On January 17, 2005, the State of Texas received a report from a radiography licensee, which stated in part, that based on a review of their December 2004 dosimetry report, a radiographer’s assistant received an unexplained dose of 118.85 mSv (11.885 rem).
On January 18, 2005, the State of Texas and the licensee conducted an investigation regarding the reported potential overexposure. The radiographer’s assistant stated that neither the alarming rate meter nor his pocket dosimeter alarmed or showed any unusual readings. Neither the licensee nor the radiographer’s assistant provided an explanation regarding the overexposure and the investigation did not reveal the cause. Based on a dosimetry reanalysis, the vendor concluded that the dose appeared to be accurate. Additionally, on February 28, 2005, the radiographer’s assistant requested a baseline blood test at a hospital located in Houston, TX. Results indicated that no abnormalities were detected.
On March 31, 2005, the State of Texas notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that based on a dosimeter result, an industrial radiographer’s assistant had received a dose which exceeded the NRC’s annual occupational total effective dose equivalent limit of 50 millisievert (mSv) or 5 rem.
The radiographer’s assistant was assigned an annual accrued dose of 127.71 mSv (12.771 rem) for calendar year 2004. The State of Texas issued a violation to the licensee for failure to maintain the annual occupational exposure limits to 50 mSv (5 rem) or less.
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