ENS 45444
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
07:00 Oct 16, 2009 | |
| Title | Strontium-90 Pressure Indicators Missing During an Annual Inventory |
| Event Description | While conducting the Annual Radioactive Inventory [of pressure indicators], a discrepancy was noted in the on-hand balance of the subject NIIN (National Item Identification Number). The current electronic inventory balance was 138 ea, but a physical check of the location could only locate 136 for a shortage of 2 ea. An initial search of the Radioactive Materiel Storage Area did not locate the item. The Service Provider and Continuing Government Activity personnel will begin a review of all transaction since the last reconciled inventory in an attempt to identify potential transaction errors.
The pressure indicator in its shipping container is authorized to ship as an expected package with an external dose rate of less than 0.5 mrem /hr on contact. The pressure indicators contained 500 microcuries of Sr-90.
The inventory items that were previously thought to be lost or stolen were subsequently located during a more comprehensive search of the warehouse. A number of potential process weaknesses lead to the initial report of the inventory discrepancy. While available, handheld Radiofrequency transmitters were not used for all transactions, causing delay in inventory balance updates (issues and re-warehousing not immediately accounted for), [and] similar packaging were found to contain either one or two items per packaging. DDC Inventory Control [licensee] canceled the current electronic inventory, processed all open transactions and ran an updated inventory. Physical inventory and verification of serial numbers accounted for all sources identified in electronic inventory system. Hand-held Radiofrequency devices will be used in the future for all inventory transactions to alleviate delay in transaction processing. Also, items were repackaged to ensure that only one device was in each package. Notified R1DO (Barkley), R4DO (Hay), FSME EO (White) and Mexico via fax. 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 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 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Defense Distribution Center San Diego, California (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | 37-30062-01 |
| Organization: | Defense Distribution Center |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i) | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+75.22 h3.134 days <br />0.448 weeks <br />0.103 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | David Collins 10:13 Oct 19, 2009 |
| NRC Officer: | Charles Teal |
| Last Updated: | Nov 2, 2009 |
| 45444 - NRC Website | |
Defense Distribution Center with 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 454442009-10-16T07:00:00016 October 2009 07:00:00
[Table view]10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i) Strontium-90 Pressure Indicators Missing During an Annual Inventory ENS 427862006-08-18T18:00:00018 August 2006 18:00:00 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i) Tritium Sources Missing During Annual Inventory But Subsequently Found 2009-10-16T07:00:00 | |