PNO-IV-98-052, on 981107,industrial Radiography Overexposure Occurred.Region IV Plans to Conduct Reactive Insp During Wk of 981116 & Has Discussed Addl Actions Which Licensee Should Consider with Licensee Mgt
| ML20155J650 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 03033943 |
| Issue date: | 11/10/1998 |
| From: | Collins E, Cruz J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-IV-98-052, PNO-IV-98-52, NUDOCS 9811120253 | |
| Download: ML20155J650 (2) | |
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L November 10,1998 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-IV-98-052 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by Region IV staff in Arlington, Texas on this date.
Facility L'icensee Emeroency Classification International Radiography & Inspection Notification of Unusual Event Services, Inc.
Alert Int'l Radiography & Inspection Svs Site Area Emergency Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73127 General Emergency Dockets: 03033943 License No: 35-30246-01 X Not Applicable
Subject:
INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY OVEREXPOSURE On November 9,1998, a representative of Intemational Radiography and inspection Services, Inc.
l (IRIS) notified the NRC Operations Center of an incident that occurred at a temporary jobsite located in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. On November 7,1998, an IRIS radiographer and a radiographer's assistant were conducting radiographic operations utilizing a Source Production and Equipment Corporation Model 150 exposure device containing an iridium-192 source of approximately 87 curies. Radiography i
was being performed on a large diameter pipe, and the setup required that the exposure device and source guide tube be positioned inside the pipe to complete panoramic radiographs of several welds.
l After completing a set of exposures, the radiographer and assistant took a brief break and the l
radiographer left the immediate area. Both the radiographer and assistant believed that the source had been retracted to the fully shielded position following the last exposure. It was later determined that the assistant, who approached the exposure device following the last exposure, failed to perform a survey of the exposure device and source guide tube to confirm that the source was retumed to its shleided position. In addition, it was later determined that the assistant was not wearing an alarming ratemeter while performing radiography on November 7.
l While the radiographer was absent, the assistant repositioned the radiogrrphy equipment to complete the next set of radiographs. In order to do this, the assistant had to crawl inside the pipe and move the exposure device and source guide tube 3-4 feet. The assistant checked the position of the exposure device and source guide tube from both ends of the pipe, crawling inside and handling the device and guide tube as she adjusted their position. The assistant also completed adjustments on the exterior of the pipe in order to prepare for film placement while the radiographer was absent. As the radiographer returned, the assistant crawled inside the pipe to deactivate the automated locking i
system, which requires that a small " plunger" be deprersed. She was unable to depress the plunger l
and alerted the radiographer to the problem upon his return to the work area. Suspecting that the source might not be in a fully shielded position, the radiographer attempted to retract the source using the drive cable controls. The radiographer completed two rotations on the drive controls before the source was retracted. In reviewing the incident, the radiographer and assistant discovered that the assistant's pocket dosimeter and thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) had fallen from her clothing and was laying on the floor near the drive cable at one end of the pipe.
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PNO-IV-98-052 PDR1, l-
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1 PNO-IV-98-052 Th'e assistant's pocket dosimeter was found to be off-scale, and the radiographer alerted the company radiation safety officer in accordance with IRIS' procedures. The radiographer's pocket dosimeter was reading only 40 millirem at the time of tne incident. IRIS sent the assistant's TLD for processing and a report was retumed by the vendor on November 9. The vendor reported a reading of 3.5 rem shallow dose equivalent and 10.7 rem deep dose equivalent. The reason for this discrepancy is under evaluation by the licensee. IRIS also sent the assistant to see a physician on November 7, and a blood sample was obtained. According to the company radiation safety officer, only a blood count was performed. The assistant's white cell count was reported to be slightly above the normal range.
Region IV plans to conduct a reactive inspection during the week of November 16,1998, and has discussed additional actions which the licensee should consider with licensee management.
The State of Oklahoma and NMSS have been informed. This information has been discussed with the licensee and is current as of 10:30 a.m. November 10,1998.
Contact:
Elmo Collins Jeffrey Cruz (817)860-8291 (817)860-8164