The following information was obtained from the State of
California via email:
[On August 26, 2010] at 3:30 p.m., [the licensee Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)] received a call from a technician at the Caltrans Paso Robles Construction office, stating that a compaction gauge had been removed from his truck while parked at the construction laboratory. The gauge had been placed in the aluminum metal transportation box adhered to his truck, but unlocked and last seen at 12:30 p.m. [PDT]. He had gone back into the lab to continue work and went to the jobsite at 3:15 p.m. where he discovered the gauge missing. He called [the RSO] immediately and [the RSO] called the local police and filed a report.
The moisture/density gauge missing is a Troxler 3440, Serial No. 30701, containing 10 mCi of cesium 137 and 40 mCi of americium 241. The Paso Robles Police Report is case No. 1Q-2886.
[The RSO will be] placing an advertisement in Craigslist and in the local newspaper for the return of the gauge with a cash reward, no questions asked. [The RSO] will also speak personally to authorized gauge users about the importance of keeping the gauges locked up at all times, when not in use. A letter addressing the same will be sent to all.
California Report Number: 5010-082710
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