Event Notification Report for March 05, 2003
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
03/04/2003 - 03/05/2003
General Information or Other
Event Number: 39640
Rep Org: LOUISIANA DEPT ENV QUALITY
Licensee: COMPUTALOG WIRELINE SERVICES
Region: 4
City: State: LA
County:
License #: LA-4413-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: SCOTT BALCKWELL
HQ OPS Officer: YAMIR DIAZ
Licensee: COMPUTALOG WIRELINE SERVICES
Region: 4
City: State: LA
County:
License #: LA-4413-L01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: SCOTT BALCKWELL
HQ OPS Officer: YAMIR DIAZ
Notification Date: 03/06/2003
Notification Time: 15:29 [ET]
Event Date: 03/05/2003
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 03/06/2003
Notification Time: 15:29 [ET]
Event Date: 03/05/2003
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 03/06/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
DALE POWERS (R4)
DOUG BROADDUS (NMSS)
DALE POWERS (R4)
DOUG BROADDUS (NMSS)
IRRETRIEVABLE SEALED SOURCE
"Computalog was performing analysis of the amount of petroleum in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve salt dome in Hackberry, LA. The tool hung up on the casing near the top and fell to the bottom. The source was a 172 mCi [millicurie] source of Cs- 137 and it fell to a depth of 4000 ft. Attempts were not made to retrieve the tool because the dome is so wide at the bottom. DEQ is waiting on the written report for additional information."
"Computalog was performing analysis of the amount of petroleum in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve salt dome in Hackberry, LA. The tool hung up on the casing near the top and fell to the bottom. The source was a 172 mCi [millicurie] source of Cs- 137 and it fell to a depth of 4000 ft. Attempts were not made to retrieve the tool because the dome is so wide at the bottom. DEQ is waiting on the written report for additional information."
General Information or Other
Event Number: 39663
Rep Org: WA DIVISION OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Licensee: PM TESTING LABORATORY
Region: 4
City: Tacoma State: WA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ARDEN SCROGGS
HQ OPS Officer: RICH LAURA
Licensee: PM TESTING LABORATORY
Region: 4
City: Tacoma State: WA
County:
License #:
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ARDEN SCROGGS
HQ OPS Officer: RICH LAURA
Notification Date: 03/12/2003
Notification Time: 11:11 [ET]
Event Date: 03/05/2003
Event Time: 20:00 [PST]
Last Update Date: 07/25/2003
Notification Time: 11:11 [ET]
Event Date: 03/05/2003
Event Time: 20:00 [PST]
Last Update Date: 07/25/2003
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
MARK SHAFFER (R4)
THOMAS ESSIG (NMSS)
MARK SHAFFER (R4)
THOMAS ESSIG (NMSS)
WA AGREEMENT STATE REPORT ON POSSIBLE OVEREXPOSURE INCIDENT
"Licensee: PM TESTING LABORATORY
"Licensee number: WN-11R047-1
"Type of licensee: Industrial Radiography
"Date of event: March 5, 2003
"Location of event: Port of Tacoma, WA. German cargo ship 'Big Lift'
"ABSTRACT: (as reported by licensee's representative) A radiographer and Assistant Radiographer were performing radiography at the Port of Tacoma, on a German cargo ship 'Big Lift' on March 5, 2003, at approximately 10 PM [PST]. The work required the radiographers to use a cherry-picker type lifting vehicle to access the work area since the area was about 100 feet above deck level. The Radiographer and Assistant were both in the lift bucket, 2 feet apart, at the time of the incident. The industrial radiographic device (Amersham Corporation Model 660B, containing approximately 70 curies of iridium 192) with connected guide tube, collimator and control cables had been lifted into position and secured in the area of the intended exposure. The exposure device had been made ready for the exposure. The operation required the Radiographer and Assistant to move the lift as far from the exposure area as possible while extending the control cable.
"As the lift was being positioned away from the work area it swayed, this startled the radiographer who dropped the control cable. The sway also caused the lift's engine to stall. The action of dropping the control cable to the extent of its length and resulting sudden stop at the end of the drop caused the source to become unshielded. Their survey meter immediately went off scale on the highest scale and their alarm-rate meters were alarming.
"It took the radiographers, by their estimate, about 30 seconds to restart the [lift] vehicle, move the bucket so they could recapture the control cable and secure the source. When they were able to check their pocket ion-chambers, they found them off scale. Work was stopped for the day and both film badges were sent for processing.
"Results from film badge processing and analysis indicated the Radiographer received a whole body exposure of 1600 millirem. This coincided with the calculations made by the Radiographer after the incident. The film badge for the Assistant indicated an exposure of 1,423,000 millirem. When the badge processor was contacted and asked to reanalyze the film they stated they got the same exposure.
"Since both radiographers were within 2 feet of each other in the lift basket and calculations confirmed that the Radiographer's exposure was 1600 milliRem, it appears the exposure to the Assistant was incorrectly determined. In addition, the Assistant is not exhibiting any signs of an excessive exposure. The company is submitting a report of the incident. The Division is performing an investigation. Media, at present, are not involved.
"What is the notification or reporting criteria involved? WAC 246-221-260, Reports of overexposures and excessive levels and concentrations.
"Activity and Isotope(s) involved? 70 curies of Iridium 192.
"Overexposure? Until the investigation indicates otherwise, the process report of the Assistant's film badge indicates a whole body exposure of about 1,423,000 milliRem. The over exposure is apparently not real since calculations using exposure time, distance and source activity and a second film badge, worn by another individual closely associated with the first all indicate exposure is unusual but much lower. Staff will investigate."
* * * UPDATE 1326 EDT on 7/25/03 FROM A. SCROGGS VIA EMAIL TO THE OPS CENTER * * *
The following is a portion of an email received from the Dept. of Health, Rad Materials Section:
"The initial report indicated that an Assistant Radiographer appeared to have received an overexposure. The Department's investigation determined this not to be true.
"As a result of the department's investigation of the event and review of the radiography company's assumptions and calculations, the Assistant's exposure was determined to be 1600 millirem. Although this is a significant and unusual exposure, given the circumstances of the event, the department considers that any health effects would be minimal.
"The event is considered to be closed."
Notified R4DO (Pruett) and NMSS (Greeves).
"Licensee: PM TESTING LABORATORY
"Licensee number: WN-11R047-1
"Type of licensee: Industrial Radiography
"Date of event: March 5, 2003
"Location of event: Port of Tacoma, WA. German cargo ship 'Big Lift'
"ABSTRACT: (as reported by licensee's representative) A radiographer and Assistant Radiographer were performing radiography at the Port of Tacoma, on a German cargo ship 'Big Lift' on March 5, 2003, at approximately 10 PM [PST]. The work required the radiographers to use a cherry-picker type lifting vehicle to access the work area since the area was about 100 feet above deck level. The Radiographer and Assistant were both in the lift bucket, 2 feet apart, at the time of the incident. The industrial radiographic device (Amersham Corporation Model 660B, containing approximately 70 curies of iridium 192) with connected guide tube, collimator and control cables had been lifted into position and secured in the area of the intended exposure. The exposure device had been made ready for the exposure. The operation required the Radiographer and Assistant to move the lift as far from the exposure area as possible while extending the control cable.
"As the lift was being positioned away from the work area it swayed, this startled the radiographer who dropped the control cable. The sway also caused the lift's engine to stall. The action of dropping the control cable to the extent of its length and resulting sudden stop at the end of the drop caused the source to become unshielded. Their survey meter immediately went off scale on the highest scale and their alarm-rate meters were alarming.
"It took the radiographers, by their estimate, about 30 seconds to restart the [lift] vehicle, move the bucket so they could recapture the control cable and secure the source. When they were able to check their pocket ion-chambers, they found them off scale. Work was stopped for the day and both film badges were sent for processing.
"Results from film badge processing and analysis indicated the Radiographer received a whole body exposure of 1600 millirem. This coincided with the calculations made by the Radiographer after the incident. The film badge for the Assistant indicated an exposure of 1,423,000 millirem. When the badge processor was contacted and asked to reanalyze the film they stated they got the same exposure.
"Since both radiographers were within 2 feet of each other in the lift basket and calculations confirmed that the Radiographer's exposure was 1600 milliRem, it appears the exposure to the Assistant was incorrectly determined. In addition, the Assistant is not exhibiting any signs of an excessive exposure. The company is submitting a report of the incident. The Division is performing an investigation. Media, at present, are not involved.
"What is the notification or reporting criteria involved? WAC 246-221-260, Reports of overexposures and excessive levels and concentrations.
"Activity and Isotope(s) involved? 70 curies of Iridium 192.
"Overexposure? Until the investigation indicates otherwise, the process report of the Assistant's film badge indicates a whole body exposure of about 1,423,000 milliRem. The over exposure is apparently not real since calculations using exposure time, distance and source activity and a second film badge, worn by another individual closely associated with the first all indicate exposure is unusual but much lower. Staff will investigate."
* * * UPDATE 1326 EDT on 7/25/03 FROM A. SCROGGS VIA EMAIL TO THE OPS CENTER * * *
The following is a portion of an email received from the Dept. of Health, Rad Materials Section:
"The initial report indicated that an Assistant Radiographer appeared to have received an overexposure. The Department's investigation determined this not to be true.
"As a result of the department's investigation of the event and review of the radiography company's assumptions and calculations, the Assistant's exposure was determined to be 1600 millirem. Although this is a significant and unusual exposure, given the circumstances of the event, the department considers that any health effects would be minimal.
"The event is considered to be closed."
Notified R4DO (Pruett) and NMSS (Greeves).