The following report was received from the State of
Texas via email:
On January 26, 2015, the licensee notified the Agency [State of Texas] that on January 25, 2015, one of its industrial radiography crews had experienced a source disconnect. The crew was using a QSA Delta 880 exposure device (SN: 12916) containing a 98.5 curie iridium-192 source. After the first exposure of the day, the crew was unable to retract the source and it was determined that it was in the collimator. Barriers were extended. The licensee's site radiation safety officer (SRSO), who is authorized to perform source retrieval, responded. (The SRSO) was unable to get the source to slide back down the guide tube and had to use pliers to remove the collimator to recover the source and complete the retrieval. None of the 4 radiographers present at the site exceeded doses of 30 millirem according to their self-reading pocket dosimeters. The SRSO's self-reading pocket dosimeter indicated a whole body dose of 73 millirem. [The SRSO's] dosimetry badge is being sent for immediate processing. The SRSO's dose to both hands is being calculated. [The SRSO] affixed pocket dosimeters to both hands, but two of the 3 times he handled the source guide tube or collimator, they went off-scale. No member of the public received any exposure as a result of this event. The SRSO reported he consulted with the manufacturer and thoroughly inspected the equipment. [The SRSO] found no issues. [The SRSO] reported, he attempted, unsuccessfully, to replicate the disconnect. Based on [the SRSO's] findings, the camera was put back into use and not removed from service.
Texas Incident #: I - 9271