Radiation Source
| Types of facilities | ||
|---|---|---|
 INES 3 |
Accident in industrial radiography |
A radiographer was taking several radiographic films to a pipes by the night. In order to be sure that the guide tube was correctly the radiographer went to the tube guide an collimator to fix them. This operation was made by 40 times. Eventually the radiographer touched with his left hand, at least 10 times, the tube guide where the source was unnoticed. Also, two auxiliar staff went to the radiographer position carrying the films to be checked at least by 40 and 20 times. The radioactive source was 3199,5 GBq Ir-192. The event was detected at the end of job.
INES 1 |
Hazardous manipulation of a lightning rod with Ra-226 |
On April 7 ITN ( the Nuclear and Technological Institute), the institution responsible for the interim storage of radioactive waste in Portugal, was contacted by a private company that requested instructions on how to dismantle, handle and transport a radioactive lightning rod (containing a category 5 radioactive source). Detailed instructions were provided by ITN to the company.
On October 4, the lightning rod was finally delivered at ITN.
INES 1 |
Found radioactive source |
On 28 Sep 2011 evening, a citizen equipped by the chance with a special watches with dosemeter, informed the Police of the Czech Republic that there was an increased radiation on a children playground in Prague 4. By activating the integrated emergency services the police and fire brigade arrived to the location. The increased radiation was confirmed, State Office for Nuclear Safety (SONS) dispatched a mobile group of National Radiation Protection Institute, which measures the radiation and identified the source. The amounts of dose were approx.
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 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 1 |
Melting of Orphan Source |
Tuesday 13 September 2011 in the evening, the FANC was informed that a radiation portal monitor for the measurement of radioactivity in a French facility indicated the presence of radioactive material in the load of a truck coming fom Duferco La Louvière Produits Longs, located in La Louvière, Belgium.
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.
INES 3 |
Overexposure of a field radiography worker |
A field of radiography worker took overexposure incidentally with radiography equipment containing 2.1TBq (55.8Ci) Ir-192 source at the pipe welding workshop located in Jinju southern part of Korean Peninsula, on March 3, 2009.
The incident caused from the wrong direction of crank handle by radiographer’s confusion. The investigation unfolded that any survey meter was not deployed to working place and the worker did not wear a personal dosimeter as well as an alarm meter.
INES 2 |
Overexposure of field radiography workers |
On November 4, 2008, two field radiography workers took overexposure incidentally with radiography equipment containing 1.8Tbq (47.7Ci) Ir-192 sources at pipe welding workshop located in Yeosu province southern part of Korean Peninsula.
The incident caused from returning the disconnected pig-tail source to the source container by those of two workers without any preventive or protective measures. The investigation unfolded that any survey meter was not deployed to working place and an alarm meter worn by one of worker was not properly working.
INES 2 |
Radiography overexposure |
On September 16, 2010 the radiation safety officer of a licensed industrial radiography company notified the Regulatory Authority of an overexposure of a gammaradiography worker. The worker was exposed by a 0.4 TBq (11 Ci) cobalt-60 source, with the dose exceeding the annual dose limit 50 mSv for radiation workers. The incident occurred when the radiographer entered the bunker without retracting radiation source to its shielded position. The worker spent about 4 minutes in the bunker while replacing the radiography film.
