Event Notification Report for March 10, 2023

EN Revision Imported Date: 3/10/2023

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER GAUGE

The following summary was obtained via phone and email from the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control [the Department]:

On February 9, 2023, at 1534 EST, the Department was notified by WestRock Charleston Kraft, LLC of a shutter on an Ohmart SH-F1 gauging device (serial number 67584) containing 10 mCi of Cs-137 that was stuck in the open position. The shutter was found during the licensee's six month inventory and shutter check. The gauge is in an isolated area not heavily trafficked.

The vat that the gauge is attached to leaks directly onto the gauge, so it was previously recommended that the gauge be covered. The recommendation did not help. The contractor surveyed the gauge and got no higher than 2 mR/hr at a foot. The inspector concurred after using his [model] 14-C [detector] (serial number 99961). The numbers were approximately 4 mR/hr on the outside surface of the covering. It has been decided by the licensee that because it is in a very unobtainable location, they will leave it in the open and operating position until they remove the entire vat from service in March or April.

South Carolina Event Number: EN56348

* * * UPDATE ON 3/9/23 AT 0836 EST FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO BILL GOTT VIA EMAIL * * *
The following summary was obtained via email from the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control:
"The licensee submitted a 30-day written report on 03/09/23. The licensee reported no overexposures and that the gauging device will be disposed by 05/31/23. The licensee also reported that the gauging device contains 100 mCi of Cs-137 and not 10 mCi of Cs-137 as originally reported. This event is still under investigation."

Notified R1DO (Young), and NMSS Events Notification (via email).

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SOURCE

The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department) via email:

"On March 2, 2023, a licensee notified the Department that they were unable to retract a 79.6 Ci iridium-192 source to a Delta 880 camera at a temporary job site on March 1, 2023. After an exposure, the cable was cranked in but would not lock. The technicians cranked the cable back to the collimator and called a radiation safety officer (RSO). The RSO arrived at the site and found that both technicians had extended the boundary to 1-1.5 mR/hr. He then checked the dosimetry for both technicians and found both had received about 20 mR. The RSO investigated the source and determined that it had become disconnected from the wire at the point where the wire connects to the pig tail. The source was determined to still be in the collimator. A lead blanket was then used to cover the collimator. The crank-out and guide tubes were then replaced. The end of the pig tail was slowly exposed so that the wire could be connected by hand. The source was then retracted successfully back into the camera. The RSO wore a direct reading dosimeter on his hand while doing this and reported that his hands received around 600 mR. His whole-body dosimeter measured around 400 mR. His badge has been sent in for analysis. The technicians and public did not receive additional dose from this incident."

Texas Incident Number: I-9997

OFFSITE NOTIFICATION DUE TO INJURED WORKER

The following information was provided by the licensee via email:
"At approximately 1153 CST on March 9, 2023, a contract worker was injured requiring an ambulance transport to a local hospital. Union Electric (Ameren Missouri) subsequently learned that the individual requires an overnight hospital stay. This event is reportable to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration per 29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2) by the contract worker's employer and is reportable to the Missouri Public Service Commission in accordance with Missouri regulation 20 CSR 4240-3.190(3)(A). This notification is being made to the NRC pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi) due to other government notification. The individual was not working in a radiologically controlled area.

"The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been notified of this event."