On October 4, 2006, the State of Texas notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that an industrial radiographer’s dosimeter analysis indicated that the individual exceeded the NRC’s annual occupational total effective dose equivalent limit of 50 millisievert (mSv) or 5 rem.
The State of Texas reported that a technician was performing radiographic operations at an offsite facility. The camera contained a 2.85 terabecquerel (TBq) or 77 Curie iridium 192 source The technician had completed an exposure, returned the source to the camera, and noted the survey meter located approximately six feet in front of the camera was responding in the zero direction. The technician disconnected the guide tube from the camera and relocated it for the next exposure. Upon returning to pick up the device, the technician noticed the source had not fully retracted and was hanging out of the camera. The technician cranked the source into the shielded position and notified his supervisor. The supervisor instructed the technician to cease all work and to bring his personal and alarming dosimeter to the office. The film badge was overnighted to the licensee’s processor.
On October 3, 2006, the processor reported the exposure for the film badge to be 165.43 mSv (16.543 rem). The worker’s total dose for the year is reported as 195.38 mSv (19.538 rem).
On October 3, 2006, the licensee held a safety meeting for all radiography personnel to discuss proper performance of surveys when conducting radiographic operations. It appears that no other personnel had been exposed to the unshielded source.
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