ENS 45144
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
07:35 Jun 10, 2009 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Unable to Retract Radiography Source |
| Event Description | The following information was obtained from the State of Texas via email:
On June 10, 2009, at approximately 2:35 a.m. while performing radiographic operations at GE Oil & Gas, two radiographers found they were unable to retract the radioactive material into the shielded position. They had made approximately 13 radiographic exposures prior to the malfunction. One of the radiographers contacted an approved Source Retrieval Supervisor, who was at the jobsite grading film. The Source Retrieval Supervisor immediately went to the area where the radiographic operation was located, assessed the situation and ensured the barricaded area was at less than 2 mR/hour. He determined the source was located within the collimator, but would not retract by normal means. The source tube was positioned with a fairly sharp bend which he felt may have put the drive cable in a bind, so he ran to the exposure device and repositioned it to reduce the source tube's bend. This action had no effect. The Source Retrieval Supervisor contacted the Site Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) by phone and reported the situation. They agreed that the Source Retrieval Supervisor should attempt to return the source to the exposure device by hand pulling the drive cable. After obtaining tools, the Source Retrieval Supervisor and one of the radiographers approached the crankout assembly, disassembled the crankout, and pulled the drive cable to return the source to the shielded position. After ensuring the source was in the exposure device, the crankout was further disassembled so that it could be disconnected from the source pigtail, the exposure device was locked and the source tube removed. The Source Retrieval Supervisor then called the RSO at approximately 3:00 a.m. to report the successful source retrieval. There were no members of the public in the immediate area. Pocket dosimeter reading for Source Retrieval Supervisor: 10 mR at start of retrieval operation, 15 mR at finish. Pocket dosimeter reading for Radiographer Aiding in Source Retrieval: 15 mR at start of retrieval operation, 15 mR at finish. Pocket dosimeter reading for Other Radiographer: 0 Equipment involved: Exposure device: Spec-150, s/n 0181 Source: QSA Global, 969, s/n 52911B, 35.8 curies Source tube: NDT Repair & Supply, 7', serial number B13-2 Crankout: SPEC, 35', s/n 0603 Texas Incident No. I-8641 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Metco Houston, Texas (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | L-03-018 |
| Organization: | Texas Department Of Health |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+218.45 h9.102 days <br />1.3 weeks <br />0.299 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Art Tucker 10:02 Jun 19, 2009 |
| NRC Officer: | Howie Crouch |
| Last Updated: | Jun 19, 2009 |
| 45144 - 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 | |