ENS 52849
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
21:30 Jun 28, 2017 | |
| Title | Stuck Radiography Camera Source |
| Event Description | On June 28, 2017, at approximately 1725 EDT, a RT [Radiographic Testing] crew was performing radiography in Morgantown, WV. After completing a weld, they proceeded to move the exposure device to the next location. Due to the terrain and trench conditions, the crew was utilizing a 7 foot guide tube with a 7 foot extension tube with the exposure device on the top side of the trench.
While exposing the source, the trench below the exposure device shifted causing the exposure device to barrel roll into the trench. The radiographer attempted to retract the source, but was unsuccessful. He then adjusted his boundaries and notified the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] and Operations Manager [OM] of the situation. The RSO proceeded to the Akron, OH lab to gather the retrieval equipment while the OM discussed the situation with the technician over the phone. Multiple photos of the scene were sent to the OM, at which time, it was determined that the guide tube had most likely been damaged during the fall. Within 15 minutes of the initial notification, both the RSO and OM were on their way. Once in route to the job site, the OM notified the Assistant Director of Radiation Safety of the situation. He then contacted another RSO to assist in the retrieval. At approximately 2130 EDT, the retrieval team arrived on site and continued to assess the situation. The exposure device was at the bottom of a trench, on its side. The source was in an unshielded position. The team believed that the source was just outside of the exposure device due to readings that were taken with the Teletector. With multiple attempts of pulling the cranks, the team was eventually able to position the source into the 4 HVL [Half-Value Layer] collimator that was still strapped to the pipe. At this point, the team was able to get a better view of the front of the camera and confirmed that the extension tube had been crimped right at the connection to the bayonet. The exposure device was then pulled backwards by the cranks in an attempt to straighten the tubes. When challenging the cranks, the team confirmed that the source would not be able to be retracted by normal means. The team then planned to move the exposure device back to an area of the trench that gave them better access to the damaged tube. They noted that the bungie cord holding the collimator to the pipe was behind the set screw that holds it to the guide tube stop. Knowing that they did not want to lose the 4 HVL of shielding provided by the collimator, they decided that the bungie would need to be removed first. With the use of remote tongs and an extendable hook, the collimator was freed from the bungie. At this time, the team proceeded to pull the exposure device back approximately 10 feet to an area with adequate lighting and room to continue with the retrieval process. As the device was being pulled backwards, the guide tube remained over the pipe. The extendable hook was then used to move the remainder of the guide tube and collimator to the camera side of the pipe with the collimator pointing down into the ground. With the dose rates at ALARA, the team proceeded with lead shot bags. At first, the bags were walked by rope with one person on either side of the trench. Once the dose rates were lowered even further, the team applied several more until the dose rate at the front of the exposure device was less than 5 mR/hr. The team then approached the exposure device with tools in hand. The tube was unable to be uncrimped completely with the protective coating on the tube. The damaged area was then stripped and uncrimped to the best of the team's ability. Once complete, the area was cleared and the source was retracted back into its shielded position inside of the exposure device. Once the confirmatory surveys were made, [Assistant Director of Radiation Safety] was notified of the successful retrieval. The three individuals involved in the source retrieval received 13, 5 and 4 mRem. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Acuren Inspection Morgantown, West Virginia (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | 22-27593-01 |
| Organization: | Acuren Inspection |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2), Licensed Material Protection Equipment Failure | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+326.63 h13.61 days <br />1.944 weeks <br />0.447 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Chris Dixon 12:08 Jul 12, 2017 |
| NRC Officer: | Dong Park |
| Last Updated: | Jul 12, 2017 |
| 52849 - NRC Website | |
Acuren Inspection with 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 528492017-06-28T21:30:00028 June 2017 21:30:00
[Table view]10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Stuck Radiography Camera Source ENS 484242012-10-05T07:30:0005 October 2012 07:30:00 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Radiography Source Stuck ENS 482592012-04-28T13:45:00028 April 2012 13:45:00 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Ir-192 Source Disconnected from Radiography Camera 2017-06-28T21:30:00 | |