[ RadSafe ] radiography incident

[Brent Rogers]

1.  Licensee is not a NRC licensee, so how would their 'getting serious' have helped here?

2.  When last I worked in US regulatory scheme (2001), Texas & Louisiana had the most rigorous programs for industrial radiography.  Not sure how it is now.  I hope that more than just the licensee is performing an investigation.  If Texas Rad Control don't have time or expertise to do it, they should get an independent consultant to do so at licensee's expense.

3.  I'd be interested to hear how the last inspection of the licensee went and how long ago was it?

Brent Rogers
Sydney Australia

Brevity alert: Sent from my iPad

On 30/03/2012, at 8:28, William Lipton <doctorbill34 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Note the carelessness and the high doses (*>* 56 rem whole body and 100 rem
> extremity) in this incident. as reported to the NRC:
> 
> *AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - OVEREXPOSURE TO RADIOGRAPHER WHEN CAMERA SOURCE
> BECAME DISCONNECTED
> 
> The following information was received by facsimile: * *
> 
> "On March 24, 2012, the licensee notified the Agency that it one of its
> radiography teams had experienced a disconnect of a 65 curie iridium-192 on
> a QSA Delta 880 radiography camera at a temporary work site in Pasadena,
> Texas. The crank out drive cable had broken and the source had completely
> disconnected. After an authorized individual performed the source
> retrieval, the licensee's RSO learned that the radiographer trainer
> disconnected the source tube from the camera and had carried the source
> tube around his neck while he climbed down the ladder of the
> scaffold[emphasis mine]. The source was in the tube at this time, but
> it is
> uncertain at this time the source's location within the tube. When the
> radiographer trainer reached the platform he removed the source tube from
> his neck. The licensee's initial dose estimates for the radiographer
> trainer are a whole body dose of at least 56 rem and an extremity limit
> that may exceed 100 rem. The radiographer's film badge is being sent for
> immediate reading. The licensee is conducting an investigation. * *
> 
> "NOTE: During the licensee's initial phone call to the Agency, the Agency
> understood the whole body dose estimate to be 6 rem and considered the
> event to be a 24-hour report (the Agency did report to the NRC HOO within
> 24 hours). However, when the Agency received the written initial report
> this morning, March 26, 2012, it was discovered that the estimate is 56
> rem, which requires immediate notification. This report is being submitted
> to update and upgrade the event. More information will be provided as it is
> obtained. * *
> 
> The State also corrected the source strength to 65 curie Ir-192 source.
> REAC/TS was notified on 03/26/12 and the licensee has made contact with
> them. *
> 
> It seems that the radiographer had neither the training nor the alarming
> dosimeter that are required by regulations.
> 
> I'll ask the same question that I've been asking for years:  When is the
> NRC going to get serious about the hazards of radiography?
> 
> Bill Lipton
> It's not about dose, it's about trust.
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