The following information was received via E-mail:
On November 21, 2016, the licensee notified the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] that on November 19, 2016, one of its radiography crews had been unable to retract an iridium-192 source back into a Spec 150 radiography exposure device (camera).
Following their third exposure on a pipeline inspection at a temporary job site [near Mentone, Texas], one of the radiographers retracted the source and went to the camera to disconnect the guide tube. The 6-foot guide tube was laying over the top of the pipe they had been inspecting and the collimator was on the opposite side from the radiographer. When he disconnected the guide tube, the collimator was pulled to the top of the pipe. The radiographer's alarming rate meter sounded and his survey meter went off-scale. He left the area, monitored the 2 mR/hr boundary and called the site radiation safety officer (SRSO).
The SRSO, on the license to perform retrievals, responded and retrieved the source. The control cable was found to be broken approximately one inch from the connector and the licensee suspects the automatic securing mechanism malfunctioned. The device and control assembly have been sent to the manufacturer for evaluation/repair.
The radiographer's pocket dosimeter had a reading of 80 mR. The other radiographer had a reading of 10 mR on his pocket dosimeter. The SRSO had the following readings on pocket dosimeters located on his chest and taped to the backs of his hands: chest 131 mR; right hand 163 mR; and, left hand 167 mR. Their dosimetry badges have been sent for emergency processing. More information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300.
Device: SPEC 150 SN: 1845
Source: Iridium-192, 66 curies, SPEC G-60, SN: XI-0909
Texas Incident #: I-9443