Print View Posted on: 06 February 2014
On 24th April 2013 a disused Am-241 radiation source (originally liquid; reported activity 3 GBq) was transported for disposal from the Institute of Analytical Chemistry und Radiochemistry at the University of Innsbruck to the Austrian Central Waste Management Facility (Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf, NES). On 2nd May 2013 two workers of NES were contaminated and exposed by inhalation during opening the transport cask. Also the area for handling the radioactive sources at NES was contaminated. As a consequence of this event also the Institute of Chemistry und Radiochemistry at the University of Innsbruck was investigated with the following result: Two persons of the Institute who packed the source for transport and several rooms of the Institute were also contaminated because of a leakage of the Am-241 source. The transport car and the driver were not contaminated.All 4 persons involved in the event were brought to hospitals for medical survey. No deterministic health effects were observed. The final dose assessment (measurements by whole body counter and urine analyses) result in the following effective doses caused by inhalation of Am-241:- 9.5 mSv respectively 47 mSv for the two workers at NES; 1 person exceeds the statutory limit of 20 mSv- 140 mSv for each of the two persons at the University Institute; both persons exceed the statutory limit of 20 mSv. 140 mSv is only for one person the final value. For the other person the final dose will probably decrease. Long time monitoring is needed for a final result.- Additional dose assessments and investigations verify that no other personnel of NES and the University of Innsbruck or any member of the public were exposed or contaminated by this incident. All contaminated areas at NES and the University Institute were locked up. Decontamination plans for both places already exist and are under implementation. According to these plans decontamination of all involved areas will be finalized by spring 2014.Due to the results of the dose assessment the final INES level remains 2 based on the INES criteria “impact on people and the environment”.The investigations of the root causes of the incident reveal a lack of safety culture; especially concerning the storage and handling of the source and its authorization.