ENS 44451
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
21:10 Aug 28, 2008 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Lost Troxler Moisture Density Gauge |
| Event Description | On the afternoon of August 28, 2008 at approximately 4:10 pm, the [Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)] received a call [from the] RSO for Birmingham Engineering and Construction Company (BECC). [The RSO] advised [ADPH] that one of his technicians had lost a Troxler model 3440 (serial number 17775) containing Cs-137 and Am-241/Be radioactive sources somewhere in the Birmingham area.
As described by [the RSO], the technician placed the gauge on the back of his pickup without properly securing it in the transport container. After completing his paperwork, he then proceeded to drive back to the office forgetting that the device had not been properly secured. Upon return to the office, the technician realized the mistake. Information made available to the writer indicates that the gauge was discovered missing at approximately 2:00 pm. At that time, [the RSO] was notified and personnel from BECC immediately conducted a search of the job site and route taken by the technician. The route started from the job site at the Grants Mill Road exit on I-459 traveling southbound to I-65 northbound to Lakeshore Drive where the licensee's office is located. The tailgate to the truck was not closed, the device was not in the transport container but the gauge shutter was closed and locked. [The RSO] further indicated that he had called the State Troopers and they indicated that no gauge had been reported found. [The RSO] indicated that he had not yet called city police. The writer then contacted [ADPH] and advised them of the incident. Through conversations, it was determined that BECC needed to contact the police and put out a press release, Also, it was determined that the local EMA Director needed to be advised of the incident. [ADPH] committed to calling the RSO back and relaying this information, [an ADPH representative] also indicated that he would notify the Jefferson County Director. The writer had no additional conversation with licensee personnel.
On Friday 29 August 2008 Alabama reported that a Troxler Model 3440 device had been lost from a pickup truck the afternoon before in Birmingham, Alabama. On Sunday afternoon 31 August 2008 an individual reported to the Irondale, Alabama (part of greater Birmingham) Police Dept that they had found the device and wished to claim the reward. The device is now in the possession of the licensee, BECC, Inc. It was apparently undamaged save for a few scratches. The licensee did a leak test on the device and is awaiting results from lab. The State of Alabama is awaiting the licensee's 30 day report and corrective actions. A decision on enforcement actions will be made after review of the licensee's response. Notified R1DO (Dwyer), FSME EO (Burgess) and ILTAB (via e-mail) 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. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Birmingham Engineering And Construction Consultants Birmingham, Alabama (NRC Region 1) | |
| Organization: | Alabama Radiation Control |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+15.55 h0.648 days <br />0.0926 weeks <br />0.0213 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | James Mcnees 12:43 Aug 29, 2008 |
| NRC Officer: | Pete Snyder |
| Last Updated: | Sep 2, 2008 |
| 44451 - NRC Website | |
Birmingham Engineering And Construction Consultants with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 444512008-08-28T21:10:00028 August 2008 21:10:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Lost Troxler Moisture Density Gauge 2008-08-28T21:10:00 | |