TEXAS - PHOSPHOROUS-32 SPILL (2300 MCI) RESISTS DECON, SO PLEXIGLASS USED TO COVER FLOOR DURING DECAY

GUIDANT CORPORATION (PEARLAND, TX) | EVENT DATE: 06/19/2003 | NOTIFICATION DATE: 07/08/2003

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT

Spill of radioactive material. On 6/19/2003, an employee inadvertently dropped a vial of P-32 on the floor. The container spilled approximately 2900 millicuries of P-32 on the floor while contaminating one employee and several pieces of the licensee's equipment. The employee was decontaminated on site. An initial clean-up wash was performed on the facility. However, the radiation levels remained high. The RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) directed that the floors be covered with 2 sheets of 4 ft by 8 ft plexiglas. In addition, the licensee covered contaminated equipment with lead sheeting to prevent the spread of contamination and elevated radiation levels in the vicinity of the equipment. The licensee is waiting 10 half-lives to release the facility for full use. All personnel entering the area are notified of the contamination and are warned of the radiation levels and potential contamination.

The incident was not reported within 24 hours per regulations. Levels exceed release criteria. The incident is being investigated.

This incident is being reported under 10 CFR 30.50(b)(1), and Texas requirement 289.202(xx)(7)(A).

Texas incident number I-8034.

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|General Information or Other                     |Event Number:   39983       |
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| REP ORG:  TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH           |NOTIFICATION DATE: 07/08/2003|
|LICENSEE:  GUIDANT CORPORATION                  |NOTIFICATION TIME: 15:28[EDT]|
|    CITY:  PEARLAND                 REGION:  4  |EVENT DATE:        06/19/2003|
|  COUNTY:                            STATE:  TX |EVENT TIME:             [CDT]|
|LICENSE#:  L05178-000            AGREEMENT:  Y  |LAST UPDATE DATE:  07/08/2003|
|  DOCKET:                                       |+----------------------------+
|                                                |PERSON          ORGANIZATION |
|                                                |KRISS KENNEDY        R4      |
|                                                |JOHN HICKEY          NMSS    |
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| NRC NOTIFIED BY:  HELEN WATKINS                |                             |
|  HQ OPS OFFICER:  ERIC THOMAS                  |                             |
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|EMERGENCY CLASS:          NON EMERGENCY         |                             |
|10 CFR SECTION:                                 |                             |
|NAGR                     AGREEMENT STATE        |                             |
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