ENS Event | |
|---|---|
06:00 Jan 4, 2012 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Door Safety Interlock on Dry Irradiator Found to Be Non-Functional |
| Event Description | The following report was received via e-mail from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Radioactive Materials Section:
The licensee's radiation safety officer called the Agency to advise of a failure of a safety feature associated with the operation of their self shielded dry storage irradiator. This irradiator is used to conduct testing of samples prior processing. During the performance of routine weekly safety checks of the irradiator, it was discovered that the device could be operated without closing both shielded collar doors that allow access to the sample chamber. Further investigation showed that a proximity sensor associated with one of the doors failed in the 'on' configuration which gave a false indication that the unit was ready for operation and the irradiation sequence could be initiated. No samples were being irradiated in the unit at the time of the safety check and there were no exposures of personnel as a result of the failure, nor were any elevated radiation levels detected from the device. The device was subsequently locked out of service pending repair. The next day, the licensee obtained the necessary replacement part and repairs were affected by their trained technical staff according to the manufacturer's instructions. The licensee has contacted the authorized service vendor, Best Industries, to discuss the matter as well as the irradiator manufacturer, MDS Nordion. This device contains an IAEA Category I quantity of radioactive material (Co-60) in a permanently shielded configuration. Illinois Report Number IL12001 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Steris, Inc Libertyville, Illinois (NRC Region 3) | |
| License number: | IL-01123-02 |
| Organization: | Illinois Emergency Mgmt. Agency |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+155.03 h6.46 days <br />0.923 weeks <br />0.212 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Daren Perrero 17:02 Jan 10, 2012 |
| NRC Officer: | Bill Huffman |
| Last Updated: | Jan 10, 2012 |
| 47584 - NRC Website | |
Steris, Inc with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 475842012-01-04T06:00:0004 January 2012 06:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Door Safety Interlock on Dry Irradiator Found to Be Non-Functional 2012-01-04T06:00:00 | |