The SC Department of Health and Environment Control was notified on Thursday, October 9, 2008, at 1105 hrs, that a source carrier from Ohmart/Vega Model SHLM-B2, s/n 66590, containing 500 mCi of
Cs-137, had been inadvertently detached from the source holder at 1030 hrs on October 9, 2008. The Facility
RSO stated that personnel were attempting to lock out the source when the source carrier was detached from the source holder. The state responded to the scene and arrived at 1326 hrs. The area around the
gauge had been properly roped off and the source carrier had been placed on a gear box platform below the source holder. The inspector surveyed the barricaded areas and all readings were 2 mR/hr or less. The facility
RSO stated that he had contacted Ohmart/Vega and the Field Service Representative was enroute to secure the source carrier. The inspector advised Facility
RSO to maintain physical control of the barricaded areas until the source carrier had been secured. The facility
RSO stated that the barricaded areas would be controlled to prevent unauthorized access. The inspector was contacted by the Field Service Representative at 1830 hrs on October 9, 2008, and he stated that he had secured the source carrier in the source holder and the source holder had been secured in a locked storage area. The Field Service Representative stated that he would return to the facility within the next week to package and ship the source holder back to Ohmart/Vega for further evaluation to determine why the source carrier detached from the source holder.
The facility
RSO was advised by the state to submit a written report detailing this event to the Department within 30 days. The event is open and pending the licensee's investigation and report to the Department, updates will be made through the national
NMED system.