ENS 46622
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
08:00 Feb 16, 2011 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Lost Moisture Density Gauge Source |
| Event Description | The following information was received by email:
On February 16, 2011, RHB [California Radiologic Health Branch] South RM [Radiologic Materials] was contacted by the [licensee] RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] of RMA Group, concerning a loss of the Cs-137 source from a Troxler model 3430 (S/N 25220) moisture density gauge (8 mCi Cs-137, SN 758021, 40 mCi Am:Be-241, SN 4721490). [The licensee RSO] stated that the Troxler gauge was in use at a construction site located at the on/off ramp of Interstate 10 at North Indian Canyon Drive, near Palm Springs in early February (sometime between Feb. 3 and Feb. 8, 2011). [The licensee RSO] stated that operator noticed that the readings taken had dropped significantly from his previous readings and thought that the computer in the gauge had malfunctioned and the gauge was returned to their facility and stored until it was taken in for service at Southwest Calibration and Training LN 7567 (SWCT) on February 14 or 15. On the afternoon of February 16, 2011, [The licensee RSO] was contacted by SWCT that the Cs-137 source pellets were missing due to the cap of the source capsule breaking off at the weld. [The licensee RSO] stated that Troxler service was consulted and that they were informed that this was an issue that had occurred twice previously in the past 6 years and that they had requested that the source rod be returned to them to allow them to determine how the break had occurred. [The licensee RSO] stated that he had been given a survey meter to be used to attempt to find the source. [The licensee RSO] stated that a survey of the storage area of their Rancho Cucamonga facility (all of the other gauges were out being used at the time) and the vehicle used to transport the gauge when the incident was likely to have occurred and did not find the source. [The licensee RSO] stated that he would attempt to find the sources at the construction site in the morning when he had determined the area that the gauge was in use when the incident occurred. [The licensee RSO] stated that the source may have already been buried under 10 inches of fill (soil) and 8-10 inches of asphalt, but he was not absolutely sure. [The licensee RSO] was informed that a 30 day report was required to be submitted to [the RHB] office. On February 17, 2011, [RHB] confirmed that the damaged gauge had never had any incidents or trauma that potentially could have resulted in damage to the source capsule and that the construction site was on N. Indian Canyon Drive at one of the on/off ramps to Interstate 10. The results of the search for the missing source and a confirmation of the exact location of the incident will be forwarded to NMED when the RSO has confirmed the information. An investigation into the cause of the damage of the source capsule and possible location of the source capsule is ongoing." 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 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Rma Group Rancho Cucamonga, California (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | 2700-36 |
| Organization: | California Radiation Control Prgm |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+36.27 h1.511 days <br />0.216 weeks <br />0.0497 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Robert Greger 20:16 Feb 17, 2011 |
| NRC Officer: | Vince Klco |
| Last Updated: | Feb 17, 2011 |
| 46622 - NRC Website | |
Rma Group with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 541732019-07-17T07:00:00017 July 2019 07:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Stolen Moisture-Density Gauge ENS 537552018-11-26T08:00:00026 November 2018 08:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Loss or Theft of Moisture Density Gauge ENS 529752017-09-17T07:00:00017 September 2017 07:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Found Troxler Gauge ENS 523392016-11-01T07:00:0001 November 2016 07:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Stolen Moisture Density Gauge ENS 505122014-10-06T07:00:0006 October 2014 07:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Stolen Troxler Gauge ENS 466222011-02-16T08:00:00016 February 2011 08:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Lost Moisture Density Gauge Source 2019-07-17T07:00:00 | |