Re: Source Stuck in a Pantasafe

[Chris Alston <alstonc@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu>]

>Date: Tue, 9 May 2000 22:54:56 +0530 (IST)
>From: "Dr.K.S. Parthasarathy" <aerb@soochak.ncst.ernet.in>
>
>we had faced a similar situation in1967. The only difference was that in a
>safe of the same type the hospital staff "managed" to drop an unknown
>number of 10 mg radium tubes. The total number of tubes was five!!. In
>this instance, the drawer has a rectangular cross section snuggly fitting
>into the safe.This rectangular drawer can be pulled out of the safe.A
>cylidrical piece is a part of the rectangular drawer. This can be pulled
>out separately. This cylidrical piece has a crevice in whic h the sources
>are placed normally. The cylindrical piece is pulled out and the sources
>are removed for use. The staff of the hospital used to pull out the
>rectangular drawer along with the source and used the assembly as a
>transport container. I think it was not to be used that way. The shielding
>was totally inadequate.
>
>	We were more concerned because we had to retrieve several sources
>from the drawer. Cutting the drawer was the only way out. But we were not
>sure about the location of the tube/tubes. If we cut through a radium tube
>we will have an awfully difficult ssituation to handle. To make sure that
>we will not cut through a tube we took some auto radiographs or(was it better
>to be called radioautographs!!) using [Dx-ray films.Finally we cut the
>safe to retrieve the source successfully. I do not know whether the
>situation you are facing now is identical to what I faced then.That was
>one of my first assignments.
>
>	Out of some academic interest what is the current status of the
>use of radium in US . In India we had about 17 gms.THey were removed
>and disposed of in the waste management facility of the Bhabha Atomic
>Research Centre. They did not charge for the service. 
>
>regards
>
>Dr.K.S.Parthasarathy
>
>========================================================================
>Atomic Energy Regulatory Board,
>Niyamak Bhavan, Anushaktinagar,
>Bombay - 400 094. INDIA
>
>Tel : 5572989/90/91/93/94       FAX : 5562344 / 5565717
>email : aerb@soochak.ncst.ernet.in
>========================================================================
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html