At about 3
PM on 10/27/05 following industrial radiography at the Sunoco Refinery in Philadelphia,
PA, a radiographer approached the front of the radiography camera to disassemble the guide tube from the camera body. The radiographer thought that he had fully retracted the source but noticed that the source was exposed during the disassembly. The source was a 21.8 curie
Iridium 192 source.
The radiographer contacted the radiation safety officer after he realized he had been overexposed. The radiographer received a calculated dose to his extremities of between 330 and 360 Rad. The licensee stated that the individual's self indicating dosimeter was off scale. The individual's thermo-luminescent dosimeter will be sent for a whole body exposure reading. Whole body calculated dose was less than 5 Rem. The radiographer was being sent for medical treatment.
The licensee has removed the radiographer from his duties pending further investigation. The licensee will determine corrective actions and perform stand-down training for the employees in the Trainer,
PA field office concerning the occurrence.