INES-event
INES 2

Exposure to radiation from a fixed gauge in New Waterford Nova Scotia

On July 23, 1999 a maintenance worker at Cape Breton Development Corporation (DEVCO) inadvertently; handled a radioactive source that should have been contained in a gauge at the plant. DEVCO took immediate steps to deal with the device, and to reconstruct the incident and the maintenance activities so more accurate dose estimates can be obtained.
A preliminary assessment of the incident by Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB), the regulatory authority in Canada, concluded that there was a possibility that the worker's hand was exposed to radiation in excess of a regulatory limit but that it is unlikely that the worker's "whole body dose" exceeded the limit for members of the general public. It appears that there may have been a breakdown in safety practices associated with the gauge because workers have been performing maintenance activities on the gauge without being aware that it contained radioactive material. An AECB inspector has been on site investigating for several days.

Location: CAPE BRETON (DEVCO)
Event date: Fri, 23-07-1999
Nuclear event report
Legenda & explanation