On March 9, 2006, the State of Texas notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of a presumptive badge overexposure for a radiographer trainee. The company reported a film badge reading of 250mSv (25.343 Rem). The State of Texas is following up on the event to determine whether the dose was to the individual or to the badge only.
A radiographer trainee was working with a trainer at a construction site when he noticed that his badge had fallen off approximately 1.83 meters (6 feet) from a 3.515 TBq (95 Ci), model G-60 Ir-192, SPEC model 150 camera. It is uncertain whether the trainee failed to report the incident to the radiographer, supervisor or RSO. The incident was thought to have occurred in late February. The company is considering having cytogenetic testing performed. A second reading of the dosimeter by the company processing the device rendered an inconclusive result. The radiography company and the State of Texas are performing an investigation although the company is presuming the situation is a badge only since the pocket dosimeters and the processed dosimeter worn by the trainer were consistent with their typical monthly exposures of approximately 1mSv (100 mRem).
If the exposure is to the individual and not badge only, the provisional rating for this event is Level 2.
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