ENS 47283
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
00:43 Sep 20, 2011 | |
| Title | Potential Overexposure Due to Faulty Radiography Device |
| Event Description | The following was received via e-mail:
On September 19, 2011, at 1943 hours0.0225 days <br />0.54 hours <br />0.00321 weeks <br />7.393115e-4 months <br />, the Agency [state] received an email stating that a radiography trainee may have received an over exposure to his right hand and was seeking medical attention. The email stated that the overexposure occurred because the radiography device used on the job was faulty, but did not provide any information on when or how the possible overexposure occurred. On September 20, 2011, the Agency received an email from a licensee Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) stating that an overexposure may have occurred to an employee's hands. The email stated that the licensee had not received any information from the individual who was reported to have received the exposure. The RSO was in route to a hospital in Houston, Texas where the radiographer trainee was reported to have gone for treatment. The employee's film badge has been sent for processing, but no results are available at this time. The licensee is reviewing records to determine where and when the trainee worked during the two months he has been employed. Individuals that worked with the trainee are being interviewed. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident # I-8886
The following information was received by facsimile: The licensee has reported that the trainee stated that on September 12, 2011, while conducting radiography operations in the field, he removed the guide tube from an Amersham 660 D radiography camera containing [an Iridium - 192 source] and saw that the source was protruding out of the camera. The licensee stated that they did not know how far the source was protruding or how it was returned to the fully shielded position. The Agency [state] has contacted the trainee and conducted an interviewed with him over the phone. The licensee stated that the results of the trainee's film badge indicated that he received 1,410 millirem on the film badge he was wearing at the time of the event. The trainee is in a Houston, Texas hospital. His doctors are conferring with [the] Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) regarding his medical treatment. An on-site investigation will be performed by the Agency at the licensee's location on September 22, 2011. Notified the R4DO (Walker) and FSME (O'Sullivan).
The following update was received from the State of Texas Radiation Branch Investigation Unit via e-mail: This Agency has closed the investigation into this event, but due to the unique nature of this event this update is being provided. On January 2, 2013, the Agency was contacted by the mother of the individual injured in this event. She stated that his right hand was worse than before and they were concerned. She stated they had sought medical help from two health care providers in the Houston, Texas, area, but neither could provide assistance. She asked if the Agency had any recommendations. The Agency suggested that she contact a physician who works at REAC/TS and provided the contact information. She stated that she would contact him. She provided the Agency with pictures of the individual's hand which have been sent to the NRC Region IV Headquarters. On January 2, 2013, the Agency contacted the physician. He stated he had received copies of the radiographer trainee's medical records and a few recent pictures of his hand. The physician expressed concerns over the condition of the radiographer trainee's hand based on the pictures he had seen. He stated he would like to see the individual, but could provide the contact information for a physician he had trained and who practiced medicine in the Houston area. On January 8, 2013, the mother notified the Agency that she had been in contact with the REAC/TS physician and were working to get in contact with the physician in the Houston area recommended by REAC/TS. She stated that her son was in a lot of pain and his hand was getting worse each day. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Notified R4DO (Gaddy) and e-mailed a copy to FSME Events Resource. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Caribbean Inspection & Ndt Services Inc Port Lavaca, Texas (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | 06420 |
| Organization: | Texas Department Of Health |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+15.93 h0.664 days <br />0.0948 weeks <br />0.0218 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Art Tucker 16:39 Sep 20, 2011 |
| NRC Officer: | Joe O'Hara |
| Last Updated: | Jan 9, 2013 |
| 47283 - NRC Website | |
Caribbean Inspection & Ndt Services Inc with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 472832011-09-20T00:43:00020 September 2011 00:43:00
[Table view]Agreement State Potential Overexposure Due to Faulty Radiography Device 2011-09-20T00:43:00 | |