The following information was obtained from the State of
Texas via email:
On February 7, 2014, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified by the licensee's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) a source disconnect had occurred on February 6, 2014. The disconnect occurred while radiographers were working at a field location using a QSA model 880D exposure device with a 39 curie iridium-192 source.
The radiographers were working in a shooting bay and had been working for about five hours when the problem occurred. The RSO stated the radiographer had extended the source to the collimator and was attempting to retract the source when the source moved a few inches and then could not be moved in any direction. The radiographer contacted the RSO who directed them to secure the area and wait for his arrival.
The RSO and an assistant arrived at the facility and attempted to retract the source, but could not. The RSO stated the guide tube had a sharp bend near the area of the collimator and believed that could have damaged the guide tube causing the hang-up. The RSO disconnected the guide tube from the exposure device and using a remote handling tool, slid the guide tube down the drive cable. When the end of the drive cable was exposed, the RSO noted the source was not attached. He then shook the source from the guide tube and onto the ground. The source was covered with bags of lead shot.
The RSO connected the source to the drive cable and was able to retract the source into the exposure device. The exposure device and drive cable connectors were tested using a go-no-go device and both passed. The highest exposure received from the source retrieval was 38 millirem. No overexposures occurred and no member of the general public was exposed due to this event. The RSO stated the guide tube would be returned to the manufacturer for inspection. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300.
TX Incident: I-9155