The following information was received by e-mail:
On December 22, 2011, at 2102 hours0.0243 days <br />0.584 hours <br />0.00348 weeks <br />7.99811e-4 months <br />, the Agency was notified by Harris County Hazmat that a radiography truck had been involved in an accident. The truck was carrying a Spec 150 camera serial # 153 containing a 32 curie Iridium 192 source. The radiographer informed the Hazmat officer that the source in the camera was not in the locked position. The radiographer stated that the source had separated from the drive cable and he had used a pair of pliers to insert the source into the camera backwards to shield it. The camera opening for the guide tube connection was covered with duct tape to prevent the source from coming out of the camera. The radiographer could not get the crank out device to separate from the camera so the camera and the crank out devices were placed between the transport container and the darkroom wall to transport them back to the storage location. The accident caused the source to move further to the back of the 'S' tube in the camera and the dose rates from the camera increased slightly. The crank out device was used to push the source back to the shielded position. Lead sheets were placed above the camera to help decrease the dose rates from the camera. The dose rates at this point were between two and four millirem at one meter. The radiographer took the camera and source to the licensee's storage location. The source was removed from the radiography camera and placed in a source changer shield. The radiographer stated that he had received 180 millirem for the event. No member of the general public received exposure due to this event. The licensee will return the source and camera to the manufacturer for inspection. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300.
Texas Incident: I-8914