ENS 53684
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
04:00 Oct 20, 2018 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Radiography Source Failed to Retract |
| Event Description | The following was received from the State of North Carolina by email:
On 10/20/18, at 1757 EDT, the office RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] received a call from a crew working a project at Kings Mountain Compressor Station in Kings Mt., NC. The qualified radiographer assigned is Technician 1, with assistant Technician 2. Upon exposure of a 3 inch weld, the source did not retract when attempting to secure the RAM to end exposure. The crew immediately verified and re-verified and secured boundaries and called the RSO as required by operating and emergency procedures. The local RSO notified the CRSO [corporate RSO] of the event at 1803 EDT and proceeded to the site. [While] in route to the project site, Technician 4 was notified to go to the Charlotte office to get spare control cables for possible use in recovery operations. Upon arrival at approximately 1830 EDT, the RSO evaluated the site and boundaries and took action to move the source and collimator assembly to a better position to allow stacking of available sand bags in order to minimize boundary area for a more condensed and controllable area. During the movement of the exposure device, positive pressure was applied to the control to prevent the source from moving out of the collimator. Once the exposure device was positioned correctly, sand bags were placed over the source assembly to reduce exposure limits. During this operation, survey meters were used to verify radiation exposures. The radiation area was reduced to 30-35 feet. A conversation with the CRSO and calls with additional Applus groups were made in order to identify the closest source recovery tools and equipment in order to attempt recovery of the source. [Personnel] added another layer of area markings for control purposes. Contractor site personnel stayed clear of the area without issue during event. No exposure to the general public occurred. The recovery kit arrived on site at approximately 1030 EDT, 10/21/18. After review of available equipment, a recovery plan was discussed. Dosimetry, equipment operation, and proper calibrations were verified. All dosimeter pencils were verified at zero at the beginning of the event and monitored at stages during recovery. Actions were broken down in order to balance and reduce exposure to each individual and modified as necessary during event. The plan of action was to create a shielded dam with available lead shot and sand bags at the open end of the guide tube, with one bag directly in front of the tube to stop the source assembly at the most shielded position, with the others providing a shielded position for the capsule of the source assembly. The last sand bag on the collimator was left in position up until the last step. Two individuals were directed to quickly remove the last shielding bag while the other utilized an extended tong device to lift the collimator assembly directly upward to propel the source to the established dam of shielding. Survey meters were used to monitor this action to verify the source moved from the previous position to the created shielding dam. All dosimeter pencils were reviewed in order to determine who would be chosen to disconnect damaged connector and then another to make the connection to the functioning control cable. The first person pulled the connection out only far enough to disconnect the damaged connector. The second person performed the re-connection. The survey meter reading at the connection area was approximately 200 mR/hr during these steps. The time of exposure to perform these two events was estimated to be less than 30 seconds, which would have equaled approximately 1.6 mR of exposure to the hands of each individual. From the safe distance of the control cable, the source was retracted to the shielded position of the device and surveyed and secured. At this time, the exposure device and control cable have been returned to the office and tagged with damage tags so no one will use it. NC tracking number: 180043 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Applus Rtd Usa, Inc. Charlotte, North Carolina (NRC Region 1) | |
| Organization: | Nc Div Of Radiation Protection |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+58.37 h2.432 days <br />0.347 weeks <br />0.08 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Travis Cartoski 14:22 Oct 22, 2018 |
| NRC Officer: | Bethany Cecere |
| Last Updated: | Oct 22, 2018 |
| 53684 - NRC Website | |
Applus Rtd Usa, Inc. with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 536842018-10-20T04:00:00020 October 2018 04:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Radiography Source Failed to Retract 2018-10-20T04:00:00 | |