The
Washington State Department of Health, Office of Radiation Protection provided the following report via e-mail:
The Licensee was working with a Troxler Model 3430, portable moisture density gauge, serial number 19739, having a 10 millicurie, Cesium-137 and a 40 millicurie, Americium-241/Beryllium sealed sources. The work was being done at a temporary job-site near Walla Walla, Washington. The gauge operator was taking measurements with the Cs-137 source rod inserted into the test hole. The operator walked away from the gauge to look for the next test site. While the operator was away, the gauge was struck by a front-end loader. The gauge operator cordoned off the area and contacted the Radiation Safety Officer. The RSO then contacted the Office of Radiation Protection (ORP) to make a verbal report. Two ORP staff were already in the vicinity and were rerouted to the incident scene. When staff arrived they reported the gauge had been visibly damaged. The plastic exterior was smashed with the source rod still in the test hole. The gauge's guide rod with the handle had been sheared-off by the front-end loader. ORP staff were able to push the source rod back into the gauge's shielded position. They also took a wipe sample from the source rod, the gauge exterior, and surveyed the soil where the source rod had been. No contamination was found. The gauge was placed back into its transport box. ORP staff took dose-rate readings on the outside of the box and found normal levels. The gauge was taken to the licensee's storage facility in Walla Walla where it awaits shipping instructions for returning it to Troxler.
The Licensee is being cited by DOH for not keeping the gauge under constant surveillance and control while away from an approved storage location.
Washington Report WA-08-040