ENS 45431
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
04:00 Oct 12, 2009 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Lost Gauge Found with Shutter Stuck Open |
| Event Description | The following event was received from the state via e-mail:
A radiation alarm was tripped at PSC Metals from a load of scrap metal coming from Polk Metal and Iron located in Zanesville, Ohio. The load of scrap metal was returned to Polk Metal and Iron. The BRP [Bureau of Radiation Protection] was informed on October 12 and dispatched an inspector to Polk Metal and Iron on October 13. Based on the information on the device [Texas Nuclear model # 5190 SN B5283 containing 200 mCi of Cs-137] the BRP contacted the manufacturer and learned that the device was initially distributed to Producers Service Corporation, also located in Zanesville. The Producers Service Corporation was contacted and sent a representative to meet the BRP inspector at the Polk site to retrieve the gauge. The inspector surveyed the gauge and found that the shutter was stuck open with an in-beam dose rate of 200 mR/hr at six inches. The shutter mechanism was freed and verified closed by the inspector. The device was transported less than a mile to the Producers Service Corp facility and is now secured in a vacant office in a secured building. The inspector wipe tested the device and found it to be free of contamination. Producers Service Corporation is in the process of contacting the device manufacturer to make disposal arrangements. The device was a generally licensed device distributed on September 9, 1986. The inspector determined that the device was inadvertently sent to the scrap yard and that Producers Service Corporation was not attempting to illegally dispose of the device. Device Name: Fixed Gauge Manufacturer: Texas Nuclear Model Number: 5190 Serial Number: B5283 Ohio Report No. OH09-031 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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf Although IAEA categorization of this event is typically based on device type, the staff has been made aware of the actual activity of the source, and after calculation determines that it is a Less than Cat 3 event. Note: the value assigned by device type "Category 3" is different than the calculated value "Less than Cat 3 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Producers Service Corporation Zanesville, Ohio (NRC Region 3) | |
| Organization: | Ohio Department Of Health |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+53.2 h2.217 days <br />0.317 weeks <br />0.0729 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Michael Snee 09:12 Oct 14, 2009 |
| NRC Officer: | Dong Park |
| Last Updated: | Oct 14, 2009 |
| 45431 - NRC Website | |
Producers Service Corporation with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 454312009-10-12T04:00:00012 October 2009 04:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Lost Gauge Found with Shutter Stuck Open 2009-10-12T04:00:00 | |