The following information was provided by the State of
Louisiana via email:
On February 1, 2016, a crew from NVI [Nondestructive & Visual Inspection, LLC] was performing radiography at a temporary jobsite located at the Loop Clovelly Facility on Highway 1 in Cutoff, LA. The crew was working in an area only accessible by boat. The crew made some exposures and did not notice the 'crank out' cable became wedged between the boat and the vessel support. The crew set [four] boundaries for the duration of the 'shots'/exposures. When the crew tried to retract the source into the shielded position, it would not [retract] because the 'crank out' tube was crimped, but was still connected to the exposure device. The source assembly remained out of the shielded position. When it was determined the source was not retractable, immediately the crew cleared the area and boundaries were established by distance and for unnecessary exposures.
The lead radiographer contacted the RSO and received instructions on how to secure/shield the area from potential/unnecessary exposures. This was after the crew had submerged the source in the water to provide shielding for the source. This was the initial notice and was not received until the source was secured in the shielded position and the event was over. The RSO did the actual retrieval and securing of the source. His direct reading pocket dosimeter reading was 593 mR and the crew's readings were 230 mR and below.
The exposure device and associated equipment ('crank out' control and source guide tube) were SPEC 150 exposure device S/N 1764 and a SPEC G-60, S/N WI1508 source. The source was 42 Ci of Ir-192. The equipment, the exposure device and source assembly were brought to SPEC [Source Production & Equipment Company] in St. Rose, LA and was evaluated and passed the quality assurance requirements.
The radiography crew was suspended from radiography work until they can be reinstructed in the NVIs' Operation Emergency and Safety Manual. The crew was sent to an Occupational Medicine Facility for blood-work. The test results were within normal limits. This is the corrective action. THIS EVENT IS CONSIDERED CLOSED.
NVI, Nondestructive & Visual Inspection, LLC is Departmentally [Louisiana Radiation Protection Division] approved and licensed to perform source retrievals. This is being reported as 10CFR Part 34.101(a).
Louisiana Event Report ID # LA-160002