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Re: transportation event
Maybe a drop of 4 ft STILL is very different than a 4 ft drop at speed!
William V Lipton wrote:
>
> You bring up an interesting question. The specified drop test height for a
> Type A package weighing less than 11,000 pounds is 4 feet (49 CFR 173.465), so
> the package should have easily survived the drop. It's not completely clear
> from the incident description, but it seems that the package failed BEFORE the
> syringe was run over. ( The incident describes the syringe being run over, not
> the package. Also, if the intact package had been run over, it's unlikely the
> syringe would have been lost.)
>
> The incident description also describes the Tc-99m syringe as being in a lead
> pig. The question: Is an ammo box qualified as a Type A package when it
> contains a lead pig? i.e. were the tests performed with a comparable pig in
> the box? I would guess not. My experience is that there seems to be a
> widespread misuse of "Type A" packaging, based on the misconception that, if
> the packaging is qualified as Type A, you can use it for anything.
>
> I'm sure there are some Radsafers who use this packaging. Please look at your
> test results. What did the packaging contain when the package (package =
> packaging + contents) was tested? My guess: sand.
>
> The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
> It's not about dose, it's about trust.
> Curies forever.
>
> Bill Lipton
> liptonw@dteenergy.com
>
> "Williamson, Matthew/Medical Physics" wrote:
>
> > Hmm, an ammo box fell out of a vehicle. I MUST say by regulation that
> > the syringes were displaced when run over by the truck. We ALL know
> > that a USDOT Certified Type A pkg can withstand such a small drop onto
> > the pavement without ANY change to the radiation levels.
> >
> > Matt Williamson
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-radsafe@list.Vanderbilt.Edu
> > [mailto:owner-radsafe@list.Vanderbilt.Edu] On Behalf Of William V Lipton
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 9:24 AM
> > To: radsafe@list.Vanderbilt.Edu
> > Subject: transportation event
> >
> > Please see the message pasted from the NRC Event Report for November 12,
> > 2003. Note that this occurred at 0700, on November 10, 2003, i.e. rush
> > hour. It's good to know that a spill of radioactive material in a busy
> > location, but with no significant hazard, did NOT create a panic. I did
> > not see any media coverage on this, although there may have been some in
> > the DC area.
> >
> > The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
> > It's not about dose, it's about trust.
> > Curies forever.
> >
> > Bill Lipton
> > liptonw@dteenergy.com
> >
> > Other Nuclear Material Event Number: 40310
> > Rep Org: EASTERN ISOTOPES INC
> > Licensee: EASTERN ISOTOPES INC
> > Region: 1
> > City: STERLING State: VA
> > County:
> > License #: 45-25221-01DM
> > Agreement: N
> > Docket:
> > NRC Notified By: JOE HARLESS RSO
> > HQ OPS Officer: MIKE RIPLEY Notification Date: 11/10/2003 Notification
> > Time: 13:52 [ET] Event Date: 11/10/2003 Event Time: 07:00 [EST] Last
> > Update Date: 11/10/2003 Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section:
> > 20.2201(a)(1)(ii) - LOST/STOLEN LNM>10X
> > Person (Organization):
> > KENNETH JENISON (R1)
> > DOUG BROADDUS (NMSS)
> > M. BROWN (DOT)
> > L. MARZULL (EPA)
> > SUSAN FRANT (IRO)
> >
> > Event Text
> >
> > TRANSPORTATION EVENT - SYRINGES LOST FROM COURIER VEHICLE
> >
> > The licensee reported that at 0700 ET on 11/10/03, a courier was
> > transporting syringes containing Technetium-99M and Flourine-18 when,
> > while driving over the Key Bridge in Georgetown, District of Columbia,
> > the trunk of the vehicle popped open and 2 boxes were released just past
> > the bridge in Georgetown. Everything was recovered except for 1 syringe
> > containing 15 millicuries of Flourine-18 calibrated at 1145 ET with a
> > 2-hr half life and 1 pig containing a syringe with 2 millicuries
> > Technetium-99M calibrated at 1300 ET with a 6-hr half life. Pieces of
> > the syringe containing the Flourine-18 were recovered and it was
> > believed that the syringe had been run over by a truck. A radiation
> > survey was performed and only very low readings were found where the
> > syringe had been broken. The pig containing the syringe with
> > Technetium-99M was not recovered and it is believed to have rolled into
> > a storm drain near the intersection of Reservoir Road and M Street in
> > Georgetown. The licensee and the local Hazmat Team determined that there
> > was no need to attempt a recovery of the material from the storm drain.
> >
> > The licensee had initially notified the VA Dept. of Health, DC
> > Department of Health, and US DOT (NRC) of the released Flourine-18 prior
> > to realizing that the syringe containing Technetium-99M was also
> > missing. The licensee will be updating these agencies.
> >
> >
>
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