Lost and Subsequent Recovery of a Radioactive Source


Print View Posted on: 08 March 2019

Event Date: 14 January 2019 Event Type: Radiation Source
Event Location: Pakistan, Wajedo International Corporation (Private) Limited INES Rating: 1 (Final)

On January 14, 2019, an industrial radiographer associated with Wajedo International Corporation (Private) Limited started his journey from Sadiqabad to Daharki site to perform radiography job while carrying Gamma projector (YG-192S) with radioactive source of Ir-192 (10Ci) placed in the back cabin of his vehicle. During journey, the vehicle stopped near Obaro due to some malfunction in its engine. The driver opened the back door of the vehicle to take out some necessary equipment from the cabin for the maintenance of vehicle. After maintenance of the vehicle, the journey was resumed. Before reaching the radiography site, the radiographer checked the reading on radiation survey meter and it was revealed that the projector was not present in the vehicle. He noticed that the projector had fallen down from vehicle because the back door was open which was not locked properly after vehicle maintenance.
The radiographer started searching for the projector from Daharaki to Obaro. Meanwhile, a shopkeeper contacted the radiographer at his mobile phone and told that the container was in his custody because phone number was pasted on source container box. Consequently, the projector was recovered from the shopkeeper near Obaro and a detailed radiation survey was performed which was found satisfactory. There was no damage found to the physical condition of the source container.

INES Rating: 1 - Anomaly (Final)
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

Muhammad Usman
Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA)

m.usman@pnra.org
http://www.pnra.org
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