IRRSP - Industrial Radiography Radiation Safety Personnel Emergency and Abnormal Events Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A radiographer's transport vehicle is involved in a traffic accident. After confirming no medical emergencies exist, what is the radiographer's first and most critical radiological safety action?
- Immediately notify the company's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO).
- Exchange insurance information with the other driver and then survey the equipment.
- Perform a thorough radiation survey of the exposure device and the immediate area to verify shielding integrity. (Correct answer)
- Remove the exposure device from the vehicle and place it at least 50 feet away from the accident scene.
Correct answer: Perform a thorough radiation survey of the exposure device and the immediate area to verify shielding integrity.
The immediate priority in any incident involving a radiographic device is to assess the radiological conditions. A survey must be performed to confirm that the source is still properly shielded and that there is no radiation hazard to the public, emergency responders, or the radiographer before any other non-life-saving actions are taken.
Question 2: A radiographic exposure device is discovered missing from a locked vehicle at a job site. After securing personal safety, what is the radiographer's most critical immediate notification?
- Immediately notify the client for whom the radiographic work was being performed.
- Immediately notify local law enforcement to report the theft.
- Immediately notify the licensee's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). (Correct answer)
- Immediately call other radiographers in the area to help search for the device.
Correct answer: Immediately notify the licensee's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO).
According to regulatory protocol and company procedures, the RSO must be the first point of contact within the company. The RSO is responsible for initiating the company's emergency response plan, which includes making the required notifications to regulatory agencies (like the NRC or Agreement State) and coordinating with law enforcement. The radiographer's primary duty is to report up their chain of command.
Question 3: An industrial radiography crew successfully performs an emergency retrieval of a disconnected source. Which of the following is a mandatory action the licensee must take after the event?
- Re-certify all personnel involved in the retrieval within 48 hours.
- Take the exposure device out of service permanently, regardless of its condition.
- Submit a written report detailing the event to the NRC or Agreement State within 30 days. (Correct answer)
- Issue a press release to the local media explaining the situation and the successful retrieval.
Correct answer: Submit a written report detailing the event to the NRC or Agreement State within 30 days.
According to 10 CFR 34.101, an unintentional disconnection of the source assembly from the control cable is an incident that requires the licensee to send a written report to the regulatory agency within 30 days of the occurrence. This report must detail the cause, corrective actions, and other specifics of the event.
Question 4: During an emergency source retrieval operation, which of the following is the most critical element for minimizing the dose received by the response team?
- Wearing two sets of personnel dosimeters to ensure an accurate dose reading.
- Having the RSO personally handle the source with long-handled tongs.
- Ensuring the retrieval is performed by the most senior radiographer on site.
- Developing a specific, detailed plan and rehearsing it before approaching the source. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Developing a specific, detailed plan and rehearsing it before approaching the source.
The ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) is best served by meticulous planning and practice. A well-rehearsed plan minimizes the time spent in the high radiation area, optimizes distance, and ensures proper use of shielding and tools, thereby reducing the overall exposure to the team more effectively than any other single measure.
Question 5: A radiographic exposure device is dropped and sustains visible damage to the housing, but a survey confirms the source remains safely shielded. What is the correct course of action?
- Remove the device from service immediately for inspection and recertification by the manufacturer or other authorized person. (Correct answer)
- Wrap the damaged area with high-strength tape and continue work, but report the damage at the end of the shift.
- Perform several test exposures in an un-occupied area to ensure the crank mechanism still works properly.
- Note the damage in the daily log and schedule a maintenance check for the next quarterly inspection.
Correct answer: Remove the device from service immediately for inspection and recertification by the manufacturer or other authorized person.
Any damage to a radiographic exposure device, especially to its housing, could compromise its structural integrity and safety features. Regulations and safe operating practices require that the device be immediately removed from service and not used until it has been inspected, repaired if necessary, and approved for return to service by a qualified entity, such as the manufacturer.
Question 6: Which of the following events at a temporary job site would require the licensee to make an *immediate* report to the NRC or Agreement State Operations Center?
- An individual's alarming ratemeter goes off, but their pocket dosimeter shows a negligible reading.
- The discovery that a survey meter's calibration due date was passed by one day.
- A fire on-site that requires the evacuation of personnel but does not damage any radiographic equipment.
- An event that causes an individual to receive an actual or threatened whole-body dose of 25 rem (0.25 Sv) or more. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: An event that causes an individual to receive an actual or threatened whole-body dose of 25 rem (0.25 Sv) or more.
According to 10 CFR 20.2202, a licensee must immediately report any event that may have caused or threatens to cause an individual to receive a total effective dose equivalent of 25 rems (0.25 Sv) or more. The other scenarios, while potentially requiring action or internal reporting, do not meet the criteria for immediate notification to the regulatory agency.
IRRSP - Industrial Radiography Radiation Safety Personnel Emergency and Abnormal Events Questions and Answers
A radiographer's transport vehicle is involved in a traffic accident.
After confirming no medical emergencies exist, what is the radiographer's first and most critical radiological safety action?