The State provided the following information via email:
The Arkansas Department of Health received notification on September 27, 2007 at 11:00 p.m. a Troxler 4640B, Serial Number 1574 portable gauge was struck and damaged by a pick up truck. The gauge contains a 9 mCi, Cesium-137 source, Serial number 75-6810.
"The incident occurred on Highway 412 near Springdale, Arkansas. The gauge was being used during highway construction. The authorized user was struck and killed during this incident.
"The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) was contacted and arrived at approximately 12:00 a.m. to assess the scene. The source rod along with part of the shielding was separated from the main part of the gauge. A wipe test was taken and the field survey of the wipe indicated that the source had not been ruptured. The RSO partially shielded the source by returning it to the base plate and placed the source rod back with the gauge in the transport case. The gauge was then transported to the licensee's permanent storage area.
"Arkansas Department of Health personnel arrived at the licensee's facility at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 28, 2007. Department personnel gathered information about the incident and then conducted surveys of the gauge. It appears that the gauge shielding had been cracked and possibly compromised. The highest radiation reading was 35 Mr/hour on contact of the left end side of the gauge.
The licensee has been in contact with the manufacturer for possible disposal options.
- * * UPDATE PROVIDED BY STATE (STEVE MACK) TO JEFF ROTTON AT 1032 EST ON 12/12/07 VIA EMAIL * * *
The State provided the following information via email:
The Arkansas Department of Health, Radioactive Materials Program, has received documentation of the receipt and disposal on November 2, 2007 of the gauge involved in this incident by a licensed recipient [CPN of Concord, California, CA License # 1100-07].
Notified R4DO (Bywater) and
FSME EO (Burgess)