Semantic search
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Entered date | Event description | |
|---|---|---|
| ENS 57067 | 4 April 2024 19:25:00 | The following information was provided by the Louisiana Radiation Protection Division (the Division) via email: On April 4, 2024 at approximately 1619 CDT, the president and radiation safety officer (RSO) of Roke Technologies USA, Inc. (was) working under Louisiana reciprocity when they reported to the Division that at approximately 1400 CDT, two QSA Global 3.0 Ci well logging sources of Americium-241:Be (Model AMN.CY3) contained in the licensees custom made proprietary logging tool became stuck in tubing at a depth of approximately 1,965 feet. The well, Ronald Richard et ux No. 1, is in Opelousas Field, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. The E-line holding the logging tool, rated at 3,150 lbs., pulled out of the rope socket on the logging head after the subcontractor logging crew, Verde Services, LLC (Verde) of Laurel, MS, attempted to pull out the tool. The licensees plan is to meet Verdes braided line truck that is arriving on site at 0800 CDT on April 5, 2024. The braided line is much stronger than the E-line and this truck has a greater pulling strength than the E-line truck. The licensee has high confidence that they will be able to recover the tool as they are also equipped with a fishing neck for the 1-11/16-inch tool which faces upward inside the 2-3/8-inch tubing. The RSO is remaining on site until the tool and sources are recovered. The RSO will follow up with a status report tomorrow morning. |
| ENS 56931 | 23 January 2024 18:07:00 | The following information was provided by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) via email: On January 22, 2024, at approximately 1400, Central Standard Time (CST), an unidentified nuclear gauge of roughly cylindrical dimensions and less than 30 cm in length and 12 cm in width was detected by the entrance gate radiation monitor at the Louisiana Scrap Metal facility (LA Scrap) located in Gibson, LA in Terrebonne Parish. Facility scrap surveyors were immediately dispatched to more close survey the suspected gauge using Ludlum Model 3 survey instruments with external probes. During this time an additional suspected nuclear gauge, similar in design and overall dimensions to the first, was discovered by the facility's scrap surveyors. Surface radiation readings of approximately 0.9 to 1.2 mR/hr were observed at the surface of both devices. No identifying markings, labels or tags were noted on the gauges' surfaces, and both devices appeared to have sustained significant corrosion to their housings, which nonetheless appeared intact. The devices were believed by the reporting party to have originated with scrap from the disassembly of a 220-foot marine vessel purchased by LA Scrap from a Florida scrap broker. The above incident was reported via the LDEQ Radiation Hotline at approximately 1335 CST on January 23, 2024. The facility is awaiting identification of the devices' isotope(s) (to be provided by the LDEQ) prior to contracting with BBP Sales, Louisiana Radioactive Material License, LA-10799-L01, for inspection, leak testing, packaging, and disposal of the devices. The facility environmental health and safety (EHS) manager, stated that the gauges have been enclosed in a bucket of moist dirt and secured within an area on site with restricted access. Facility workers were advised by the EHS manager to stay clear of the area in the meantime. LA Event Report ID: LA240002 |
| ENS 56772 | 2 October 2023 17:09:00 | The following report was received from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) via email: On August 30, 2023, at approximately 0900 (CDT), an Ohmart Model SH-F1-0 level/density gauge experienced a shutter malfunction during a routine semiannual shutter test. The gauge was installed on the Reactor 3, West Production vessel within the Poly Process Unit. The gauge possesses a nominal 500 millicurie sealed source of Cs-137. The above gauge was undergoing a routine semiannual shutter test when the malfunction was observed. The gauge sealed source serial number is: 1560CO. The device serial number has not been provided by the licensee. The gauge containing source number 1560CO, is mounted on the Reactor 3, West Production Chamber vessel in the polyethylene unit. On the above date, the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) for Union Carbide Corporation contacted BBP Sales (BBP), radioactive material license LA-10799-L01. BBP arrived on site on that day to repair the stuck shutter. After several unsuccessful attempts to break the shutter free, the licensee and the BBP service engineer decided the best course of action would be to order a rotor replacement kit and the BBP service engineer should return on site to replace it. BBP is currently awaiting delivery of the new rotor kit. On October 2, 2023, at 0824, Union Carbide RSO notified the LDEQ concerning this equipment malfunction. According to RSO, the gauge rotor bracket broke due to corrosion, which prevented the gauge shutter from closing fully. The gauge is under the licensee's control. There were no exposures to members of the public approaching regulatory limits. Currently, the shutter on the gauge remains in the open position as the gauge source is needed to operate process control equipment. The gauge cannot be locked out in its current state. No entry to the vessel will be conducted until the gauge is repaired by BBP. The licensee will continue to monitor the gauge until repaired. The licensee stated they will keep the LDEQ updated on the progress of repairs." Louisiana Event Report ID No.: LA230011 |
| ENS 56103 | 12 September 2022 17:33:00 | The following information was received by email from the state of Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality: On September 10, 2022 at approximately 1445 (CDT), a source hang out incident occurred while an industrial radiography crew was working at Cembell Industries, Inc., a steel fabrication facility located in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana. The radiography crew was working on ground level in the main fabrication shop of the facility. After approximately five seven-minute exposures to a 48-inch outer diameter schedule 40 steel pipe, using a 4-HVL panoramic collimator, the crew was suddenly unable to crank in the source after repeated retraction attempts. The crew took apart the pistol grip on their crank out controls and observed a broken drive cable. The crank out controls were manufactured by Industrial Radiography Maintenance and Supply (IRMS), device serial number, 22JA15867. The crew then pulled the remaining free end of the drive cable continuous with the source assembly and succeeded in pulling the source completely into the shielded position within the crew's Model 880D exposure device. Approximately three feet of the drive cable on the near end had broken off. The crew's exposure device automatic lock was observed to function properly upon shielding the source. Crew members read their direct-reading pocket dosimeters and noted cumulative daily exposures of 62 mR and 68 mR. After briefing their RSO on the successful source retraction, the crew utilized a backup set of crank out controls and completed the temporary job. In an abundance of caution, the RSO of the crew collected the crew's Landauer body badges and (sent) the badges to Landauer for rush processing. No rust, corrosion or birdcaging was observed by the manufacturer, IRMS, upon physical inspection of the crank out controls and drive cable pieces. The root cause investigation by the manufacturer is still ongoing to determine what caused extreme tension in the cable, which contributed to its breakage. The RSO stated he believed the distal end of the cable had become snared in a crimped copper fitting, which was attached to conduit on one end and to a swivel on the pistol grip at the other. The IRMS crank out controls were approximately 45 feet in length and all components were manufactured by IRMS. The crew's source guide tube was in good physical condition and was approximately six feet in length. Note: because the crew's pocket dosimeters did not go off scale and the crew members did not approach the high radiation area at any time during expedient retraction operations in which the source was re-shielded, the above incident is being treated as a source retraction rather than a source retrieval. The RSO stated the source was fixed during the incident approximately one to two inches in front of the exposure device outlet nipple, which provided non-negligible shielding throughout the incident. The radiography exposure device was a QSA Model 880 Delta, device serial number, D13936. The source, Model A-424-9, was a sealed source of Ir-192 with 97.2 Ci of activity. The source serial number was 53444M. Louisiana Event Report ID Number: LA20220008 |
| ENS 56096 | 8 September 2022 14:07:00 | The following information was received by email from the state of Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (the Department/LDEQ): On September 7, 2022, at approximately 1456 CDT, (the) Site Environmental Coordinator and Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) for ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Plastics Plant, notified LDEQ of equipment malfunctions. The licensee reported that two level/density gauges located at the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Plastics Plant have shutters that cannot be closed. The two gauges are Ronan Model SA1-F37, device serial numbers, BDL012X and BDL011BX, respectively, installed on the reactor vessel on May 12, 2008. The gauges are installed in a vertical configuration on low pressure separator vessel, V201B within the B-Line unit. The gauges each contain one sealed source with 500 mCi of Cs-137, source serial numbers, 2577CN and 2555CN, respectively. The gauges were undergoing routine annual shutter tests when the malfunctions were observed. (The) Lead Instrumentation and Electronics Technician and Assistant RSO for the licensee, notified (the RSO) concerning the stuck gauge shutters at approximately 1000 CDT on September 7, 2022. The gauge shutters remain open, as the gauges are needed to operate process control equipment. The gauges cannot be locked out in their current state. As a result, no vessel entries will be conducted. The licensee will continue to monitor the gauges' status of repair and will keep the Department updated on the progress of the repairs. No exposures to radiation workers or members of the public above regulatory limits occurred. The licensee plans to meet with the vendor representative to discuss recommendations and a path forward. After repairs are completed, shutter tests and radiation surveys will be conducted according to regulatory requirements to ensure that the gauges operate according to design. The licensee shall notify the Department when corrective actions are completed. LA incident no.: LA20220007 |
| ENS 55301 | 10 June 2021 15:58:00 | The following information was received via E-mail: On June 10, 2021 at approximately 1030 CDT, a source hang out incident occurred while an industrial radiography crew was working at Shell Chemical, LP in Norco, St. Charles Parish, Louisiana. The radiography crew was working on the top level of a 100-foot tower located in the Geo-1 South unit. The crew observed after performing the exposure that the source could be cranked back almost all the way, except for approximately one half turn of the crank handle. Several more unsuccessful attempts were made by the crew to crank in the source. The source was then cranked out to the 4-HVL collimator and the crew expanded the restricted area boundary on the East side so that the entire boundary was at 2 mR/hr or below. The crew then contacted their site supervisor at approximately 1040 CDT, who in turn immediately contacted the Corporate Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). At approximately 1140 CDT, the source hang out incident was reported to the Department (Louisiana DEQ) Radiation Hotline by the Corporate RSO. A source retrieval trained radiography instructor was promptly tasked by the licensee with conducting a source retrieval. Six radiographers, including both of the crew members whose source was hung out, worked the restricted area boundary at ground level to prevent exposure to members of the public. After observing the placement of the collimator and source guide tube for approximately five seconds from five different locations at a distance of approximately 10 feet, the other source retrieval trained radiographer used a set of six-foot tongs to grab and shake the collimator and source guide tube. This loosened a bind in the source guide tube at the outlet nipple of the exposure device and permitted the source to be promptly afterwards retracted into the shielded position. The source was hung out for approximately three hours. The radiography instructor who conducted various observations of the guide tube in preparation for the retrieval received three mR of exposure and the other retrieval trained radiography instructor, who performed the source retrieval received one mR of exposure. An additional certified radiographer who also assisted in the retrieval operation received one mR of exposure. All other personnel on site for the licensee received less than one mR of exposure from the hung out source. No members of the public were exposed. The radiography exposure device was a QSA Model 880 Delta, device serial number, D13738. The source was Ir-192 with 55 Ci of activity. The source serial number was 30128M. Louisiana Event Report ID No.: LA20210006 |
| ENS 53492 | 6 July 2018 16:32:00 | The following is an excerpt from a report received from the state of Louisiana via email: On June 12, 2018, the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) for MISTRAS Group, Inc. (MGI), received a Landauer Corporation dosimetry report for an Excessive Exposure to the whole body. The report indicated that an instructor received a whole body exposure of 5168 mR during the month of May, yielding a whole body cumulative exposure to date of 5618 mR. A MGI two-person crew, composed of a radiography instructor and a radiography trainee were making exposures at a temporary jobsite located at the Bechtel Liquid Natural Gas Project at Sabine Pass, Louisiana in Cameron Parish. The exposure device was a QSA GLOBAL Model 880D loaded with a 74 Ci Ir-192 source. When the RSO informed the instructor of the reported excessive exposure, the instructor claimed that one day during May 2018, he had dropped his badge while he and his trainee were performing panoramic exposures, but did not notice the badge missing until after the exposure was completed. The instructor stated he searched for his badge and recovered it from the platform approximately one foot directly below the area being radiographed for a 90-second exposure. Upon further questioning of the above instructor, the RSO learned the body badge had been dropped and inadvertently exposed on May 10, 2018. The RSO stated the instructor failed to report the incident on the date of occurrence. The instructor claimed his direct-reading pocket dosimeter had not gone off-scale or received a high reading. The instructor stated that he believed his badge had only been missing for a single exposure. Health Physics calculations performed by the RSO using the isotope, activity, distance and exposure time provided to him by the instructor do not adequately account for the above excessive exposure in terms of the claimed single inadvertent exposure to the badge, as described. Instead of promptly utilizing the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) required emergency hotline number, the RSO for the licensee sent an email to an LDEQ radioactive materials inspector on June 25, 2018 at 11:59 am (CDT), approximately 13 days after the RSO for the licensee first discovered the excessive exposure. Event Report ID No.: LA 180013 |
| ENS 52885 | 3 August 2017 14:47:00 | The following information was received via E-mail: On August 2, 2017, at approximately 1400 CDT, (the) Radiation Safety Officer of ExxonMobil notified the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) of an equipment malfunction. A Model LB300 IS Berthold level/density gauge installed on G-Line High Pressure Separator Vessel, V5300 and possessing seven nominally 50 mCi Co-60 sealed sources, was undergoing a routine annual shutter test in which the sealed sources were being pulled upwards in their dip tubes via connecting cables to the top of the source holder. The source in dip tube No.1 became stuck in its dip tube and could not be pulled upward further. The source in dip tube No.1 could not be successfully returned to its normal operating position. The sources in dip tubes Nos. 3, 4, and 5 were successfully pulled up to the top of the source holder. According to (the RSO), the sources in dip tubes Nos. 2 and 6 had already become stuck in their dip tubes and not returned to the source holder during the previous shutter test conducted during June 2016, and that now there are three sources, source serial numbers, 1369-08-02, 1370-08-02 and 1374-08-02, respectively stuck within their dip tubes Nos. 1, 2, and 6. The licensee placed a service call to (a) Berthold contract service engineer on August 2, 2017, but was unable to contact him and left a voicemail message. (The Berthold contract service engineer) will conduct a maintenance inspection of the gauge as soon as possible. The above sources have gone through approximately 3.2 half-lives since installation and so the true activity of the above Co-60 sources is approximately 5.4 mCi. This is not an emergency situation. ExxonMobil Radiation Safety Office staff is monitoring the vessel condition and have the situation under control. There is not a potential for off-site exposure. Louisiana Event Report ID No.: LA170011 |
| ENS 52278 | 4 October 2016 16:57:00 | The following report was received from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality via facsimile: On October 4, 2016, at approximately 0910 CDT, the Radiation Safety Office of CB&I Walker LA, LLC notified LDEQ (Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality) of a potential excessive exposure to a radiographer working in the licensee's permanent radiographic facility. After making a proper radiation survey, the above radiographer moved his exposure device with 100.6 Ci of Ir-192 and then noticed the rear fitting had come loose from the crank-out control, which showed approximately three inches of drive cable exposed. The radiographer pushed the fitting forward and tightened it back into the connector of the crank-out control. The licensee believes that at this point the source was inadvertently pushed out of the front of the camera approximately three to four inches. The radiographer did not notice this at the time and continued setting up for the next exposure. Upon exiting the shooting cell, the radiographer observed the red revolving warning light. The radiographer also observed sounding of the shooting cell alarm upon his exiting the cell. The radiographer stated that he was inside the shooting cell for a period of between five to seven minutes. The radiographer read his direct reading pocket dosimeter and observed an off-scale reading. The radiographer immediately notified his RSO (Radiation Safety Officer), who immediately sent his whole body badge in for rush processing subsequent to the dosimetry processor being notified by the RSO. The RSO used the radiographer's information of occupancy time and his statement that he was standing while the exposure device was stationed on the shooting cell floor throughout the incident to estimate the radiographer's whole body exposure of between 5 and 25 R. The radiographer was then immediately sent to a local medical laboratory to have his blood drawn. There is no potential for off-site exposure. The licensee was advised by this inspector to contact the REAC/TS facility for guidance on blood chromosomal analysis. This is a preliminary report in an on-going investigation. Louisiana Event Report ID No.: LA160010
The State of Louisiana corrected the licensee to show CB & I Walker, LLC. Notified R4DO (Kramer), NMSS Events Notification, NMSS (Collins) and NSIR (Milligan) via email. |
| ENS 52238 | 13 September 2016 17:00:00 | The following was received from the State of Louisiana via email: On September 13, 2016, at approximately 0910, Central Standard Time, Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) of ExxonMobil notified LDEQ (Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality) of a potential equipment malfunction. A Ronan Model SA-1-C5 level/density gauge, device serial number LA8122A, containing a 100 mCi sealed source of Cs-137 and installed on D-Line Low Pressure Separator Vessel, V-231, was undergoing a routine annual shutter test when the gauge shutter became stuck in the open position. The RSO called Ronan and left the manufacturer a message requesting service and repair of the gauge. This is not an emergency. ExxonMobil Radiation Safety Office staff are monitoring the vessel condition and have the situation under control. There is no potential for off-site exposure. Event Report ID NO.: LA160009 |
| ENS 52016 | 17 June 2016 17:15:00 | The following information was received from the State of Louisiana via fax: On June 16, 2016, at approximately 1500 CDT, (the) Radiation Safety Officer of ExxonMobil notified LDEQ (Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality) of a potential equipment malfunction. A custom built Berthold level/density gauge installed on G-Line Reactor Vessel, V5300 and possessing seven 10 mCi Co-60 sealed sources, was undergoing a routine annual shutter test in which the sealed sources were pulled upwards in their dip tubes via connecting cables to the top of the source holder. The sources in dip tubes #2 and #6 became stuck in the dip tubes and could not be pulled upward further. The other sources were pulled up to the top of the source holder successfully. All sources were successfully returned to their normal operating positions. (The RSO) called Berthold contract service engineer (at) Radcon, LLC and discussed the potential malfunction. (The service engineer) stated that differential thermal expansion between the source capsules and dip tubes under heating within the reactor vessel likely caused the sources to begin sticking as they were being pulled upward in their dip tubes. The licensee placed another service call to (the service engineer) on June 17, 2016, but was unable to contact him, but left a message. Radcon, LLC will conduct a maintenance inspection and repair of the gauge which is tentatively planned for July 11, 2016. This is not an emergency situation. ExxonMobil Radiation Safety Office staff are monitoring the vessel condition and have the situation under control. There is no potential for off-site exposure. Event Report ID No.: LA160007 |