During an audit of a satellite facility associated with Beaumont Health Systems, the Radiation Safety Officer (
RSO) determined that a package of radioactive material with removable surface contamination on the outside of the package greater than NRC reporting limits had been received but not reported to the NRC as required per
10 CFR 20.1906(d)(1).
The package was received on February 21, 2013 and wipe tests performed on the external surface of the package. Removable contamination levels were found on the package of 19,070 dpm/300 cm2. This level exceeds the reportable limits specified in 10 CFR 71.87(i).
The package contained Technetium-99m that had been shipped and delivered by Beaumont's Troy Hospital facility. The receiving facility did not find any damage or contamination on the Tech-99m vial or inside the ammo case used to transport the vial. The audited receipt inspection report revealed the external package contamination event was documented but not reported to the company's RSO. Troy Hospital was notified at the time of the event and contamination surveys were performed at the packaging location, on the transport vehicle, and on the driver. The only contamination found was a wipe used to wipe the area where the package had been stored in the truck (wipe-down of radioactive material lay-down area is routine protocol for the licensee).
The RSO stated that corrective actions are being taken related to improving contamination controls while packaging these shipments. In addition, improvements in the process related to reporting events to the RSO and the NRC are being explored.
- * * RETRACTION AT 1415 EDT ON 4/29/2013 FROM CHERYL SCHULTZ TO MARK ABRAMOVITZ * * *
The removable contamination of 19070 dpm/300cm2 equates to 63 dpm/cm2 which is below the reportable limit of 220 dpm/cm2. Therefore, this event is retracted.
Notified the R3DO (Duncan) and
FSME Resources (via e-mail).