Localised irradiation of a worker’s arm by the beam of a particle accelerator

Print View Posted on: 01 August 2025

Event Date: 22 July 2025 Event Type: Radiation Source Event Location: France, National Centre for Research and Restoration C2RMF INES Rating: 3 (Final)

On 24 July 2025, the National Centre for Research and Restoration in French Museums (C2RMF) reported to the ASNR a significant radiation protection event related to the localised irradiation of a worker by the beam of the AGLAE particle accelerator, used for analysing works of art and ancient objects.
The radiation caused an erythema at the beam impact point on the worker’s arm, i.e. a first-degree radiation burn characterised by reddening of the skin, which is typical of a deterministic effect of ionising radiation.
The worker was taken into care by his general health doctor and the occupational health doctor, with support from a specialist doctor from the reference regional health centre for nuclear and radiological risk and ASNR experts for dose reconstruction.
The ASNR conducted an on-site inspection on 30 July 2025. This inspection examined the initial causes identified by the C2RMF, which include a malfunction of the

Workers Exceeded Annual Dose Limit

Print View Posted on: 17 July 2025

Event Date: 08 April 2025 Event Type: Irradiation/Accelerator Facility Event Location: United States of America, Noblesville, Indiana/ Curium US LLC INES Rating: 2 (Final)

On April 8, 2025, two workers were performing waste handling activities in a hot cell basement of a cyclotron facility that produces strontium-82 from metallic rubidium targets. One worker removed a high-level liquid waste container from a shielded barrel and placed the unshielded container on the ground adjacent to the work area, where activities continued for approximately 15 minutes. Both workers’ electronic dosimeters alarmed for high dose soon after the container was removed from shielding; however, neither worker noticed these alarms because of the personal protective equipment they had donned, including respirators. Radiation surveys were performed upon entry to the area and prior to removing the container from shielding, but not again until after the workers left the area and noticed the excessive doses recorded on their electronic dosimeters. Radiation dose rates on contact with the waste container exceeded 9.99 Sv/hr (999 R/hr), which was the upper limit of available instrumentation. The licensee later