7-11 July 2019
EV63 - PEP T3: An Overview and the Lessons Learned from a Response to a Radiological Event Involving Potentially Significant Internal Radiation Doses from Americium-241 (Mejias, Dewey)Orlando IV 12:15 - 14:15 |
| As a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) or health physicist, there are numerous technical, regulatory, and political challenges involved in managing a NRC reportable event that involves internal contamination potentially exceeding occupational dose limits. The health physics personnel involved with the response and incident investigation will have to address bioassays, radiological surveys, remediation activities, reports to the NRC, advising senior management, handling of public affairs inquiries, and many other activities. This program will discuss the events from the initial discovery of the contamination to the closure of an NRC reactionary inspection. The discussion will include valuable lessons learned concerning the adequacy of hazards assessment for radioactive materials not in use, the proper use and selection of detection equipment, the collection and interpretation of bioassay data, communicating with medical staff, laboratory decontamination, incident reporting and investigation, interactions with NRC personnel and senior leadership, communicating with potentially exposed personnel and preventive measures implemented to prevent recurrence of the event. |
