RE: incident details

["Fill, John (DHS-DDWEM)" <JFill@DHS.CA.GOV>]

Here's an update:

 

February 5, 2002

 

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PNO-IV-02-006B

 

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:  UPDATE - INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO A RADIOACTIVE

SEALED SOURCE

 

DESCRIPTION:  This provides updated information regarding an event which

occurred on January 18, 2002, when 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

terabequerels (41 curies) of iridium-192. 

 

On Monday, February 4, 2002, the State informed NRC that the source recovery

was ongoing, and that a large piece of the source had been recovered from

the vessel.  The piece was estimated to consist of approximately 95 percent

of the activity (previously estimated at 10 curies) that remained in the

vessel after the accident.  The source piece was placed in storage and will

be sent along with the camera for damage assessment.  The camera was

recovered previously, and plans are being evaluated for shipment of the

camera for damage assessment.  The location for the damage assessment has

not been determined.  

 

Arrangements were made for whole body counting to be performed at DOE.s

Radiation Emergency Assistance Center (REAC) to further evaluate the health

effects for the radiographer involved in the event.  The REAC results

indicated that the radiographer had an intake of 0.59 megabequerel (16

microcuries).  Dose calculations for the radiographer from the REAC results

have not been provided, but the dose estimates continue to be well below the

annual dose limit of 5 rems.  

 

Region IV continues to monitor the status of this situation through the

State of Louisiana.  

 

Region IV received updated information on February 4, 2002.  

 

This information has been discussed with the State and is current as of 9:00

a.m. (CST) on February 4, 2002.  

 

Region IV has informed NMSS, OSTP and OEDO.

 

CONTACTS: Linda McLean Dwight D. Chamberlain

817-860-8116             817-860-8106

 

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