ENS 43524
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
04:00 Jul 24, 2007 | |
| Title | Failed Source Shield Lock on Moisture Density Gauge |
| Event Description | The Tester, Density and Moisture (Soil and Asphalt) Nuclear Method Campbell Pacific Model MC-1 (CCE), NSN 6635-01-030-6896, Serial Number M17112090, is assigned to the 980th Angering Battalion at Austin, TX. The MC-1 Tester had on manufacture (in 1977) 10 mCi of Cesium 137 and 50 mCi of Americium 241/Be. The sources are solid, sealed, and double encapsulated. The MC-1 Tester is licensed through an Army NRC license 21-01222-05, issued to the US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC), located in Warren, MI.
The tester was used in Iraq in 2005 and was shipped back to the unit location in Texas in 2006. It is unknown, if the tester had any mechanical difficulties in Iraq . The tester had received servicing through CPN International, Inc. on June 19, 2003. [Servicing included replacing] standard wear items such as gaskets and the handle. Also, the electronic assembly was bench tested with the two detectors, and the body of the tester is cleaned with the guidetube and rod assembly cleaned/lubed. The tester was also calibrated and leak tested The tester hasn't been used since its use in Iraq . The tester has been in storage with the only interaction being physical inventories, radiation surveys of the storage and leak tests of the radioactive sources. On 24 July 2007, the undersigned received an e-mail (after-hours) indicating that the referenced tester was inoperative with an inoperative handle lock, that wouldn't engage. The e-mail asking for disposition of the tester. Confirmation of the information was made with two Army personnel doing internal radiation audits of Army radiation programs, who were visiting the unit. The Army personnel were told on their visit, that there was some difficulty with the locking mechanism. They were told, that the tester was hard to unlock and that they (the unit) didn't lock the handle for this reason. The tester is inside its transport case, locked inside of a lead lined box, inside of a locked connex container, which is locked inside a gate at the unit location. The tester sources to include rod remain inside the tester housing and no other apparent tester deficiencies outside the lock mechanism has been observed. The shutter is in place and closed. The tester will not lock in the various positions (i.e. safe, 6 inch, 8 inch and 12 inch). When the lock button is pushed in, it springs out. The lock could not be locked with the key. There are no known personnel exposures. The tester sources were last leak tested on July 2, 2007, which showed no leakage. The only personnel having access to the keys and the tester is the Local RSO. This ensures that the tester is not used. The transport case containing the tester is also now locked. It is planned to transport the tester back to the manufacturer for disposition. The tester has been coded as H for unserviceable. Instructions were provided to the unit today to perform a wipe test of the shipping container, prepare the tester for shipment, and to ship it to the manufacturer. Also, a reminder e-mail was sent to the unit and to various Army Commands of the requirement to report tester safety defects immediately to TACOM LCMC Warren, MI. This e-mail was sent again today (July 27, 2007) as it was sent out on July 5, 2007. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Us Army Warren, Michigan (NRC Region 3) | |
| Organization: | Us Army |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2), Licensed Material Protection Equipment Failure | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+60.2 h2.508 days <br />0.358 weeks <br />0.0825 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Karen Mcguire 16:12 Jul 26, 2007 |
| NRC Officer: | Jason Kozal |
| Last Updated: | Jul 26, 2007 |
| 43524 - NRC Website | |
Us Army with 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 456672010-01-27T05:00:00027 January 2010 05:00:00
[Table view]10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Mositure Density Gauge Received with Inoperable Locking Mechanism ENS 453602009-09-16T07:00:00016 September 2009 07:00:00 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Four Defective Moisture Density Gauges ENS 435242007-07-24T04:00:00024 July 2007 04:00:00 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Failed Source Shield Lock on Moisture Density Gauge ENS 434682007-06-26T04:00:00026 June 2007 04:00:00 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Damaged Campbell Pacific Moisture Density Gauge ENS 423362006-02-10T06:00:00010 February 2006 06:00:00 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Potentially Defective Moisture Density Gauge Locking Mechanism 2010-01-27T05:00:00 | |