The following was received via E-mail:
On October 1, 2009, the Agency [TX Dept. of State Health Services] was notified by the licensee's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) that while conducting a routine shutter check on an Ohmart/Vega Corp. SHF1 nuclear gauge containing 20 millicuries of Cesium (Cs) 137, the shutter failed to close. The RSO stated that the gauge had been installed on the vessel in June of 2009. He was performing the check now to get this gauge into the same inspection schedule as the other gauges they use. He stated that the gauge is stuck open in the normal operating position and a survey conducted in the area indicated that dose rates were normal. He stated that there was no other damage to the gauge. He stated that he thought the mechanism may have become fouled from work conducted on a piece of equipment in the area. The manufacturer was contacted and is scheduled to perform repairs and training on October 21, 2009. The gauge is currently tagged 'Do Not Operate.' Additional information will be provided as it is received.
See similar event report EN 45400 involving an Ohmart gauge with a stuck open shutter.
Texas Incident #: I-8675.