ENS 52071
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
06:00 Jun 29, 2016 | |
| Title | Leaking Ni-63 Sources |
| Event Description | On June 29th, 2016 around 10:00 [MDT] a Qal-Tek Associates radiation technician identified two Varian ECD's [electron capture devices] (both registered Ni-63 electro-plated sealed sources) with positive leak tests results above the critical levels of the gas flow proportional counter (sn: 44643 - 7.1% efficiency for Ni-63). The net cpm for the 8 mCi ECD (model: 02-001972-00, serial number: A544) was 1840 cpm (0.0117uCi) and for the 15 mCi ECD (model: 02-001972-00, serial number A8118) the net cpm was 4060 cpm (0.026 uCi).
The radiation technician was verifying the contents of a client's package in the Building 3 confinement facility that was shipped to Qal-Tek Associates address at: 3998 Commerce Circle, Idaho Falls, ID 83401. The outside of the package did not indicate any contamination when Qal-Tek received the package. Only the inside bottom face of the box indicated contamination of 60 net cpm. This portion of the box was removed for proper DAW [dry active waste] disposal at a licensed facility. The radiation technician halted work, notified her co-worker, contacted the supervisor and confirmed that contamination was not present on her person or on surfaces of the work area, per the procedure, in order to prevent the spread of contamination. The Varian ECD (sn: A544) sealed source was decontaminated, the port holes in the device where taped shut, sealed in a plastic bag labeled with caution-radioactive material: Ni-63 leaker, and isolated from the work area in the biosafety cabinet. When no contamination was confirmed on personnel or facilities, the RSO was notified. The RSO re-checked facility surfaces for contamination. The work bench still had some contamination of about 105 net cpm. This was communicated to the RT's [radiation technicians] and their manager for further decontamination. The radiation technician took extra personal protective precautions to isolate the contamination and proceeded with verifying the rest of the package contents (14 ECD's). Once again, during the package content verification process, a 15 mCi Varian ECD (sn: A8118) also had a positive leak test above the instrument critical level. The radiation technician halted work, notified her co-worker, contacted the supervisor and confirmed that contamination was not present on her person or on surfaces of the work area, per the procedure, in order to prevent the spread of contamination. The source was sealed in a plastic bag labeled with caution-radioactive material: Ni-63 leaker, and placed in the biosafety cabinet for isolation from the work area. When no contamination was confirmed on personnel or facilities the RSO was notified by the manager. The RSO asked the Qal-Tek client manager to notify them of the leaking Ni-63 sources with a strong recommendation that they survey their facilities for contamination. The sources will be sealed in another bag and placed in a drum for proper disposal at a licensed LLRW [low level radioactive waste] disposal facility. The package was received from a client in Arcade, New York. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Qal-Tek Associates Idaho Falls, Idaho (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | 11-27610-01 |
| Organization: | Qal-Tek Associates |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 30.50(b)(1) | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+197.75 h8.24 days <br />1.177 weeks <br />0.271 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Michael Albanese 11:45 Jul 7, 2016 |
| NRC Officer: | Mark Abramovitz |
| Last Updated: | Jul 7, 2016 |
| 52071 - NRC Website | |
Qal-Tek Associates with 10 CFR 30.50(b)(1) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 520712016-06-29T06:00:00029 June 2016 06:00:00
[Table view]10 CFR 30.50(b)(1) Leaking Ni-63 Sources 2016-06-29T06:00:00 | |