Semantic search
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Entered date | Event description | |
|---|---|---|
| ENS 43844 | 14 December 2007 16:22:00 | The licensee reported that two personnel, a radiography technician and assistant, were performing radiography shots at a fabrication shop in Detroit, MI. After completion of a shot, the technician cranked the SPEC-150 camera source into the shielded position. The assistant then surveyed the camera and got a background reading, indicating the source was, indeed, shielded. The survey was verified by the technician. The assistant then removed the camera from a hook that it was hanging on and set it on the ground. He then started preps for the next shot and set the survey meter down on the ground. After completing the preps, the assistant noticed that the survey meter was pegged high on the X10 scale. He immediately moved away from in front of the camera and notified the technician. The source was again verified in the shielded position after the technician locked the camera. No rate alarm occurred on the assistant's rate device but his pocket dosimeter indicated off-scale. The Radiation Safety Officer was immediately notified. The assistance estimated he was in front of camera for approximately two to five minutes. The estimated dose received by the assistant was calculated to be between one and five REM. This will be confirmed when the assistant's TLD is read. The RSO has overnighted the TLD to a lab for processing. The camera was removed from service and will be evaluated by the vendor for suspected failure of an internal safety mechanism. |
| ENS 43845 | 14 December 2007 16:33:00 | In a remote area in Missouri, radiography personnel were x-raying welds on a pipe that was placed in a trench. Away from the radiographers, the pipeline contractors moved another pipe in the trench which caused the trench to collapse, allowing water into the trench. The radiography saw it happening and immediately cranked the source into the shielded position. The water submerged the SPEC-150 radiography camera and equipment. Using the same camera, the radiographer set up for a shot in a different location. When exposing the source, it became stuck in the unshielded position. The radiographer immediately notified the RSO and marked off the area with boundary tape while he awaited assistance from the vendor. When the vendor could not immediately respond due to weather related travel issues, the radiography personnel procured a heater to thaw the camera as they suspected the camera was frozen from the earlier water intrusion. Surrounding temperatures were in the twenties. After warming the camera, they were able to successfully retrieve the source to the shielded position. |