Equivalent dose for extremities (hand) exceeding statuary annual limits

Print View Posted on: 17 March 2022

Event Date: 08 December 2021 Event Type: Other
Event Location: Germany, Hospital, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany INES Rating: 2 (Final)

During a medical injection of a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical (Tc-99m, 375 MBq) to a patient, the medical worker carrying out the injection received a hand skin exposure. While adjusting the cannula a plug at the cannula was opened by mistake and radioactive substance was spilled out. The hand of the medical worker was protected with rubber gloves. The patient skin was not contaminated during this incident.

Due to this event, the yearly equivalent dose for the hand was evaluated to be 517 mSv. According to the applicable legislation, the statutory limit for annual dose to extremities and skin is 500 mSv. Corrective actions in terms of additional training of the corresponding procedure were taken.

INES Rating: 2 - Incident (Final) as per 16 March 2022
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

Björn Becker
Gesellschaft für Anlagen und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) mbH
bjoern.becker@grs.de
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