At approximately 1230 EDT on 5/24/11, a
Troxler Moisture Density Gauge, Model #3440, S/N 20641, with 8 mCi
Cs-137 and 40 mCi Am-241/Be was
stolen from a truck at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base. The
RSO reported the theft to the Base Safety Officer.
- * * UPDATE FROM HARRY SLATER TO HOWIE CROUCH ON 5/24/11 @ 1431 EDT * * *
The Troxler Moisture Density Gauge was located on the job site off the side of the road in a ditch. There was no damage to the gauge, and the gauge was placed back into service.
- * * UPDATE FROM HARRY SLATER TO CHARLES TEAL ON 5/25/11 @ 0732 EDT * * *
The following was excerpted from an email:
Initial investigation indicated that the [technician] did not have the gauge locked in the case while not in use. The gauge was also placed out of [the technician's] sight more than 10 feet from him. The case and the locking equipment were in the truck and are in working condition. The gauge did still have the lock trigger in place. The lack of securing the gauge when not in use is in direct violation of the company policies as indicated on the license and on the document signed by [the technician].
Notified R1DO (Dentel), FSME EO (McIntosh), and ILTAB (Pearson).
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