North America
 INES 2 |
Overexposure to Radiographer’s Assistant |
On April 16, 2012, the licensee radiographer’s assistant informed the licensee Radiation Safety Officer that his pocket dosimeter had gone off scale 10 days prior. The licensee sent the radiographer’s permanent badge for processing and the result was a 250 mSv (25 rem) whole body dose reading. The State of Florida was informed of the dose on April 24, and has verified the dose. The State of Florida continues its investigation.
INES 3 |
Overexposure to Radiographer |
During work activities, a licensee’s radiographer [Radiographer A] appears to have been overexposed while carrying a guide tube that contained a 2.405 TBq (65 curies) Ir-192 source. Radiographer A was conducting work activities on a platform. When he had completed the series of shots, he signaled to Radiographer B, on the deck below, to crank in the source. Radiographer A surveyed the camera and then disconnected the source guide tube and laid it on the scaffold while he lowered the camera.
INES 2 |
Overexposure to Radiographer |
A licensee radiographer was performing radiography using a QSA D880 radiography camera containing a 1.37 TBq (37 curie) Ir-192 source. The radiographer approached the guide tube without verifying that the survey meter was functioning. When the radiographer attempted to crank the source out through the guide tube, the radiographer discovered that the source was already fully cranked out. The radiographer then cranked the source back into the body of the radiography camera and notified the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO).
INES 2 |
Extremity Overexposure to Radiation Worker |
One of the licensee's cyclotron operators received an extremity acute overexposure of 530 mSv (53.01 rem) to the right finger during the month of September as a result of cyclotron operations. The acute exposure brought the individual's total extremity exposure to 690 mSv (69 rem) for the year. The Regulatory Authority for this cyclotron, the State of Kansas, is continuing their investigation of the incident.
INES 2 |
Over Exposure to Radiographer |
The licensee radiography crew believed they had retracted the source back into the body of the radiography camera. They then approached the pipe. One radiographer noticed that an indicator on the camera suggested the source was actually not fully retracted into the body of the camera. The radiographers' survey meters registered a zero reading; however, one radiographer's digital rate meter was alarming. One of the radiographers turned one crank on the camera, and that is when the source became fully retracted.
INES 2 |
Overexposure to Radiographer |
The licensee-radiographer, climbed a ladder to remove the guide tube from an SA Model 880 radiography camera, which contained a 1.8 TBq (49.3 curie) Ir-192 source. The radiography camera was suspended by a rope. As he did this, another employee walked by and noticed that the survey meter, which was on the ground, had pegged off scale. He communicated this to the radiographer on the ladder who then realized the source was not retracted into the camera, but was still in the guide tube. He then climbed down the ladder and retracted the source.
INES 2 |
Overexposure to Radiation Workers |
During loading of a 44.8 TBq (1210 curie) Co-60 source into an industrial irradiator at the licensee's New Jersey facility, approximately 10 cm of the 20 cm source somehow became dislodged for approximately 25 to 30 seconds, exposing two service personnel (radiation workers) and a radiation safety officer (RSO) the licensee had employed under reciprocity using a Pennsylvania license. The service personnel were working under the supervision and direction of the Pennsylvania licensee. The insertion tool prevented the workers from re-inserting the dislodged source quickly.
INES 3 |
Overexposure to a Radiographer Trainee's Extremities |
Preliminary information indicates that a radiographer trainee received an extremity exposure to the fingers, as result of removing a radiography camera guide tube with the source still in it and touching the source. The trainee's fingers indicate observable deterministic effects, which include blistering of the thumb, index and middle fingers. These types of effects correspond to an exposure range of 20 to 30 Sv (2000 to 3000 rem) to the extremities. The trainee is receiving medical care at an area hospital.
INES 0 |
Alert Emergency Action Level Declaration due to Loss of Offsite Power Resulting from a Seismic Event |
On 23 August 2011, Units 1 and 2 of the North Anna Power Station declared an Alert, Emergency Action Level due to a loss of offsite power following a 5.8 seismic event on the Richter Scale. As of August 24, 2011, Unit 1 and Unit 2 are proceeding to cold shutdown conditions to allow for inspections inside containment. Normal offsite power has been restored to the North Anna Power Station.
At 1403 (EDT), on August 23, 2011, Units 1 and 2 of the North Anna Power Station declared an Alert, Emergency Action Level due to a loss of offsite power.
INES 2 |
Stolen Radiography Camera |
The dark room on a licensee's truck parked at a hotel in Austin, TX, was broken into during the night, and the container with a QSA Global model 880 D radiography camera containing 33.7 Ci of Ir-192 (IAEA Category 2 source), along with the guide tube and crank cables and a portable electric generator, was stolen. The local law enforcement agency (LLEA) was contacted and responded to the scene. Search for the source is continuing. The State of Texas issued a Press Release and the licensee issued a reward see http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/releases/20110719a.shtm.
