Finnish Workers have been exposed to radiation in Chile

20/12/2005

An accident occurred on a Chilean construction site, on 14-15.12.2005, where a group of workers were exposed to a powerful radioactive source. Eight Finnish employees from Kvaerner Power and their contractors were working on the construction site, and some of them have received additional doses in the incident.

The doses received by the Finnish employees are very small. The dose for the most exposed Finnish person has been evaluated as 0.4 mSv, which equals roughly four chest x-rays.

The doses received by few Chilean construction site employees could be lethal. The Chilean authorities are assessing doses for all exposed persons and the most exposed individual has been admitted to a hospital.

Non-destructive testing, radiography, of metal structures was undertaken on the construction site using the radioactive source. After the radiography team left the site, the radioactive source, used by them, was left behind and exposed for some unknown reason. The unshielded source was discovered when the dosimeters worn by the Finnish employees of Kvaerner Power sounded an alarm. None of the Finnish companies were associated with the radiography on site, but the employees had on their own accord acquired personal electronic dosimeters.

STUK received information about the incident from the Finnish foreman of Kvaerner Power, who called the STUK communications duty officer on 15.12.2005.

The radioactive source used in the radiography of the metal structures was Iridium-192, with the activity of 3 TBq. Similar applications are used in Finland, where their use has never led to serious accidents threatening the life of workers or members of public.

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Page updated 29/12/2005

Finnish Workers have been exposed to radiation in Chile

/ STUK