The Agency [Iowa Department of Public Health] was notified by the General License Registrant of a missing NRD
Static Eliminator, model P-2021-8201, serial number A2FY911. The discovery was made during the annual renewal of the registration. The
RSO for the company stated that the device was used to eliminate static on a part they were molding. The operators had the device hanging over a barrel and apparently the device became unscrewed from the gun and was disposed of in the trash. The registrant has developed a
sleeve to assist in holding the device on the guns. In addition, the
RSO instructed the shift foremen to check the devices to ensure they are properly secured to the guns. The Agency [Iowa Department of Public Health] called NRD. Inc. to verify that the device was not returned to the manufacturer. NRD Inc. stated they did not receive the device.
Corrective Action: (1) Sleeve used to help hold the device on the gun, and (2) Additional oversight to ensure devices are properly secured to guns.
The Po-210 source activity is 10 milliCuries. The state considers the material to be lost not recoverable, and the event is closed.
Iowa Report: IA080003.
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