Harvard University was replacing and recycling old
exit signs. When workers arrived to remove the old
exit signs and reprocess them, the signs could not be found. The licensee believes the
exit signs may have went along with some old light bulbs that were being recycled. The licensee inspected the recycling chamber and found it free of contamination. Each sign originally contained 7.5 curies of
Tritium. Decayed activity as of today is 93 curies. They initiated their investigation on August 30, 2007, and the investigation is on-going.
- * * UPDATE FROM R. GALLAGHER TO P. SNYDER AT 1021 0N 10/19/07 * * *
Harvard University has taken / is taking the following corrective actions:
1). Training sessions provided to Harvard University recycling program staff [identification of H3 signs and new requirements to send all such signs to the Radiation Protection Office (RPO) for processing].
2). Revision made to EXIT Sign Fact Sheet, which focused on requirements for building managers and requires transfer of any removed radioactive signs to the RPO for reclamation.
3). Additional EXIT sign training provided to facility directors, facility managers, compliance officers, and the real estate program to heighten awareness of radioactive EXIT signs and proper recycling.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has concluded their investigation of this matter and considers the corrective actions taken by the licensee to be acceptable.
Notified R1DO (R. Bellamy) and FSME EO (G. Morell).
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.
This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the
IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source