ENS 45209
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
05:00 Jul 16, 2009 | |
| Title | Possible Radiographer Overexposure |
| Event Description | Texas Incident #8646
On July 17, 2009, the Agency [Texas Department of Health] was notified by the licensee that they had been informed by their dosimetry processor that a radiographer had received an exposure exceeding the annual exposure limit. The licensee stated that the individual's thermoluminescent dosimeter was reading 9,000 millirem for the exposure period of June 9, 2009, through July 10, 2009. The licensee conducted a preliminary interview with the employee and was not able to determine how the exposure could have occurred. The radiographer stated that he had not received any dose rate alarms while performing his duties during the monitoring period. He also stated that his self reading pocket dosimeter had never indicated any unusual readings. The licensee's Radiation Safety Officer stated that the individual's duties during the exposure period were almost exclusively dark room operations grading film. The licensee is continuing to investigate and will provide additional information to the Agency [Texas Department of Health] as it becomes available.
The following report was received via e-mail: 7/21/09 0830 Contacted the RSO. He stated that they had completed a review of the individuals daily exposure recorded for the previous 6 months and had not found any reason for the exposure. I asked him if they were going to seek any medical assistance for the individual involved. He stated that he was unsure of what action he should take in this area. I provided him with REACTS contact information. 7/21/09 1320 Received a call from the RSO. He stated that he had just received a call from his dosimetry processor informing him that the same individual's badge for the exposure period of May 10, 2009, and June 9, 2009, was 17,840 millirem. The RSO stated that he was making arrangements to have a medical exam for the individual done. He was also going to contact REACTS again to seek advice on how to proceed. 7/21/09 1530 The RSO for Radiographic Specialist contacted the Agency [Texas Department of Health] and stated that they had scheduled the worker for blood test and that REACTS had shipped him a study kit to analyze the workers blood to help determine if he had received the dose indicated by his badge. REACTS stated that it would take a few weeks after they received the sample to have the results. I told the RSO that the Agency [Texas Department of Health] is planning to conduct their investigation at his facility on July 29, or 30, 2009, and requested copies of the dosimetry processors reports for the individual. 7/21/09 1614 Received the dosimetry reports. The report for the June 2009 period indicates 9,470 millirem for the exposure period. The processor states that the reading appears normal and they cannot determine if the exposure is static or dynamic. No radioactive contamination was found on the film. The film for the May exposure period indicates 17,840 millirem and the reading also appears normal and they cannot determine if the exposure is static or dynamic. No radioactive contamination was found on the film. The RSO still believes that this is a badge only exposure. Additional information On August 6, 2009, the Licensee provided a copy of the Cytogenetic Biodosimetry report from Cytogenetic Biodosimetry Laboratories - REAC/TS performed on their employee reported as receiving the overexposure. The initial report indicated that the dose received was not significantly different from background. The Agency [Texas Department of Health] requested clarification of what REAC/TS used as a background. On August 12, 2009, the licensee provided a copy of a document from REAC/TS, which indicated that their background would be a dose of 14 rad for the study conducted. The Agency [Texas Department of Health] will perform an on-site investigation of the event on or about August 19, 2009. Notified the R4DO (Whitten) and FSME (McIntosh).
The following report was received via e-mail: On August 19, 2009, the Agency [Texas Department of Health] completed an on-site investigation with the licensee. The investigation was not able to determine how that much exposure was recorded on the individual's badge. The licensee presented the Agency [Texas Department of Health] with a copy of an email sent from the Cytogenetic Biodosimetry Coordinator at REAC/TS in which he stated that they found no evidence that an overexposure to this individual had occurred. The licensee stated that he would be requesting a dose assignment of 417 millirem for each of the two exposure periods of May and June 2009, reducing the TEDE for the year of 2009 to less than 5 rem. Notified the R4DO (Jones) and FSME (Camper). |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Radiographic Specialists Inc Houston, Texas (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | 02742 |
| Organization: | Texas Department Of Health |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+36.52 h1.522 days <br />0.217 weeks <br />0.05 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Art Tucker 17:31 Jul 17, 2009 |
| NRC Officer: | Mark Abramovitz |
| Last Updated: | Aug 20, 2009 |
| 45209 - NRC Website | |
Radiographic Specialists Inc with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 452092009-07-16T05:00:00016 July 2009 05:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Possible Radiographer Overexposure 2009-07-16T05:00:00 | |