Overexposure to Radiographer


Print View Posted on: 19 March 2014

Event Date: 13 March 2014 Event Type: Radiation Source
Event Location: United States of America, LaPorte, Texas/Acuren Inspection INES Rating: 3 (Provisional)

Two radiography trainees were performing industrial radiography inside of a tank. The first trainee handled the guide tube of a radiography camera while the Ir-192 source was in the guide tube. The Ir-192 source contained 2553 GBq (69 curies).The first trainee was not wearing his personnel monitoring devices because he had left them in the truck. He also was not using a survey meter. Based on the reenactment of the event in which it was determined that the trainee’s hand was 0.5 centimeters from the source for 10 seconds, the licensee has calculated a dose of 36.8 Sv (3680 rem) to the hand of the first trainee, however, the trainee presently is not experiencing any pain and no deterministic effects have been observed. The whole body dose to the first trainee is estimated to be 60 mSv (6 rem). The licensee and consultants are continuing to evaluate the exposures. The second trainee did not handle the guide tube, but received a whole body dose of 33 mSv (3.3 rem). Blood samples have been taken and sent to the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS). The licensee, Acuren Inspection, will continue to monitor the hand of the first trainee and communicate with REAC/TS. NRC EN49912

INES Rating: 3 - Serious incident (Provisional) as per 17 March 2014
Release beyond authorized limits? No
Overexposure of a member of the public? No
Overexposure of a worker? Yes

Contamination spread within the facility? No
Damage to radiological barriers (incl. fuel damage) within the facility? No

Degradation of Defence In-Depth No

Person injured physically or casualty? No
Is there a continuing problem? No

Patricia Milligan, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Patricia.Milligan@nrc.gov
http://www.nrc.gov
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