The following was received from the State of
Iowa via e-mail:
The licensee reported [to the IDPH (Iowa Department of Public Health)] on Saturday, August 21, 2010 of an event that occurred the previous day. A Troxler, model 3411B moisture/density gauge was run over at a temporary job site in Camanche, Iowa by a large dump truck. The construction vehicle was backing up and the driver did not see the gauge or the gauge user. The licensee's RSO reported the following to IDPH on August 23, 2010. The source rod was severed from the handle at the upper weld. The index rod was bent, and two of the faceplate screws were bent. The source rod was lifted up by hand and brought back into the gauge (safe position, with the exception that the source rod could pull completely out the top of the gauge). The bottom shutter closed as usual. No physical damage to the source rod was evident on the bottom half of the source rod. A leak test was completed on the gauge and the swabs were overnighted to Qal-Tek Associates (3998 Commerce Cr. Idaho Falls,
Idaho 83401) on Friday night. Once the results are known, delivery of the gauge will be made to Qal-Tek to repair the gauge or dispose of as required. Direction will be given to us [IDPH] from Qal-Tek based on the leak test results. They are a certified disposal site. A survey was conducted on the soil surrounding the site of the accident. Based on a background radiation check 200' away from the site, no change in reading was observed at the actual accident site. The survey meter was also used to check the gauge itself compared to another gauge with a current leak test that had passed, and no change in reading was observed. The gauge is stored in a metal storage container on the jobsite in Camanche, Iowa. The windows are barred shut. The gauge is locked in its case to the inside of the storage container, and the container is locked shut at all times. Only the authorized user has access to this container. The gauge's source rod is duct taped to the index rod, and will have a ubolt binding the source rod to the index rod to prevent movement of the source rod from the gauge.
The Troxler gauge contained .009 Curies Cs-137 and .044 Curies Am-241/Be.
Item Number: IA100003