ENS 47676
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
06:00 Feb 17, 2012 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report Involving Potential Radiographer Overexposure |
| Event Description | The following information was received from the State of Texas via email:
On February 17, 2011, the Agency [State of Texas] was notified by the licensee of an overexposure event involving one of their radiographers. The radiographer was working in a shooting bay at the licensee's facility using a QSA D880 radiography camera serial number D7293 containing a 37 curie iridium 192 source. The radiographer entered the shooting bay to setup for their next shoot. They stated that they carried their dose rate meter with them but did not pay attention to the reading. The radiographer completed the setup and left the shooting bay. The radiographer attempted to crank the source out, but discovered that the source was already cranked fully out. The radiographer cranked the source back to the fully shielded position and notified their Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) of the event. The RSO questioned the radiographer and found that the radiographer had spent approximately 3 minutes within 10 inches of the source, and about 3 minutes at 3 feet from the source during the setup. Initial calculations by the licensee indicated that the radiographer may have received as much as 20 rem TEDE from the event. The RSO stated that the radiographer did not have to relocate the source to perform the shot so they do not believe there is any extremity dose involved. The RSO also stated that the electrical breaker that supplied power to the shooting bay had been opened therefore the alarm did not function. The RSO stated that they were going to review security video to determine who opened the breaker. The radiographer has been removed from all work involving exposure to radiation and their personal monitoring device will be sent to the licensee's processor. The Agency provided contact information for the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site to the RSO. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident #: I-8934
On February 24, 2012, the licensee reported that after two reenactments of the event, the licensee now believes that the total exposure time to the radiographer to be 2 minutes and 30 seconds. The licensee was also able to use the radiographer's cell phone records as the radiographer was talking on their phone while setting up the shot. The distance for the radiographers TEDE dose was determined to be 12 inches. The licensee now estimates that the TEDE dose for the radiographer was 8.1 rem. The radiographer has provided three blood samples for evaluation. All three samples were determined to be normal. The radiographer's doctor is consulting with [name redacted] REAC/TS. Additional blood samples are scheduled in the future. The licensee determined that the power breaker to the alarming area radiation monitor was opened by a coworker who believed the breaker only supplied power to a ventilation fan. The operation of the alarm had been verified at the beginning of the start of that shift. Notified R4DO (Deese) and FSME EO (O'Sullivan). |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Metco Houston, Texas (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | 03018 |
| Organization: | Texas Department Of Health |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+10.35 h0.431 days <br />0.0616 weeks <br />0.0142 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Art Tucker 16:21 Feb 17, 2012 |
| NRC Officer: | Steve Sandin |
| Last Updated: | Feb 24, 2012 |
| 47676 - NRC Website | |
Metco with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 500942014-05-07T03:00:0007 May 2014 03:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Radiography Source Tube Crimped Preventing Source Retraction ENS 489672013-04-23T05:00:00023 April 2013 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Failure of Radiography Source to Fully Retract ENS 484202012-10-17T05:00:00017 October 2012 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report- Unable to Retract Radiography Camera Source ENS 476762012-02-17T06:00:00017 February 2012 06:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report Involving Potential Radiographer Overexposure ENS 473392011-10-10T12:00:00010 October 2011 12:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Misalignment in the Crankout Device ENS 468342011-04-19T05:00:00019 April 2011 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Stuck Radiography Camera Source ENS 451442009-06-10T07:35:00010 June 2009 07:35:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Unable to Retract Radiography Source ENS 445352008-09-29T18:00:00029 September 2008 18:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Potential Overexposure to Extremities ENS 449592008-01-28T05:00:00028 January 2008 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Radiography Camera Malfuntion ENS 449632008-01-05T05:00:0005 January 2008 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report- Radiography Camera Malfunction ENS 449612007-10-18T05:00:00018 October 2007 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Inability to Retract Radiography Source ENS 436442007-09-15T03:00:00015 September 2007 03:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report Involving Potential Overexposures During Industrial Radiography ENS 434112007-05-08T05:00:0008 May 2007 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report Involving Equipment Failure of Radiography Camera 2014-05-07T03:00:00 | |