BEC's Decision: The case was allowed for chondrosarcoma of the hip and death due to injury from X-rays. Under the death provisions of 5 USC 8101 et seq. the Bureau made an award of compensation to the widow and her three minor children. CASE NO.36 Type ofInjury: Cataract of the Right Eye. BEC’s Decision: Compensation Denied. Date of Decision: 1969. Ciaimant’s Allegation: That a catasact of his right eye was caused by exposure to 1) concentrations of chemical di-isopropyl-carbo-di-imide (DICDI) and 2) to ionizing radiation emitted by three sources of Cesium-137 while he was employedas an electrician at an arsenal. Facts: Claimant worked at a testing machine from late July 1962 to April 13, 1963. This machine contained three sources of Cesium-137: 200, 200 and 180 millicuries respectively. These sources were immersed in mercury contained within a lead cylinder. The sources were not removed from the mercury filled cylinder at any time during claimant’s tour. As an electrician he helped install and adjust the machine when it was put in service, This required him to be near it for that period of 3 to 4 weeks for many hours each week. After installation was completed he serviced it regularly on mumesous occasions. At other times he was not in close proximity to the machine. Evidence indicated that the source of radiation was operated in the “open” position during the installation period. The “open” position of the radiation source did not involve s “shutter”. Exposure was accomplished ty moving the Cesium forward within the mercury toward 2 stainless steel source port or window in the cylinder wall. When the source was in this “open” position it was capable of emitting 1000 mr per hour through the stainless steel! window. When it was in the “closed” position the radiation around the cylinder wat down to 14.4 mr per hour orless because of the mercury and lead shield. There were two sefety ‘protictions to indicate when the source was in the open position: (1) a light off the control panel, and (2) a visible mark on the mechanical actuating device which controlled the movement of the Cesium within the cylinder. These could-be disabled manually. The entire machine was property shielded to keep radiation to 3 safe level. With the source in its “open” attitude the highest point of radiation outside the shielding was point “o’’ directly in front of the plastic window. This point measured 13 mr per hour. Claimant was at this point for significant periods of time with the source “open” although it was general practice to “close” the source if 2 person was expected to be at this point for more than a few moments. As an electrician his duties required him to observe the machine in 110 M1]