Home
> NRC Library
> Document Collections
> Generic Communications
> Information Notices
> 1988 > IN 88-18
Information Notice No. 88-18: Malfunction of Lockbox on Radiography Device
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 April 25, 1988 INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 88-18: MALFUNCTION OF LOCKBOX ON RADIOGRAPHY DEVICE Addressees: All NRC licensees authorized to manufacture, distribute, and/or operate radio- graphic exposure devices. Purpose: This notice is to advise licensees about a radiography incident that could have resulted in a significant radiation exposure to workers or members of the public. It is expected that licensees review this information for applicability to their program, distribute the notice to responsible radiation safety staff, and consider actions, if appropriate, to prevent a similar situation from occurring. However, suggestions contained in this notice do not constitute new NRC requirements, and no written response is required. Description of Circumstances: The State of Louisiana has reported the failure of a lockbox on a Gamma Century SA radiography camera at an offshore Texas job site. The work involved radiographic examination of welds on an oil and gas production platform. After one exposure, when the radiographer cranked the source back into the camera, the fixed insert, spring, and movable insert, along with the source assembly, came partially out of the lockbox. This left a partially unshielded radiography source, which is hazardous and could cause a serious radiation injury in a matter of seconds. The radiographer was able to secure the area and return the insert and source to the device without any overexposure. The lockbox was secured with tape and the camera returned to the manufacturer. When the device was examined by the manufacturer, two of the roll pins that hold the fixed insert in the lockbox were missing. The third roll pin had partially come out, thus allowing the insert and the source assembly to come out of the lockbox. Since two of the pins were missing, it is believed that the other pin could have worked free due to the pivot action that might occur when cranking the source assembly in and out of the device. No explanation is offered for why two of the roll pins were missing. Item number 2 of the attached diagram (Figure 1) shows the location of the bottom roll pin. The two other roll pins, one on each side, were located at a 45� angle from the bottom pin. The missing pins may have been identified and replaced, if this item had been added to the daily equipment checks. 8804180428 . IN 88-18 April 25, 1988 Page 2 of 2 Discussion: Section 34.28 of 10 CFR Part 34 requires daily radiographic equipment checks for defects. Licensees should verify that they have appropriate programs in place to promptly identify equipment problems and correct them immediately. Also note that potential generic defects must be reported to the NRC in ac- cordance with 10 CFR Part 21. Licensees may also wish to review their emergency procedures to assure that their radiographers will respond properly and safely in any event such as the one described involving an unshielded source. No written response is required by this information notice. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the person listed below or the appropriate NRC regional office. Richard E. Cunningham, Director Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Technical Contacts: Steven L. Baggett, NMSS (301) 492-0613 R. J. Doda, Region IV (303) 236-2805 Attachments: 1. Diagram of Affected Lockbox 2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices . Attachment 2 IN 88-18 April 25, 1988 Page 1 of 1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED NRC INFORMATION NOTICES _____________________________________________________________________________ Information Date of Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to________ 88-17 Summary of Responses to NRC 4/22/88 All holders of OLs Bulletin 87-01, "Thinning of or CPs for nuclear Pipe Walls in Nuclear Power power reactors. Plants" 88-16 Identifying Waste Generators 4/22/88 Radioactive waste in Shipments of Low-Level collection and Waste to Land Disposal service company Facilities licensees handling prepackaged waste, and licensees operating low-level waste disposal facilities. 88-15 Availability of U.S. Food 4/18/88 Medical, Academic, and Drug Administration and Commercial (FDA)-Approved Potassium licensees who Iodide for Use in Emergencies possess Involving Radioactive Iodine radioactive iodine. 88-14 Potential Problems with 4/18/88 All holders of OLs Electrical Relays or CPs for nuclear power reactors. 88-13 Water Hammer and Possible 4/18/88 All holders of OLs Piping Damage Caused by or CPs for nuclear Misapplication of Kerotest power reactors. Packless Metal Diaphragm Globe Valves 88-12 Overgreasing of Electric 4/12/88 All holders of OLs Motor Bearings or CPs for nuclear power reactors. 88-11 Potential Loss of Motor 4/7/88 All holders of OLs Control Center and/or or CPs for nuclear Switchboard Function Due power reactors. to Faulty Tie Bolts 88-10 Materials Licensees: Lack 3/28/88 All NRC licensees of Management Controls Over authorized to use Licensed Programs byproduct material. _____________________________________________________________________________ OL = Operating License CP = Construction Permit
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Friday, May 22, 2015
Home
About Us
Popular Documents
Stay Connected
