Event Notification Report for July 08, 2026

UNPLANNED CONTAMINATION

The following information was provided by the licensee via phone and email:

"On June 29, 2026, at approximately 1300 EDT, a quality assurance (QA) technician was conditionally releasing two batches of lutetium chloride in two separate safes/pigs when one of the safes slipped from their hand during transport and fell to the ground. The 6.53 Ci glass vial shattered on the laboratory floor, spilling the contents onto the floor and the pants/shoes/socks of the QA technician. The technician notified the nearest person in the lab of the spill and together they ensured the lab was evacuated, with the QA technician remaining at the lab entrance for assistance from health physics. The other individuals exited the laboratory and performed a whole-body survey using a portal monitor. The health physics manager/radiation safety officer (RSO) was notified of the personnel and area contamination and responded to the event.

"Health physics personnel found contamination on the pants, socks, and shoes of the QA technician. The contamination levels exceeded the count rate instrument scale. Health physics did not identify contamination on the skin of the individual.

"Health physics temporarily secured the affected laboratory to prevent the spread of contamination. Health physics assessed the spill from personnel statement of events and initiated the decontamination process. As a precaution, the health physics manager/RSO designated the laboratory area as double shoe covers required. Health physics initiated decontamination efforts and were able to reduce the contamination to approximately 100 mR/hr on contact in the spill area. Health physics collected air samples of the immediate area of the spill and analyzed the filter via gamma spectroscopy to identify the nuclides. The results indicated no presence of airborne contamination.

"The director of the radiation safety office and the health physics manager communicated the incident to the NRC Region III Inspector on Monday, June 29. Curium discussed the incident and data with the Region III Inspector, and agreed to reconnect on Tuesday, June 30. On Tuesday, June 30, Curium discussed with the NRC Region III Inspector an update of the contamination and dose levels as well as further actions to remediate. Curium and the NRC agreed that the incident met the intent of the notification criteria under 10 CFR 30.50(b)(1).

"Health physics discontinued the decontamination efforts on June 30 when the dose rates and contamination levels did not decrease, indicating that the residual contamination was now fixed to the floor. Health physics measured general area exposure rates to be 4-6 mR/hr, on contact with the affected floor to be approximately 90 mR/hr, and approximately 100,000 cpm of removable contamination."