The following was received from the State of
New York via fax:
The Radiation Safety Officer [RSO] of NRD, LLC, called to report an incident in which three individuals may have been exposed to Americium-241. NRD, LLC has a specific radioactive material license with the NYS [New York State] Department of Health to Manufacture Radioactive Products. Below is a brief description of the information reported so far.
On Monday [4/1/19] evening an individual (Person1) was trying to clean up a 'small rusty contamination' in the change area using a HEPA vac. The vacuum was previously used in a different area (Silver Recovery) area to clean up Americium-241 metal. He turned on the vacuum and noticed it was blowing stuff out. He turned it off and told a second individual (Person 2) to shut the doors. After doing so, Person 2 went into another room. During this time the RSO (Person 3) was notified. Person 3 'stuck his head in the room for a minute.' Person 1 and person 2 were in the area for about a minute. Person 1 was in the area for approximately 20 minutes.
The reading on a nose swab done on Person 1 read 6600 dpm [see update below]. After his clothing was removed and he took a shower and blew his nose, a second swab was done. The reading on the those swabs were 4884 dpm (right nostril), 1729 dpm (left nostril). On day 2 a third set of swab were done with the following reading: 67 dpm (right nostril), 36 dpm (left nostril).
The lab remains closed and there is no work being done. They are trying to set up an access control point to enter the lab.
The RSO indicated he was in communication with REACTS [Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site]. They suggested the Person 1 and Person 2 see their medical doctors. The bioassays collected were going out today, Wednesday, April 3, 2019.
Based on the results reported for the initial nose swab, this incident is reportable under 10 CFR 20.2202(a)(1). NYSDOH [New York State Department of Health] Incident No. 1278 has been assigned to track this event.
New York Event Report ID No.: NY-19-04
Exposure to person 1 may have resulted in an intake five times the occupational Annual Limit on Intake (ALI).
- * * UPDATE ON 4/4/19 AT 1055 EDT FROM DESMOND GORDON TO BETHANY CECERE * * *
The initial report was incorrect for the nose swab done on person 1 - it read 66,000 dpm, not 6,600 dpm.
Notified R1DO (Young), and NMSS_Events_Notification email group.