Chilca radiography accident, 2012 (original) (raw)

Database of radiological incidents and related events--Johnston's Archive

compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last modified 10 July 2022

**Date:11-12 January 2012Location:Chilca, Canete, PeruType of event:radiography accidentDescription:**An iridium-192 source in a radiography camera for pipeline joint testing became stuck in its guide tube. Three workers continued testing with the source for 2.5 hours without realizing that the source was not safed between test exposures. The issue was discovered at the end of testing and reported. One worker exhibited vomiting and fatigue 3 hours after the end of testing and later developed skin burns on the hands. His dose was later estimated at 460 rad whole body and 5,000 rad to one finger. The second worker received a dose of 100 rads and exhibited vomiting after 6.5 hours. The third worker received a dose of 75 rads and experienced only mild nausea. The first worker was later treated in Chile and parts of three fingers were removed. All three workers recovered.

**Consequences:**3 injuries

References:

• IAEA, 2018, "The radiological accident in Chilca," IAEA, on line [http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/PUB1776_web.pdf].

© 2022 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 10 July 2022.
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