ENS 44469
ENS Event | |
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05:00 Sep 2, 2008 | |
Title | Agreement State - Overexposure from Stuck Radiography Source |
Event Description | The following information was provided by the State of Oklahoma via e-mail:
On Tuesday, September 2, radiographers were doing pipeline weld testing near Ardmore, Oklahoma. They were operating in a three man team, the radiographer (who held a current Texas card) would move ahead of the group dropping off film at each weld. Assistant #1 moved behind him putting the film in place on each weld. Assistant #2 followed with the radiography camera balanced behind him on the seat of a 4-wheeled All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and would position the camera and take the shots at each weld. The camera and guide tube where not disassembled between shots. At approximately 10 AM Tuesday, the camera fell off the ATV while being transported, and the guide tube bent where it attaches to the camera. One of the assistants was able to straighten the guide tube, and they were able to crank the source in and out, though with increased resistance. They continued working with this guide tube, though they report they had another guide tube available at the site. At approximately Noon Tuesday, assistant #2 decided the terrain near the next weld was too rugged to drive the ATV over, so he dismounted and disassembled the radiography setup to carry it to the weld. When he unscrewed the guide tube, he saw the cable inside, and realized the source was not secured inside the camera. The crew was able to retract the source into the camera. Assistant #2's pocket dosimeter was reading off scale. When his alarming rate meter was tested, it did not work. The utilization log for the morning states that the alarming rate meter did work when checked out in the morning. State investigators could not get the alarming rate meter to work, and they believe the batteries are dead, though they did not test to confirm that. Assistant #2 had a survey meter, but was not checking it at the time of the incident. Note that state investigators found that the crew had two calibrated survey meters, but one of them was damaged and not operational. The crew states that the meter was working at the time of the incident, but had been damaged on Friday morning as the other two crew members continued to work. Assistant #2 ceased work, and his badge was sent for emergency processing. The badge provider reports a whole body dose of 16 rem. A representative of the company contacted the state of Oklahoma shortly after receiving the report. The company did not contact Oklahoma before receiving the report. The company states that Louisiana has been informed of the incident. Assistant #2 states that he rode the ATV with the camera on the seat of the ATV behind him. Distance from the camera to his body was about one foot, and it is believed that this is similar to the distance from the source to his body. He estimates that he spent 2-3 minutes riding this way between the prior shot and the time he noticed that the source was not properly retracted. The crew states that film from prior shots has been developed and shows no anomalies or signs of overexposure. The crew states that Assistant #2 was the only person who worked with the camera from the time the tube was damaged till the incident was discovered. Assistant #2 states he does not remember whether his badge was on his front pocket or back pocket. If it was worn on his front pocket, the dose reported for him is probably lower than his actual dose. A representative of the company is coming from Louisiana to Oklahoma to return Assistant #2 to Louisiana. Oklahoma will encourage the company to have him examined by a physician with a strong radiation background, seeking the advice of the state of Louisiana on a suitable physician. The above is a preliminary report based on telephonic communication with DEQ inspectors in the field, and is basically all that is known at this time. It has not been reviewed by the inspectors. DEQ will investigate, do enforcement, and keep NRC and Louisiana informed of the progress of our investigation. The State noted that Nondestructive and Visual Inspection dba NVI has a Louisiana License (LA-5601 L01) out of Houma, Louisiana and had been operating in Oklahoma under reciprocity. The company home office has been heavily affected by Hurricane Gustav and company staff stated that they had just returned to their office for the first time on 9/5/08.
The State of Louisiana provided the following information via facsimile: This event has been identified State of Louisiana Event Report ID No. LA0800018.
The following is a summary of information provided by the State of Oklahoma via e-mail: The source strength and isotope of the source referred to in the original report was 111 curies of Ir-192. The State of Louisiana requested blood work be done on the exposed individual. The company RSO had been unable to find a physician to do the work in Louisiana because of the recent tropical storm but did solicit help from REAC T/S where blood samples were sent for evaluation on 9/8/08. Notified R4DO (Walker) and FSME (Flannery).
The last sentence of the [9/8/08 update] (about blood samples being sent to REACT/S on 9/8) is incorrect. No blood samples have been sent to REACT/S. There are actually two different sets of blood samples, one (several samples) to be processed locally, and one (a single sample) to be processed by REACT/S. REACT/S has sent the special container needed to the licensee in Louisiana, and the blood sample will be drawn on Monday and shipped overnight to Oak Ridge for processing. [On 9/9/08] the affected individual saw an occupational physician and the blood samples were drawn. The licensee [will] provide these results to DEQ and REACT/S as soon as they are available. The physician inspected the individual for signs of acute radiation exposure and found none. The licensee RSO reports that he spoke to the exposed individual by phone." The individual did not report any symptoms. Notified R4DO (Walker) and FSME (Flannery).
Received from the state via e-mail: REACT/S reports their Cytogenic dosimetry estimate for the exposed individual is 0 to 30 rem, with a most likely result of 11 rem. This is consistent with the 16 rem reported already. Notified the R4DO (Bywater) and FSME (Bradford). |
Where | |
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Nondestructive And Visual Inpection Houma, Louisiana (NRC Region 4) | |
License number: | LA-5601 L01 |
Organization: | Ok Deq Rad Management |
Reporting | |
Agreement State | |
Time - Person (Reporting Time:+87.75 h3.656 days <br />0.522 weeks <br />0.12 months <br />) | |
Opened: | Mike Broderick 20:45 Sep 5, 2008 |
NRC Officer: | Bill Huffman |
Last Updated: | Oct 2, 2008 |
44469 - NRC Website | |
Nondestructive And Visual Inpection with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 444692008-09-02T05:00:0002 September 2008 05:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State - Overexposure from Stuck Radiography Source 2008-09-02T05:00:00 | |