The State provided the following information regarding a previously unreported event via facsimile:
S-35 (7 mCi) package was shipped via FedEx, from PerkinElmer in Boston, MA on 1/30/06.
FedEx tracking indicates 1) the package was picked up from PerkinElmer in Boston, MA; 2) the package left the FedEx South Boston station; 3) the package arrived at FedEx Hub in Memphis, TN; 4) the package had an In-transit scan to Montreal on 1/31/06. There were no package scans after that.
PerkinElmer Canadian Customer Service reported the customer did not receive the package. PerkinElmer asked FedEx several times to locate the package. PerkinElmer receiving department did not receive the package as a return and verified with the customer, again, that the package was not received. FedEx was unable to locate the package.
PerkinElmer declared the package as lost on February 12, 2006, and reported to the Agency [MA Radiation Control Program] by phone on March 10, 2006. A written report was received to the Agency on April 10, 2006.
Corrective action: PerkinElmer advised FedEx that all radioactive shipments require a Proof of Delivery; this issue has been escalated to FedEx Dangerous Goods Administrator; and a letter was sent to FedEx explaining the requirements of delivering radioactive packages.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than
IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as
moisture density gauges or thickness
gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks.