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| Start date | Reporting criterion | Title | Event description | System | LER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS 51594 | 8 December 2015 17:00:00 | 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) | Irradiator Equipment Failure | At approximately noon on December 8, 2015, the source located inside the right side of the J. L. Shepherd Model 81-24Q Beam Irradiator didn't move upward from its normal down shielded position to the normal operational position when the operator pressed the button on the operation console. A second attempt was made to have the source be raised to its normal operational position, but the source remained at its normal down shielded position. An emergency shutter built into the system was deployed just as a precaution. Facility Manager notified the Radiation Safety Officer in the Radiation Protection Office (RPO). Upon entering the room, it was noted that the source position indicator found on the operating tower mounted on the top of the irradiator showed that the source was located at its normal down shielded position in the irradiator. RPO staff conducted a radiation survey surrounding the irradiator and found that all readings were similar to levels noted in previous surveys conducted when the sources in the irradiator were in their shielding position and the highest reading was noted as 1 mR/hr on contact with the irradiator. Contact was made to J. L. Shepherd and arrangements are being made to have a representative come onsite to conduct an evaluation of the system. Arrangements are being made to have that evaluation be conducted during the week of December 14th and the Radiation Safety Officer has given direction for the irritator to not be used until this evaluation by the manufacture can be conducted. No personnel exposures were reported. | ||
| ENS 47447 | 16 November 2011 16:09:00 | 10 CFR 36.83(a)(1) | Irradiator Source Stuck in Unshielded Position | On November 16, 2011 at 1637 EST, the licensee's Radiation Safety Officer called the NRC Operations Center, as required by 10 CFR 36.83, to report a source not being able to be returned to its normal down position inside a J.L. Shepherd Model 81-24Q Beam Irradiator. At approximately 1109 EST on November 16, 2011 the source, located inside the right side of the irradiator, was not able to be returned to the down position. An emergency shutter built into the system was deployed, which reduced the radiation intensity surrounding the irradiator, permitting access into the irradiator room. Upon entering the room, it was noted that the source position indicator found on the operating tower mounted on the top of the irradiator showed that the source was about halfway up from its normal down position. A radiation survey taken around the irradiator found one point in front of the emergency shutter to be less than 10 mR/hr at one foot from the irradiator. Further shielding was added at this point which reduced it down to about 0.3 mR/hr. Contact was made to J. L. Shepherd and arrangements are being made to have a representative come onsite to help return the source to its normal down position. The location of the event was in the irradiator room inside the Radiation Effects Facility of Building 22 at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MI 20771. |