ENS 45909
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
17:00 Apr 26, 2010 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Stuck/Damaged Radiography Source |
| Event Description | Received this report from the State of Louisiana via facsimile:
On April 26, 2010, at a temporary job site a field crew was performing an X-Ray on a pipeline when the X-Ray source could not be returned to the shielded position. Using their survey meters, the crew determined the source was exposed and could not be retrieved. They called the Assistant Radiation Safety Officer who came and did a source retrieval and [received] a 150 mrem exposure. With the source shielded, the licensee transported the camera to QSA Global in Baton Rouge, LA for analysis. The equipment was a Sentinel, model 660B, S/N 82187, loaded with 69.5 Ci of Ir-l92, S/N 60611B. QSA Global observed the source and performed further evaluation. The results were that the weld on the source cracked and the capsule was catching on the exit port of the camera. QSA Global put out a recall for that particular lot of sources and forwarded the damaged camera to QSA Global in Burlington, MA. This event is Louisiana report # LA1000004
This report was received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts via facsimile: On May 3, 2010 an agency [Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bureau of Radiation Protection] inspector visited QSA Global in response to this event. The inspector observed the route cards for all 6 sources from this production lot of the problem source assembly, serial number 60611B, manufactured for H and H X-Ray of Louisiana only. All 6 sources were returned to QSA Global for analysis and the other 5 sources were found to be properly welded and wipe testing of all 5 sources indicated no sources were leaking. In addition, wipe test of the problem source indicated this source was not leaking. [The] inspector also observed the next day's test weld which was analyzed and deemed acceptable prior to welding sources for the next days source production. [The] inspector observed the outer encapsulation of the source that caused this event. The outer capsule laser weld was not completed along the weld joint, but slightly below the weld joint, thus the capsule was not properly welded. At the time of manufacture, leak testing (vacuum bubble test) of the problem sources weld did not reveal an improperly welded capsule. The inner capsule was properly welded and sealed, Thus the leak test (wipe test) did not reveal contamination. QSA Global ascertained that human error allowed the improperly welded outer capsule to pass the vacuum bubble test. QSA assembled a test outer encapsulation in the same manner as the problem source (i.e. an improper weld, located below the weld joint) and found that the vacuum bubble test easily detects that the capsule was not properly welded. QSA Global committed to submit a final report to the agency within a few weeks. Notified R4DO (Pick) and FSME (McIntosh). |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| H&H X-Ray Services, Inc Ringold, Louisiana (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | LA-2970-L01 |
| Organization: | Louisiana Radiation Protection Div |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+256.17 h10.674 days <br />1.525 weeks <br />0.351 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Ann Troxler 09:10 May 7, 2010 |
| NRC Officer: | Eric Simpson |
| Last Updated: | May 21, 2010 |
| 45909 - NRC Website | |
H&H X-Ray Services, Inc with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 459092010-04-26T17:00:00026 April 2010 17:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Stuck/Damaged Radiography Source 2010-04-26T17:00:00 | |