The following information was provided by the State via facsimile:
Event description: On April 12, 2005, an employee of the St. Vincent de Paul Store in Monroe, Wisconsin dismantled a tritium exit sign thinking it was electrical and requiring repair. Unknown persons had dropped off the exit sign at the store. After dismantling the sign, the individual noticed the 'Caution Radioactive Material' label on the device. The individual wrapped the tubes containing the tritium in aluminum foil, and placed them in a cardboard box inside the facility. The device housing was placed in a scrap recycling bin. The individual initially contacted the NRC Operations Center for assistance. The information was subsequently relayed to the Wisconsin Radiation Protection Section by NRC Region III on April 13, 2005.
The device was identified as an Everglow Safety Sign, Model. 713A, Serial No. 53886 containing 25 curies of tritium in 1987. The device may have been manufactured in New York.
The state investigated on April. 13, 2005. The
exit sign tubes were found to be intact. The manufacturer name on the tubes was Self-Powered Lighting, Inc. A local scrap dealer had picked up the device housing with other scrap from St. Vincent de Paul. Staff was unable to locate the device housing but discovered an additional, intact
exit sign at a local scrap yard that receives scrap from the dealer. The second
exit sign was manufactured by Self-Powered Lighting, Model # 710-A containing 25 curies of
tritium. The WI Radiation Protection Section is attempting to locate the owner(s) of these
exit signs. The
exit sign and tubes have been removed from the public domain. Media attention: None