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RE: (another) radiography overexposure
I know this industry from the regulatory stand point, as I participated to
many legal procedure against radiographers when I was an inspector.
In Canada, a radiographer is the only person who is directly mentionned
under the Atomic Energy Control Board regs for radioisotopes. And it is my
feeling that sometime, the licencee (company)should be more liable.
In some cases, the people are well-aware of the risks but cut corners
because they have several jobs to do a night, (most of the shots are
performed when there is low occupancy) or because of thousand of other
reasons .
So you have the time equation: You want an effective radiographic exposure
in a short period of time ? You ensure that the source you use is at least
80 to 100 Ci of Ir-192...
What I found sad is that this critical sector of the industry (the sector
who generates the highest personnal doses per year)is left to its own. Why
is that ? In Canada, regulatory bodies are very stringent for enforcement
but maybe they should consider the need to have an RSO, at least for big
companies in oil fields or shipyards for exemple. Perhaps Health Physics
associations should get involved more (I don`t know about HPS but I know
about CRPA here in Canada and we could make an effort to invite them to
particpate for exemple)
I am writing that in response to Bill`s last sentence: "I hope that
additional information is made available about this event, so that the
industry can incorporate the lessons learned." The industry knows what to
do but it keeps blaming the individual and defend istself under "due
dilligence"...
Clearly my own opinion stated here.
Stephane Jean-Francois, Eng., CHP
Specialiste en radioprotection/Radiation Safety Specialist
Gestion des risques/Risk Management
Merck Frosst Canada & Co
TEL: 514.428.8695
FAX; 514.428.8541
email: stephane_jeanfrancois@merck.com
-----Original Message-----
From: William V Lipton [mailto:liptonw@dteenergy.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2000 7:47 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: (another) radiography overexposure
Please see the NRC Event Report on a radiography overexposure in Texas.
What's disturbing about this event is that it does not seem to be a
one-time accident, but a programmatic failure. The radiographer
received more than 3 rem on a monthly dosimeter, in October, 1999, yet
he apparently was allowed to continue working, and it is only now that
the licensee recognized the overexposure for 1999.
This is one area where the NRC has imposed substantial additional
regulation, in recent years - see 10 CFR 34. However, there still seem
to be deficiencies in radiation safety programs for radiography. I hope
that additional information is made available about this event, so that
the industry can incorporate the lessons learned.
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com
|General Information or Other |Event Number:
36761 |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---+
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---+
| REP ORG: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |NOTIFICATION DATE:
03/06/2000|
|LICENSEE: GCT INSPECTION , INC |NOTIFICATION TIME:
16:05[EST]|
| CITY: SOUTH HOUSTON REGION: 4 |EVENT DATE:
02/29/2000|
| COUNTY: STATE: TX |EVENT TIME:
12:00[CST]|
|LICENSE#: TX-2378 AGREEMENT: Y |LAST UPDATE DATE:
03/06/2000|
| DOCKET:
|+----------------------------+
| |PERSON
ORGANIZATION |
| |DAVID LOVELESS
R4 |
| |BRIAN SMITH
NMSS |
+------------------------------------------------+
|
| NRC NOTIFIED BY: HELEN WATKINS
| |
| HQ OPS OFFICER: DICK JOLLIFFE
| |
+------------------------------------------------+
|
|EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A
| |
|10 CFR SECTION:
| |
|NAGR AGREEMENT STATE
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---+
EVENT TEXT
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---+
| AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIOGRAPHER RECEIVED ANNUAL EXPOSURE OF
5.205 Rem |
| IN 1999
- |
|
|
| On 02/29/00, Texas Department of Health Bureau of Radiation Control
received |
| notification from GCT Inspection, Inc, South Houston, TX, that
a |
| radiographer had received an annual exposure of 5.205 Rem during
1999. 3.34 |
| Rem had been received in the 09/15/99 - 10/14/99 monitoring time
period. TX |
| Department of Health Bureau of Radiation Control personnel are
requesting |
| additional information and investigating this
incident. |
|
|
| TX Incident
#7574. |
|
|
| (Call the NRC operations officer for a state contact telephone
number.) |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---+
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