PNO-III-97-045, on 970514,shallow-dose Overexposure to Thumb of Radiation Worker Occurred.Licensee Believes,Employee Became Contaminated While Handling Contaminated Matls W/Faulty Glove.Individual Being Examined by Physician
| ML20141C715 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 03000001 |
| Issue date: | 05/16/1997 |
| From: | Phillips M, Shear G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-III-97-045, PNO-III-97-45, NUDOCS 9705190183 | |
| Download: ML20141C715 (2) | |
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. May 16, 1997 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT.0R UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-III-97-045 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE -
safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially l
l received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is t
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known by Region III staff (Lisle. Illinois) on this date.
Facility Licensee Emergency Classification l! -
MALLINCKRODT NUCLEAR MEDICINE Notification of Unusual Event Hallinckrodt Nuclear Medicine Alert Maryland Heights, Missouri Site Area Emergency 1
L License.No: 24-042M-01 General Emergency X Not Applicable l
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Subject:
SHALLOW-DOSE OVEREXPOSURE TO THE THUMB 0F A RADIATION WORKER I
On May 15. 1997, the licensee notified NRC Region III (Chicago) that a shallow-dose overexposure occurred on May 14. 1997, to an employee at the facility during routine clean-u) work with rhenium-186. a radionuclide used in,research. The licensee 3elieves that the employee became 4
contaminated while handling contaminated materials with a faulty glove.
The licensee estimates that the individual received a shallow dose in excess of 480 rads (4.8 Gray) to the palm side of the thumb of the left hand. This dose is based on the licensee's measurement and calculation of i
4.3 microcuries (159 kilobecquerel). Lower levels of contamination were found on the back of the employee's right hand and fingers. The wrist of the right hand had approximately 0.46 microcurie of contamination. By 6:00 p.m. on May 15. 1997, the employee had undergone decontamination to the extent that only approximately 4 percent of the activity was
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remaining.
The overexposure was identified when the employee returned to work on the morning of May 15. 1997, and surveyed himself with a radiation detection monitor. After completing his work in a hot cell on the previous day, he apparently failed to perform an adequate survey prior to leaving the
- facility, i
Surveys were performed by the licensee of the offsite locations the employee had gone to after work on May 14, 1997. Removable low levels of 1
i rhenium-186 contamination was found on three locations inside the emp oyee's vehicle. Removable low level contamination was found in the emp oyee's house on various items in the bathroom and kitchen. The hig est removable contamination level identified in the home was 56,000 disintegrations per minute (dpm). Urinalysis is being performed on the employee to determine if he received internal contamination. The i
contaminated locations in the employee's vehicle and home were decontaminated and no removable contamination remains. The various contaminated removable household items were placed in storage for decay.
The individual is being examined by a physician.
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NO-!97-045 PDRi
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'NRC: Region IIILinspectors were dispatched to-licensee *s facility on.May: 1, 1;
= 1997, eto conduct a special. inspection to review the-incident. The inspectors will'also conduct independent surveys of the offsite i
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ilocations.
.TheLlicensee is presaring a radiological dose assessment and evaluating i
the root cause of t1e contamination incident. The licenser till provide NRC Region III with a written report of the incident within 30 days, The State of Missouri and the NRC.0ffice of Nuclear Materials Safety and '
l Safeguards have been notified. The-information.in this preliminary.
- notification has been reviewed with licensee management.
The licensee notified-the NRC Operations Center of this event at 4:34 1
p.m. (CDT) on May 15, 1997. This information is current as of 2:00'p.m.
t i
.(CDT) on May.16. 1997.
Contact:
GARY SHEAR MONTE PHILLIPS i
(630)829-9876' (630)829-9806 i
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