CBRN event in Peru on Fri 24th July 2009

Industrial radiography was being undertaken at a manufacturing plant using a 0,177 TBq Iridium-192 source. During an exposure, the source got stuck as it was being projected. The radiographer tried to retract the source into the gamma device and the source apparently detached. The event was recognized immediately by the radiographer who took carefully the equipment and the guide tube in order to perform the recovery of the source. The recovery operation was performed following the specific procedure but in that moment the radiographer noticed that the radiation levels did not decreased and the source was broken. The radiographer fenced the area and notified the incident to national authority (IPEN) and requesting assistance to recover the source. The national authority team arrived to the place in a few time and located the pellets of radioactive source and proceeded to recovered them. Four hours elapsed between the beginning of event and the total recovery of radioactive source. The pellets were put inside a shield and stored temporarily in a safe location and then after taken to the Radioactive Waste Plant. Doses received by workers were no more than 1,65 mSv and the personnel of team received doses no more than 5 mSv.