The following report was received from
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (
LDEQ) via facsimile:
On August 12, 2019, at 1619 CDT, the licensee called LDEQ to report that a source would not retract back into the shielded position. The event happened approximately at 1330 at a temporary jobsite within the Shell Refinery, Airline Highway, Norco, LA. in St. Charles Parish.
The camera was being used at this temporary jobsite. The exposure was made and the source would not retract into the shielded position. The problem was detected during the post exposure survey. The exposure levels indicated the source was still in the collimator. The reportable event was the 'drive cable' broke in the associated equipment being used with this QSA Global, Model 880 Delta exposure device. The serial number for the 880 Delta is D-7906. The source was a 91.0 Ci of Ir-192, model number A424-9, and serial number 86571G.
The [industrial radiography] crew followed the [Versa Integrity Group] VIG Safety Procedures securing and shielding the radiography source and then contacted the [Radiation Safety Officer] RSO. The three-man site crew performed the preliminary source retrieval procedures. QSA Global was contacted by the RSO to assist with the source retrieval. QSA Global arrived approximately at 1811 CDT and the source recovery ended at 1930 CDT. The drive cable and source assembly were taken to QSA Global for an equipment evaluation.
VIG personnel involved in this retrieval received a maximum exposure of 40 mrem and the other individual's exposures were less. There were no excessive exposures associated with this event. At no time did the general public receive an exposure to the source of radiation.
Louisiana Event Report ID No: LA 190011