ENS 44917
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
05:00 Mar 19, 2009 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report Involving Improperly Packaged Material |
| Event Description | The following information was received from the State of Wisconsin via fax:
On March 19, 2009 the department received a telephone notification that UW-Madison had received a Yellow II package that exceeded the limits of the external radiation levels permitted for this type of package. The RSO stated that the contents are two sealed sources of Cs-137 with a combined activity of 52 millicuries. The package was not delivered to the Radiation Safety Officer, but was shipped directly to the University calibration lab on March 18, 2009 and received about 3:30 pm. Alarms went off at the loading dock and the calibration lab when the package was delivered. The [transportation index] TI on the package stated 0.2, however, the radiation levels at one meter were 20 mR/hr. The highest reading on contact was 0.9 R/hr. The licensee wipe tested the package and found no removable contamination. The package has been placed in a secured area and has not been opened. The RSO has contacted the shipper's contact person at LAC + USC and the courier. The package is approximately 10 inches x 10 inches x 10 inches in size. The State of Wisconsin will continue to monitor the situation, provide assistance as needed to address any jurisdictional issues, and perform independent dose assessments as the public dose limit may have been exceeded. Wisconsin Event Report ID No.: WI09004
The following information was provided as an update via fax: On March 19, 2009 the department received a telephone notification that UW-Madison had received a Yellow II package that exceeded the limits of the external radiation levels permitted for this type of package. The RSO stated that the contents are two sealed sources of Cs-137 with a combined activity of 52 millicuries. The package was not delivered to the Radiation Safety Office as required, but was shipped directly to the University Calibration Lab on March 18, 2009. It was received and signed for at the Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) loading dock at around 9:00 am and delivered to the calibration lab at 9:52 am. An area monitor in the lab shipping/receiving room alarmed when the package was delivered. A student worker immediately notified the Technical Director of the UW Calibration Lab. The Director used a meter to identity the package and noted that the exposure rate on one package exceeded 50 mR/hr on contact. The package was placed on a cart and transported to a secure location. The TI on the package stated 0.2, however, the radiation levels at one meter were 20 mR/hr. The highest reading on contact was 0.9 R/hr. The package was approximately 10 inches x 10 inches x 10 inches in size. The licensee conducted a thorough wipe test and confirmed that there was no removable contamination on the outside of the package. He then left a message for UW Safety. The call was returned about noon and the Safety Office staff arrived around 2 pm. The RSO and Assistant RSO concluded that the two sealed sources were outside of the lead shielded container due to the high radiation readings on contact with the package. The RSO called the shipper's contact person named on the shipping papers at LA County, University of Southern California and the courier. The individual who had prepared the package stated that the package must have been opened either in transport or by the Calibration Lab. The UW-Madison RSO emphatically stated that the package had not been opened. The State of Wisconsin was notified on the morning of March 19, 2009 and made an immediate notification to the NRC Operations Center. Contact was established with the California jurisdiction for the shipper/licensee in order to facilitate contact with the licensee's radiation safety office. The State of Wisconsin inspector made arrangements to be present on the morning of March 20, 2009 to monitor and video the package opening. On March 20, 2009, the Director of the UW Radiation Calibration Laboratory carefully opened the package and conducted multiple wipe tests to assure there was no contamination inside the package. The package contained an open lead pig. The sources were loose in the box. One source was located under the bottom of the styrofoam tray and one source was stuck in the styrofoam tray. There were multiple problems with the packaging, markings and shipping paperwork. The main problems were that the lead pig was not adequately taped shut and the inner packaging was not sufficient to hold the pig in place, thus, the pig moved about in the package. It does not appear that this was an approved shipping container. The sealed sources were wipe tested and were not leaking, however, the Director would like to take a closer look at the sources to assure that they were not damaged. The State of Wisconsin will continue to monitor the situation, provide assistance as needed to address any jurisdictional issues, and perform independent dose assessments as the public close limit may have been exceeded. Notified R3DO (Ring) and FSME (Camper). |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| University Of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, Wisconsin (NRC Region 3) | |
| License number: | 025-1323-01 |
| Organization: | Wisconsin Radiation Protection |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+7.95 h0.331 days <br />0.0473 weeks <br />0.0109 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Cheryl K. Rogers 12:57 Mar 19, 2009 |
| NRC Officer: | Steve Sandin |
| Last Updated: | Mar 20, 2009 |
| 44917 - NRC Website | |
University Of Wisconsin - Madison with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 525652017-02-17T23:30:00017 February 2017 23:30:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Missing Tritium Source and Depleted Uranium Disks ENS 449172009-03-19T05:00:00019 March 2009 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report Involving Improperly Packaged Material ENS 444292008-08-19T05:00:00019 August 2008 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Fire in Research Laboratory ENS 443532008-07-14T05:00:00014 July 2008 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Medical Event Due to Dose Less than Prescribed Dose ENS 415762005-04-08T14:30:0008 April 2005 14:30:00 Agreement State Potential Medical Event Involving a Therapeutic Administration of Yttrium-90 2017-02-17T23:30:00 | |