The following report was received from the State via e-mail:
At approximately 11 a.m. [EDT] on Monday, April 19, 2010, one of KeyTech's portable moisture density gauges (Troxler Model 4640B, Serial No. 2008, containing 9 mCi of Cs-137 and 44 mCi of Am-241) was struck by a steam-roller. The incident occurred at the intersection of Manchester Boulevard and Manchester Road in Manchester, NJ. On Wednesday, April 21, 2010, the licensee filed a report with the Manchester Police. The Manchester Police then contacted the Trenton Dispatch. At about 11 a.m., RMP [New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection Radioactive Materials Program] personnel were notified by Trenton Dispatch.
The RMP contacted Manchester Police and it was learned that KeyTech reported that while the gauge was damaged the radioactive material remained intact within the device. KeyTech's RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] and administrator were contacted. The RSO stated that only the keyboard portion of the gauge was hit and that there was no damage to the radioactive material within the gauge. When the gauge was hit, the source rod was extended. The technician was able to retract the source rod into the safe position. The gauge was moved to a safe location and away from the public. RMP personnel went to KeyTech on Thursday, 4/22/10, to speak with the licensee and to conduct an investigation. The investigation concluded that the material was intact within the gauge and determined the licensee took appropriate actions to protect personnel and the public.
New Jersey Report #C348104
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