Date: 31 December 1998

Location: Aransas Pass, Texas, USA

Type of event: radiography accident

Description:

A radiographer trainee with Global X-Ray and Testing Corporation, based in Houston, received localized radiation injury from a 123 curie iridium-192 radiography source. The trainee and a radiographer were at a job site at Aransas Pass in violation of regulatory requirements regarding radiography teams. The trainee was inappropriately permitted to operated the radiography equipment. At about 6:00 PM the trainee had placed his dosimeter in the vehicle in preparation to leave when the radiographer asked him to assist in another measurement. While setting up to use the equipment he discovered that he had failed to retract the source into its shielded position following a previous use. The individual incurred a 3,000-5,000 rem dose to his hand and a 10 rem whole body dose. The company notified the state regulatory agency on 1 January 1999. A radiation burn developed on the right index finger by 10 January 1999, and on 27 January developed a callous on the finger.

Consequences: 1 injury.

References:

• Bureau of Radiation Control, 2004, "Incident Investigation Program," on line, Texas Bureau of Radiation Control [http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/radiation/complaints.htm].
• Bureau of Radiation Control, Aug. 2003, "Summary of incidents for first quarter 1999," on line, Texas Bureau of Radiation Control [http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/radiation/pdffiles/ISN991q.pdf].
• Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, Feb. 2000, "Report to Congress on abnormal occurrences, Fiscal Year 1999 (draft)," Nuclear Regulatory Commission, on line [http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/commission/secys/2000/secy2000-0003/attachment1.pdf].

© 2004, 2007 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 24 September 2007.
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