Event Notification Report for January 22, 2010
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
01/21/2010 - 01/22/2010
EVENT NUMBERS
45662456544564845712
General Information or Other
Event Number: 45662
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: DESERT INDUSTRIAL X-RAY LP
Region: 4
City: ABILENE State: TX
County:
License #: 04590
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Licensee: DESERT INDUSTRIAL X-RAY LP
Region: 4
City: ABILENE State: TX
County:
License #: 04590
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN KNOKE
Notification Date: 01/26/2010
Notification Time: 14:34 [ET]
Event Date: 01/22/2010
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/26/2010
Notification Time: 14:34 [ET]
Event Date: 01/22/2010
Event Time: 00:00 [CST]
Last Update Date: 01/26/2010
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
GREG PICK (R4DO)
MICHELE BURGESS (FSME)
GREG PICK (R4DO)
MICHELE BURGESS (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE DISCONNECT
"On January 26, 2010, [The Texas Department of Health] was notified by the licensee that a source disconnect had occurred on January 22, 2010. A radiographer was cranking a 26 curie iridium (Ir) - 192 source from the camera when he began having difficulty driving the source. He decided to retract the source back into the camera when the source disconnected at the drive cable. The source was driven into the collimator at the end of the guide tube. The radiographer contacted his Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and informed him of the event. An individual qualified for source retrieval was sent to the location. The source was returned to the camera, and the camera was returned to the licensee's facility. The individual performing the source retrieval received 120 millirem as indicated by his pocket dosimeter. The RSO stated that the failure appeared to be caused by a failure of the connector on the drive cable. The RSO stated that it was a result of normal wear on the device. [The Texas Department of Health] has requested copies of the last three maintenance records for the device. The source serial number is QH2505 manufactured by Spec. The camera serial number is 1203. Additional information will be provided as it is received."
Texas Incident #: I - 8706
"On January 26, 2010, [The Texas Department of Health] was notified by the licensee that a source disconnect had occurred on January 22, 2010. A radiographer was cranking a 26 curie iridium (Ir) - 192 source from the camera when he began having difficulty driving the source. He decided to retract the source back into the camera when the source disconnected at the drive cable. The source was driven into the collimator at the end of the guide tube. The radiographer contacted his Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and informed him of the event. An individual qualified for source retrieval was sent to the location. The source was returned to the camera, and the camera was returned to the licensee's facility. The individual performing the source retrieval received 120 millirem as indicated by his pocket dosimeter. The RSO stated that the failure appeared to be caused by a failure of the connector on the drive cable. The RSO stated that it was a result of normal wear on the device. [The Texas Department of Health] has requested copies of the last three maintenance records for the device. The source serial number is QH2505 manufactured by Spec. The camera serial number is 1203. Additional information will be provided as it is received."
Texas Incident #: I - 8706
General Information or Other
Event Number: 45654
Rep Org: FLORIDA BUREAU OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: NDE INC
Region: 1
City: TAMPA State: FL
County:
License #: 3404-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: STEVE FURNACE
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Licensee: NDE INC
Region: 1
City: TAMPA State: FL
County:
License #: 3404-1
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: STEVE FURNACE
HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN
Notification Date: 01/25/2010
Notification Time: 10:01 [ET]
Event Date: 01/22/2010
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/25/2010
Notification Time: 10:01 [ET]
Event Date: 01/22/2010
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 01/25/2010
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
RONALD BELLAMY (R1DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
RONALD BELLAMY (R1DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - POTENTIAL OCCUPATIONAL OVEREXPOSURE
The following report was received from the State of Florida Bureau of Radiation Control via facsimile:
"Employee's TLD recorded an overexposure of 6.261 rem. Date [of potential overexposure] was between 10 Dec 2009 to 9 Jan 2010. Affected employee claims he left his leather pouch with TLD [and pocket dosimeter] in work bucket over night, second shift used bucket not noticing TLD pouch at bottom. Pocket dosimeter reading was also off scale. Other employees who worked with him during same time period have no excessive exposures. RSO calculates dose should be approximately 195 mr during month as per records. RSO believes [that this exposure is] not an occupational overexposure. RSO contacted Licensing and Materials office on 22 Jan 2010. RSO received Landauer's dosimetry report on 21 Jan 2010. [The State of Florida] Tampa Inspection Office will investigate."
FL report #FL10-009
The following report was received from the State of Florida Bureau of Radiation Control via facsimile:
"Employee's TLD recorded an overexposure of 6.261 rem. Date [of potential overexposure] was between 10 Dec 2009 to 9 Jan 2010. Affected employee claims he left his leather pouch with TLD [and pocket dosimeter] in work bucket over night, second shift used bucket not noticing TLD pouch at bottom. Pocket dosimeter reading was also off scale. Other employees who worked with him during same time period have no excessive exposures. RSO calculates dose should be approximately 195 mr during month as per records. RSO believes [that this exposure is] not an occupational overexposure. RSO contacted Licensing and Materials office on 22 Jan 2010. RSO received Landauer's dosimetry report on 21 Jan 2010. [The State of Florida] Tampa Inspection Office will investigate."
FL report #FL10-009
Other Nuclear Material
Event Number: 45648
Rep Org: KAKIVIK ASSET MANAGEMENT
Licensee: KAKIVIK ASSET MANAGEMENT
Region: 4
City: ALPINE OIL FIELD State: AK
County:
License #: 50-27667-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KEENAN REMELE
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ
Licensee: KAKIVIK ASSET MANAGEMENT
Region: 4
City: ALPINE OIL FIELD State: AK
County:
License #: 50-27667-01
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: KEENAN REMELE
HQ OPS Officer: MARK ABRAMOVITZ
Notification Date: 01/22/2010
Notification Time: 11:39 [ET]
Event Date: 01/22/2010
Event Time: 00:00 [YST]
Last Update Date: 01/25/2010
Notification Time: 11:39 [ET]
Event Date: 01/22/2010
Event Time: 00:00 [YST]
Last Update Date: 01/25/2010
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
10 CFR Section:
30.50(b)(2) - SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Person (Organization):
GREG WERNER (R4DO)
LARRY CAMPER (FSME)
GREG WERNER (R4DO)
LARRY CAMPER (FSME)
FAILURE TO FULLY RETRACT THE SOURCE OF A RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA
On January 22, 2010, a radiography crew working the Alpine Oil Field on the North Slope of Alaska had a camera source that failed to fully retract back into the camera. The technician was able to restore the source to the shielded position and the camera has been returned to the vault. The locking mechanism will be repaired later today. At the time of this report it is believed that the camera contains a 70 Ci Iridium-192 source.
* * * UPDATE ON 1/23/2010 AT 1255 FROM KEENAN REMELE TO MARK ABRAMOVITZ * * *
"On January 22nd a radiography crew working the Alpine Oil Field on the North Slope of Alaska experienced a malfunctioning locking system on an INC IR-100 exposure device.
"When preparing to perform the second exposure of the shift (Ir-192, 84 curies) the locking bar deployed prematurely. The crew reset the locking bar and the locking mechanism tripped again when the cranks were rotated. The exposure device was surveyed, no abnormal readings noticed, and prepared for disassembly. When the crank assembly was removed it was noted that the pigtail was not in the proper position, approximately 1/4 inch further inside the camera than normal. The shipping plugs were placed appropriately and the exposure device was tagged out and transported back to the storage vault.
"When the trained technician attempted to remove the locking assembly, one set screw could not be removed. The remaining set screws were replaced and the camera will be shipped back to the manufacturer for repair.
"The weather was minus 17 degrees with a wind speed of 18 knots.
"There was no exposure to the crew or the general public during this incident."
Notified the R4DO (Werner) and FSME (Camper).
* * * UPDATE ON 1/25/2010 AT 1058 FROM KEENAN REMELE TO DONALD NORWOOD VIA E-MAIL * * *
The report is being updated to provide source and exposure device information.
Exposure Device: Industrial Nuclear IR-100
Device S/N: 6761
Source S/N: 0820
Source Type: 82.4 curies, IR-192
Notified R4DO (Pick) and FSME Daytime EO (McIntosh).
On January 22, 2010, a radiography crew working the Alpine Oil Field on the North Slope of Alaska had a camera source that failed to fully retract back into the camera. The technician was able to restore the source to the shielded position and the camera has been returned to the vault. The locking mechanism will be repaired later today. At the time of this report it is believed that the camera contains a 70 Ci Iridium-192 source.
* * * UPDATE ON 1/23/2010 AT 1255 FROM KEENAN REMELE TO MARK ABRAMOVITZ * * *
"On January 22nd a radiography crew working the Alpine Oil Field on the North Slope of Alaska experienced a malfunctioning locking system on an INC IR-100 exposure device.
"When preparing to perform the second exposure of the shift (Ir-192, 84 curies) the locking bar deployed prematurely. The crew reset the locking bar and the locking mechanism tripped again when the cranks were rotated. The exposure device was surveyed, no abnormal readings noticed, and prepared for disassembly. When the crank assembly was removed it was noted that the pigtail was not in the proper position, approximately 1/4 inch further inside the camera than normal. The shipping plugs were placed appropriately and the exposure device was tagged out and transported back to the storage vault.
"When the trained technician attempted to remove the locking assembly, one set screw could not be removed. The remaining set screws were replaced and the camera will be shipped back to the manufacturer for repair.
"The weather was minus 17 degrees with a wind speed of 18 knots.
"There was no exposure to the crew or the general public during this incident."
Notified the R4DO (Werner) and FSME (Camper).
* * * UPDATE ON 1/25/2010 AT 1058 FROM KEENAN REMELE TO DONALD NORWOOD VIA E-MAIL * * *
The report is being updated to provide source and exposure device information.
Exposure Device: Industrial Nuclear IR-100
Device S/N: 6761
Source S/N: 0820
Source Type: 82.4 curies, IR-192
Notified R4DO (Pick) and FSME Daytime EO (McIntosh).
Other Nuclear Material
Event Number: 45712
Rep Org: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
Licensee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
Region: 1
City: STRATFORD State: CT
County:
License #: 06-02269-03
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: STEVE MAYO
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK
Licensee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
Region: 1
City: STRATFORD State: CT
County:
License #: 06-02269-03
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: STEVE MAYO
HQ OPS Officer: DONG HWA PARK
Notification Date: 02/19/2010
Notification Time: 12:10 [ET]
Event Date: 01/22/2010
Event Time: 14:30 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/19/2010
Notification Time: 12:10 [ET]
Event Date: 01/22/2010
Event Time: 14:30 [EST]
Last Update Date: 02/19/2010
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
10 CFR Section:
20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
Person (Organization):
TODD JACKSON (R1DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
ILTAB (via email)
TODD JACKSON (R1DO)
ANGELA MCINTOSH (FSME)
ILTAB (via email)
LOST NUCLEAR GAS LEAK DETECTOR
On January 22, 2010, the Radiation Safety Officer discovered two missing Leakmeter 200 gas leak detectors during an inventory inspection. The Leakmeter 200 is manufactured by USON and each contain a 10 mCi Ni-63 source. After investigating the incident, one of the employees believes that these leak detectors were sent to a scrapping facility back in September of 2009. The licensee believes that the sources have been disposed of properly and does not pose a safety threat to the public.
#1 Leakmeter Serial number/Source number: 2002053/977502
#2 Leakmeter Serial number/Source number: 2002054/977506
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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source
On January 22, 2010, the Radiation Safety Officer discovered two missing Leakmeter 200 gas leak detectors during an inventory inspection. The Leakmeter 200 is manufactured by USON and each contain a 10 mCi Ni-63 source. After investigating the incident, one of the employees believes that these leak detectors were sent to a scrapping facility back in September of 2009. The licensee believes that the sources have been disposed of properly and does not pose a safety threat to the public.
#1 Leakmeter Serial number/Source number: 2002053/977502
#2 Leakmeter Serial number/Source number: 2002054/977506
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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source