ENS 51413
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
05:00 Sep 19, 2015 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Unable to Retract Radiography Source to the Shielded Position |
| Event Description | The following information was obtained from the state of Texas via email:
On September 19, 2015, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified by the licensee that one of its radiography crews was unable to return a 63 curie Iridium-192 source to the fully shielded position in an IR-100 exposure device. The licensee stated the radiographer had made several attempts using the crank-outs to return the source to the shielded position, but surveys indicated the source was not fully shielded in the camera. The radiographer isolated the area and contacted the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO). The RSO contacted a service contractor who is qualified to recover sources who then responded to the location. The retrieval team arrived at the location at 2030 hours0.0235 days <br />0.564 hours <br />0.00336 weeks <br />7.72415e-4 months <br /> [CDT]. The service provider moved the camera to the ground and then straightened source tube. The service provider stated it was apparent that the source would move, but was unable to return the source completely into the camera. The service provider then realized that the key on the camera was locked and that the source indicator was up in the locked position instead of down as it should be when the source is out. The radiographer informed the service provider that the indicator had popped up and that he had removed the key and realized the source was in the exposed position so [he] put the key back in the lock and attempted to crank the source back in. The service provider made several attempts to return the source into the exposure device, but was not able. The service provider had a new set of crank-outs and an empty exposure device delivered to the location. The service provider cranked the source into the [collimator] and placed additional shielding over the source. The guide tube was removed from the original device and the source were disconnected from the drive cable. The drive cable from a different crank-out device was inserted through the new exposure device then connected to the source. The source was then retracted to the fully shielded position in the new device. The dosimetry of all involved was reviewed periodically during the event. The radiographer trainer's self-reading dosimeter was noted off scale when the service provider arrived at the scene. He was removed from the work area. The service provider believes his exposure was approximately 300 millirem for that day. No other individual received an exposure that exceeded any limit. The dosimetry for the two radiographers involved in the event will be sent to the processor for reading on September 21, 2015. No member of the general public received exposure from this event. All equipment used in at the site when the failure occurred will be sent to the manufacture for inspection. The cause for the inability to retract the source into the initial exposure device is not currently known. The licensee will investigate the event and provide its findings to this Agency. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident #: I-9340 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Jv Industrial Companies, Ltd Laporte, Texas (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | 05785 |
| Organization: | Texas Dept Of State Health Services |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+34.35 h1.431 days <br />0.204 weeks <br />0.0471 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Art Tucker 15:21 Sep 20, 2015 |
| NRC Officer: | Howie Crouch |
| Last Updated: | Sep 20, 2015 |
| 51413 - NRC Website | |
Jv Industrial Companies, Ltd with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 514132015-09-19T05:00:00019 September 2015 05:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Unable to Retract Radiography Source to the Shielded Position 2015-09-19T05:00:00 | |