, 2007 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report Involving Potential Overexposures During Industrial Radiography |
| Event Description | At approximately 2200 hrs. on 9/14/07 during radiography work at a jobsite in Vidor, TX (30 miles north of Beaumont), two radiographers noticed that their pocket dosimeters read off-scale high (range 0- 200 m R). They were using a 94 curie Co-60 camera (QSA model 943, A424-14, S/N36391B) to take radiographic shots of a 6 inch thickness steel ladle and had just changed the film in the holder which was located about 7 inches from the exposed source behind the steel ladle. It appeared that the source had not retracted into its shielded volume. A specialist in source retrieval was brought to the jobsite and the source successfully returned to its stowed position. During retrieval the specialist's pocket dosimeter also went off-scale high (range 0-5 R) at which time he switched to a higher reading dosimeter (range 0-20 R) completing the task with an indicated dose of 13 R.
The State of Texas was notified of the incident at 1804 hrs. on 9/15/07 and confirmed that the licensee was sending the individuals dosimetry off for emergency reading. Further, the State contacted REAC/TS (Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site) who recommended that these individuals be immediately medically examined with followup blood chemistry tests, i.e., CBC (complete blood cell), performed the following day to document any cytogenic changes. The State will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the overexposures.
The State provided the following information via email: The two workers 200 mR dosimeters were off scale and it appears that they were working with the source not fully retracted as a crimp in the source tube was noted approximately 1.5 feet from the camera. A ladder was used to enter the ladle from one side and the source was positioned on the opposite side with a magnetic hold on device. It has been conveyed that the hold on device fell off at some time and damaged the source tube restricting the full retraction of the source for two shots with a survey being taken on the second shot and thus the source being discovered in the exposed position. The source retrieval was difficult apparently requiring the source to be fully extended so that the source tube could be manually stripped from the drive cable. This took reportedly 12 one minute maneuvers, lead shot bags used when possible." Blood was drawn Saturday and twice Sunday for CBC the results of which are to be faxed to REACTS. On Monday blood will be drawn with heparin/lithium for transport to REACTS for cytogenic analysis. Our inspector in the area is to conduct a recreation on the event today and more details will follow in a formal report. Texas report number I-8444 Notified R4DO (V. Campbell) and FSME EO (Morell), and IRD Manager (Blount) |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Metco Houston, Texas (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | TX-L030181926 |
| Organization: | Texas Department Of Health |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+16.43 h0.685 days <br />0.0978 weeks <br />0.0225 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Ray Jisha 19:26 Sep 15, 2007 |
| NRC Officer: | Steve Sandin |
| Last Updated: | Sep 17, 2007 |
| 43644 - NRC Website | |
Metco with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 500942014-05-07T03:00:0007 May 2014 03:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Radiography Source Tube Crimped Preventing Source Retraction ENS 489672013-04-23T05:00:00023 April 2013 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Failure of Radiography Source to Fully Retract ENS 484202012-10-17T05:00:00017 October 2012 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report- Unable to Retract Radiography Camera Source ENS 476762012-02-17T06:00:00017 February 2012 06:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report Involving Potential Radiographer Overexposure ENS 473392011-10-10T12:00:00010 October 2011 12:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Misalignment in the Crankout Device ENS 468342011-04-19T05:00:00019 April 2011 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Stuck Radiography Camera Source ENS 451442009-06-10T07:35:00010 June 2009 07:35:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Unable to Retract Radiography Source ENS 445352008-09-29T18:00:00029 September 2008 18:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Potential Overexposure to Extremities ENS 449592008-01-28T05:00:00028 January 2008 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Radiography Camera Malfuntion ENS 449632008-01-05T05:00:0005 January 2008 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report- Radiography Camera Malfunction ENS 449612007-10-18T05:00:00018 October 2007 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Inability to Retract Radiography Source ENS 436442007-09-15T03:00:00015 September 2007 03:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report Involving Potential Overexposures During Industrial Radiography ENS 434112007-05-08T05:00:0008 May 2007 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report Involving Equipment Failure of Radiography Camera 2014-05-07T03:00:00 | |