ENS 57617
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
05:00 Mar 13, 2025 | |
| Title | Unable to Retract Source |
| Event Description | The following information was received from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Radioactive Materials Unit via email:
On March 13, 2025, during a radiography exposure, the radiography crew noted that too much drive cable extended into the guide tube. The radiographer cranked in to investigate and was unable to return the source to the exposure device. The radiation safety officer (RSO) was notified, and the crew began expanding their boundaries. The RSO initiated source retrieval operations. After shielding the source with lead shot, and performing some tests, it was determined that the source had not disconnected and that the guide tube was not attached to the camera. The RSO then `jiggled the drive cable' and was able to crank the source back into the shielded position. The RSO estimates that the source was exposed for less than 1 hour1.157407e-5 days <br />2.777778e-4 hours <br />1.653439e-6 weeks <br />3.805e-7 months <br />. After investigation, the RSO determined that the guide tube was never properly secured to the quick connect at the end of the exposure device. Cranking the source out to the end of the guide tube disconnected the guide tube from the exposure device. When retracting the source, the source pigtail caught on the quick connect port on the end of the exposure device due to the weight of the guide tube on the drive cable. To determine if the source was still connected, the RSO pulled on the controls and thus the drive cable and pig tail were pulled out of the guide tube. With the weight of the guide tube now off of the drive cable, the RSO was able to jiggle the controls and dislodge the pigtail from the quick connect at the end of the exposure device and retract the source completely. MDH was notified of the event on March 18, 2025, at approximately 1350 [CDT]. MDH is considering enforcement action due to the late notification of the event. An on-site investigation is planned for March 20, 2025. The device is a Source Production and Equipment Company (SPEC) model 150 radiography camera. Minnesota Event Report ID: MN250002 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Irisndt, Inc. St. Paul Park, Minnesota (NRC Region 3) | |
| License number: | 1238 |
| Organization: | Minnesota Department Of Health |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+150.52 h6.272 days <br />0.896 weeks <br />0.206 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Tyler Kruse 11:31 Mar 19, 2025 |
| NRC Officer: | Ernest West |
| Last Updated: | Mar 19, 2025 |
| 57617 - NRC Website | |
Irisndt, Inc. with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 577992025-07-02T16:30:0002 July 2025 16:30:00
[Table view]Agreement State Unable to Retract Source ENS 576172025-03-13T05:00:00013 March 2025 05:00:00 Agreement State Unable to Retract Source ENS 567342023-09-12T21:27:00012 September 2023 21:27:00 Agreement State Failure of Source to Retract to Safe Position ENS 529532017-09-07T05:00:0007 September 2017 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Disconnected Source on Spec 150 Exposure Device ENS 506162014-11-14T16:45:00014 November 2014 16:45:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Truck Carrying Radiography Camera Involved in Traffic Accident 2025-07-02T16:30:00 | |