Irradiation of a worker while handling an Iridium 192 source

Print View Posted on: 11 June 2013

Event Date: 13 June 2012 Event Type: Radiation Source
Event Location: France, Fos-sur-Mer INES Rating: 2 (Final)

A worker of the Applus RTD-CTS company was handling a gamma ray projector containing a source of iridium 192 of 2 TBq while performing a weld inspection within the Esso refinery at Fos-sur-Mer (Bouches-du-Rhône administrative department, South-East of France). The source could not return to its safe shielded position inside the device. It appeared that the operator moved the device by hanging it by its remote control box and then attempted to perform various actions to release the source before implementing the incident procedure. These manual operations have led to a whole body dose of 5.2 mSv and of a dose of 500 mSv to his hands.

INES Rating: 2 - Incident (Final) as per 12 July 2012
Release beyond authorized limits? No
Overexposure of a member of the public? No
Overexposure of a worker? No
Contamination spread within the facility? No
Damage to radiological barriers (incl. fuel damage) within the facility? No
Degradation of Defence In-Depth Yes
Person injured physically or casualty? No
Is there a continuing problem? No

Evangelia PETIT
Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire (ASN)
evangelia.petit@asn.fr
http://www.french-nuclear-safety.fr/index.php
Site Sponsors
Site Sponsors: IAEA, NEA and WANO
This site is hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and co-sponsored by the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organization of Economic Cooperation Development (OECD/NEA) and World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).
Disclaimer
This site is hosted by the IAEA, however, event reports are filed and updated by authorities in participating countries, which remain responsible for all related content. Read more >