AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - OVEREXPOSURE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
The following was received from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (the Department) via phone:
On June 26, 2019, the Department was officially notified that 22 workers (members of the public) received doses while performing vat cleaning at Fiber Industries, a polymer manufacture. Seven of those individuals received a dose exceeding the annual limit of 100 mrem, as stated in 10 CFR 20.1301. The exposures occurred in March and April 2019, after which the Department was notified of the potential overexposures. The cleaning occurred in two vessels that had the Cs-137 gauge sources in the open position but no tag out. The gauges are a level density gauge (300 mCi, 1974) and a filling dip tube (20 mCi, 1974). The doses were calculated by Chase Environmental Group based on the individuals' time in the vessels and distance from the sources. The midpoint dose estimate for the seven individuals range from 112 to 205 mrem.
The Department conducted a site visit on June 14, 2019, and is currently evaluating the incident. Based on the 30-day notification provided to the Department on June 26, it is unknown if the individuals have been notified and no names were provided.
Additional information will be sent to the NRC once the review is complete. |