The following report was received from the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts via fax:
On March 15, 2011, BAE systems called the Massachusetts Radiation program to report a missing Po-210 static eliminator.
In 2009, BAE ordered an air nozzle and unexpectedly received it with a Po-210 source. It is assumed that the RSO at that time removed the source from the nozzle and placed into storage. In March, 2009, the RSO left the company and did not inform the Safety, Health, and Environment Manager that an additional source had been received. It was discovered during a February, 2011 internal audit that there was a discrepancy between shipped and inventoried ionizers.
The former RSO has been contacted and does not recall where the source was stored. BAE believes the source was never put into their laboratories for use. A search for the source in the BAE laboratories and former RSO work area, etc. has not uncovered the source.
The source is a Staticmaster In-line Alpha Ionizer, model P-2021-2002 leased from NRD. It has Serial Number A2GP089, and contained 10 mCi on 3/4/2009.
Corrective Actions:
BAE has created an inventory log form, and will perform more frequent inventory checks. BAE has also assigned the inventory checks to dedicated lab technicians, who will be overseen by the site RSO.
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