Date: 17 November 1992

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Type of event: accident with irradiator

Description:

An accident occurred at a research-associated electron accelerator facility in Hanoi. An individual entered the irradiation room to adjust a sample for irradiation. The operators were unaware that the person had entered the room and turned on the beam at that time. The facility lacked safety interlocks or procedures to prevent such an accident. The individual received doses of 1,000 to 2,500 rad to the left hand and 2,000 to 5,000 rad to the right hand. Within one month one hand had to be amputated as well as the fingers on the other hand.

Consequences: 1 injury (localized dose)

References:

• IAEA, 1996, An Electron Accelerator Accident in Hanoi, Viet Nam, IAEA (Vienna, Austria), abstract on line at IAEA [http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PubDetails.asp?pubId=4711].
• UNSCEAR, 2000, "Annex E: Occupational radiation exposures," in Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation: United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation UNSCEAR 2000 Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes, Volume I: Sources, UNSCEAR, on line at UNSCEAR [http://www.unscear.org/docs/reports/annexe.pdf].

© 2004, 2006 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 11 June 2006.
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