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RE: incident details
Here's the Preliminary Notification for the incident:
January 24, 2002
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PNO-IV-02-006A
This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE
safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially
received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is
known by the Region IV staff on this date.
Facility
Owensby and Kritikos
Sulphur, Louisiana
(State of Louisiana Licensee)
Licensee Emergency Classification
Notification of Unusual Event
Alert
Site Area Emergency
General Emergency
X Not Applicable
SUBJECT: CORRECTION, ERROR ON UNITS (BOLDED) - INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT
RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO A RADIOACTIVE SEALED SOURCE
DESCRIPTION: On January 18, 2002, a State of Louisiana licensee, Owensby
and Kritikos, notified the State of an industrial accident at a refinery in
Lake Charles, Louisiana. During routine radiography activities the source
drive cable crossed a high voltage cable resulting in damage to the
radioactive source. The radiography device was manufactured by AEA
Technologies, Model 660B, (Serial Number B-2956) and contained 1.52
terabequerel (41 curies) of Iridium-192. The State of Louisiana immediately
dispatched an inspector to the site.
The following information was reported to the State by the licensee on
January 18, 2002. The radiography work was being performed in a vessel
about 50 feet overhead at the refinery. The licensee said that they
believed that they were able to retract the damaged source into the camera.
The refinery health and safety unit responded to the scene, and the area was
secured. Radiation readings outside the vessel manway were reported to be
approximately 100 mr/hr and greater than 1 r/hr just inside the vessel
manway.
Followup information indicated that the maximally exposed individual was the
radiographer who was in the vessel when the accident occurred and who later
exited through the vessel manway. His personal dosimetry indicated a 240
mrem exposure. Six individuals were originally identified with
contamination as a result of the event. Five were reported with shoe
contamination and one with skin contamination. All shoes were successfully
decontaminated. The individual with skin contamination had minor residual
contamination on his hand even after several decontamination attempts.
Early in the event, one individual with shoe contamination left the scene to
get tools for the source recovery. The individual.s truck was held and an
office that he entered was locked for contamination evaluation. The State
initially suggested that the licensee do nasal smears to evaluate the
potential for internal intake by any individuals. Region IV also suggested
that the licensee consider whole body counting for any individuals suspected
to have received any intake.
The licensee contracted with AEA Technologies for recovery of the camera,
and with two other contractors for the decontamination effort. The State
continued to monitor licensee activities over the holiday weekend and plans
to do confirmatory surveys following the decontamination activities.
Region IV offered assistance to the State and the State initially indicated
that none was necessary.
On Monday January 21, 2002, the State informed NRC that the two
radiographers involved in the incident were evaluated with a gamma scan at a
local hospital and the radiographer that was in the vessel had indications
of an intake in the lungs. The State subsequently requested assistance from
he NRC in obtaining whole body counting at a local nuclear power plant for
the two radiographers and
-2-
five other individuals who were involved in the source recovery efforts over
the weekend. The five individuals became concerned after hearing of the
results of the gamma scan for the radiographer. The five individuals were
apparently wearing full face respirators during the recovery effort.
Arrangements were made for whole body counting to be performed on Tuesday,
January 22, 2002. Ultimately, eight individuals received whole body counts
including a refinery employee. The results received from the State for the
eight individuals indicated that the radiographer involved in the event had
the highest level intake of 1.0 megabequerel (27.1 microcuries), a second
radiographer.s intake was 1.57 E-3 megabequerel (4.23 E-2 microcuries), and
a refinery employee had an intake of 1.2 E-3 megabequerel (3.24 E-2
microcuries). The five contractors. results indicated no intake. The
licensee is evaluating the dose for the radiographer with the high level of
intake. Initial dose estimates for the radiographer indicates that there
was no apparent dose in excess of the annual dose limit of 5 rem.
The State provided additional information to NRC on Wednesday as follows.
The radiography camera had been placed in a plastic bag outside the vessel
and dose reading within inches of the camera were about 300 mr/hour, which
would indicate that the remainder of the source has been retracted and
secured in the camera. The licensee believes that the remaining
contamination is confined to the vessel and in the immediate vicinity (10-20
feet) outside the vessel. The licensee believes that all other areas
contaminated as a result of the event have been decontaminated including the
office building that was locked previously. As much as 180-370 gigabequerel
(5-10 curies) of the radioactive source is estimated to remain in the
vessel. It was noted that a localized area on the very bottom of the vessel
was reading about 1000 r/hour on contact. The licensee is developing a plan
for further recovery work.
Region IV continues to monitor the status of this situation through the
State of Louisiana and continues to be available to provide assistance to
the State as requested. At 3:00 p.m. (CST) on Wednesday, January 23, 2002,
the State requested NRC assistance in coordinating with DOE Radiation
Emergency Assistance Center (REAC) to further evaluate the health effects
for the radiographer.
The State issued a press release on January 22, 2002.
NRC Operations Center received notification of this occurrence from the
State of Louisiana at 12:39 p.m. (EST) on January 18, 2002, and NRC received
updated information and a request for assistance on January 21, 2002.
Region IV NRC received additional updated information on January 22 and 23,
2002. Region IV has informed OEDO, NMSS, OSTP, RIV SLO, and the PAO. Region
IV also
conducted a Commissioner Assistant.s brief at 7 p.m. on January 18, 2002.
This information has been discussed with the State and is current as of 3:00
p.m. (CST) on January 23, 2002.
CONTACTS: Linda McLean Dwight D. Chamberlain
817-860-8116 817-860-8106
-----Original Message-----
From: P. van Rooyen [mailto:rooyen@aib-vincotte.nl]
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 10:53 AM
To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: incident details
Hello radsafers
I heard that about a week ago a 'serious' incident happened at a Refinery
in Lake Charles.
As far as my information goes an iridium radiography source disconnected
into a vessel.
The message states that the source 'may have vaporised'.
Due to environmental conditions I suppose.
NRC and Oak Ridge assisted with recovery operations.
Further details are not available.
As this accident scenario seems new, we would be very happy with more
technical details and lessons learned.
One of our clients requested a statement if we were equipped to deal with
such an accident.
I am interested in off-line contact if preferred.
Regards
Paul van Rooijen
Manager HSE
AIB-Vinçotte Nederland BV, PO Box 6869, 4802 HW Breda, The Netherlands
tel (+31) 076 579 11 54, fax (+31) 076 587 47 60
e-mail rooyen@aib-vincotte.nl
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