Event Notification Report for November 07, 2024

BROKEN RADIOGRAPHY SOURCE CABLE

The following information was provided by the licensee via email:

"On 11/07/2024, a radiographic crew was performing radiographic testing (RT) on a lease in Prudhoe Bay, AK (about 15 minutes from the Prudhoe Bay field station), when they noticed their camera (Sentinel 880 Delta, serial number: D3963, Ir-192 source model # A424-9, serial number: 96639M, 65.9 Ci) did not lock the source into the safe position. After attempting to check the lock with the same result, they initiated the proper notifications to the site radiation safety officer (RSO), management and drill site operator.

"At 1030 YST, the crew contacted management after extending and verifying their boundaries. They were instructed to wait for retrieval personnel and monitor their boundaries. The retrieval personnel consisted of a trained and certified retrieval RSO and experienced retrieval employees.

"The retrieval crew arrived on-site at 1100. The scene was immediately assessed, boundaries verified, dosimetry checked, and no one was over exposed to radiation. A short meeting with the RT crew and retrieval personnel followed. It was determined that the exposure device was hanging about six feet off the ground on ropes attached to a pipe above it, and the collimator was pointing upward of the building where their exposure was being taken. Once the initial information was gathered, a conference call was initiated with offsite RSO, and management began to form a plan for locating the source.

"The collimated guide tube and camera were safely lowered to the floor. Once the collimator was on the floor it was shielded. The team determined that the source may have disconnected. To verify, the crew cranked the cable all the way in to see if they could confirm the connector either came off or broke off into the pigtail. They attempted to unscrew the back of the camera but were unable to loosen one of the screws. It was decided to disconnect the safety connector off the cranks from the crank cable housing unit. In doing so, it was found that the 550 connector had broken. A plan was formulated to retrieve the source.

"The drive cable connector broke on the shoulder of the connector between the ball and the crimp, closer to the crimp. How or why is under investigation with QSA. This prevented the retrieval personnel from removing the drive cable from the camera in their attempts to retract the source. The safety connector of the cranks from the crank housing unit had to be removed before moving forward.

"QSA Global has the equipment involved in this incident and are investigating the cause of the mechanical failure.

"Event exposures:
Radiation worker 1: 50 mR film badge, 211 mR ring finger.
Radiation worker 2: 67 mR film badge, 47 mR ring finger.
Radiation worker 3: 43 mR film badge, minimal reading ring finger.
Radiation worker 4: 68 mR film badge, ring finger not used."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - CRIMPED SOURCE GUIDE TUBE

The following is a summary of information received from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) via email:

On November 7, 2024 at 1930 CST, a source guide tube became crimped which prevented source retraction to the shielded condition. The industrial radiography camera being used was a QSA 880 Delta (serial number D12667) containing a 106 Curie Ir-192 source (serial number 10791P).

The licensee was able to retrieve the source. One authorized user received 500 mR radiation exposure.

Louisiana Event Report ID Number: LA20240011