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MAY 19 '97 a5~28PM ISOMEDIX CORPORRTE P.3i6 , <br /> At this point the cobalt 60 capsule still possesses between <br /> 600 and 1000 curies of useful activity and must still be <br /> handled with the same level of caution as a new capsule. If <br /> not needed at this site, the capsule will be transferred to <br /> one of the other 10 existing Isomedix irradiator facilities. <br /> 3. How many people died resulting from accidents in irradiation <br /> plants all throughout the world? .Are data available on <br /> this? How about the U.S.? <br /> There have been four documented fatality events at <br /> irradiator facilities worldwide out of a total of 170 such <br /> facilities containing approximately 19o million curies of <br /> ,cobalt 60. <br /> a. Italy, May 1975 <br /> An operator, while adjusting a conveyor belt, was <br /> transported into the irradiation unit while the source <br /> was exposed. Fault placed on poor management. <br /> b. Norway, September 1982 <br /> A Maintenance Technician arrived on morning shift after <br /> unattended night operations. Conveyor belt had jammed <br /> and source failed to descend into the storage pool. <br /> The door interlock was unbarred allowing entrance to <br /> the irradiation room. The radiation monitor was <br /> removed for repair. Fault placed on poor interlock <br /> design. <br /> c. El Salvador, February 1989 <br /> No preventative maintenance program, no operator <br /> training program, overridden safety interlock systems <br /> and no regulatory oversight were determined to be the <br /> primary causes which allowed three workers to enter an <br /> irradiator while the source was stuck in the raised <br /> position. One of the three workers died,. <br /> d. Israel, June 1990 <br /> Similar to the Norway event. The operator bypassed the <br /> door interlock radiation monitor and entered the <br /> irradiator with a non functional hand held geiger <br /> counter while the source was stuck in the raised <br /> position. <br /> ISOIVIEOIX INC. <br /> <br /> CORPORATE OFFICES • 11 APOLLO DRIVE, WHIPPANY, NEV/ JERSEY 07981 • (401) 887-4700 • FAX (201) 887-1476 <br /> <br />