U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center Event Reports For 11/28/2006 - 11/29/2006 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** | Hospital | Event Number: 42977 | Rep Org: THE VALLEY HOSPITAL Licensee: THE VALLEY HOSPITAL Region: 1 City: RIDGEWOOD State: NJ County: License #: 29-03845 Agreement: N Docket: NRC Notified By: MARK LO HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY | Notification Date: 11/09/2006 Notification Time: 10:30 [ET] Event Date: 11/08/2006 Event Time: [EST] Last Update Date: 11/28/2006 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: INFORMATION ONLY | Person (Organization): NEIL PERRY (R1) GREG MORELL (NMSS) | This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material. | Event Text IMPLANTATION SEED FOUND IN MEDICAL WASTE BAG A single Cs-131 implantation seed (2.66 milliCuries as of 9/25/06) was found in a medical waste bag which had not yet left the hospital. All applicable areas were surveyed and no radioactive contamination was found. The licensee is performing a leak test of the seed and will forward the results. The hospital is performing an investigation into the incident. * * * UPDATE FROM K. CHAK TO W. GOTT AT 1037 ON 11/28/06 * * * The licensee completed the leak test - negative results, and properly disposed of the seed. The licensee is taking corrective actions to prevent its recurrence. Notified NMSS (S. Wastler) and R1DO (J. Dwyer) THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. | General Information or Other | Event Number: 43008 | Rep Org: WA DIVISION OF RADIATION PROTECTION Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON HARBORVIEW GAMMA KNIFE Region: 4 City: SEATTLE State: WA County: License #: WN-M0219-066 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: ARDEN SCROGGS HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN | Notification Date: 11/22/2006 Notification Time: 18:06 [ET] Event Date: 11/16/2006 Event Time: [PST] Last Update Date: 11/22/2006 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE | Person (Organization): VIVIAN CAMPBELL (R4) JOSEPH HOLONICH (NMSS) | Event Text AGREEMENT STATE - WASHINGTON - GAMMA KNIFE OVEREXPOSURE The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) received a preliminary telephone report, November 22, from University of Washington, Harborview Gamma Knife, that a dose of 28 Grays had been administered to a patient. The exposure exceeded the prescribed exposure of 18 Grays by 10 Grays. The cause, thus far, is unknown. DOH is to receive a written report within 15 days. The dose was administered by a Leksell Gamma System Model 24001 Type C gamma knife with 7,236 Curies of Co-60. The patient or responsible relative has been notified. The licensee is required to notify DOH within 24 hours. The notification is apparently several days late. Washington State report number: #WA-06-066 A "Medical Event" may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient. | Other Nuclear Material | Event Number: 43014 | Rep Org: GENERAL DYNAMICS LAND SYSTEMS Licensee: GENERAL DYNAMICS LAND SYSTEMS Region: 3 City: LIMA State: OH County: License #: SUB-1564 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: BOYD H. ROSE HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN | Notification Date: 11/28/2006 Notification Time: 16:37 [ET] Event Date: 11/28/2006 Event Time: 12:20 [EST] Last Update Date: 11/28/2006 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: 40.60(b)(4) - FIRE/EXPLOSION | Person (Organization): LAURA KOZAK (R3) JOSEPH HOLONICH (NMSS) | Event Text FIRE/EXPLOSION DURING SERVICING OF M1 ABRAMS TANK TURRET General Dynamics Land Systems services the M1 Abrams Tank at their Joint Systems Manufacturing Center located in Lima, OH. Following approved procedures, technicians removed the outer side armor followed by welders punching two (2) holes into the depleted uranium armor package. When the technician inserted a hydrogen probe, a detonation occurred causing a flame to eject through the holes. The flame struck the technician on his Tyvek coveralls but did not cause any injury. A rad survey of the area confirmed minor contamination inside the armor cavity and on the floor adjacent to the right side of the turret armor cavity. Decontamination of the floor is ongoing, however, the armor cavity will be resealed as a contaminated volume. | |