The following information was received from the State of
Illinois via email:
Late yesterday the Agency's [Illinois Emergency Management] W. Chicago office received a call from PDV Midwest Refining (IL-01603), 135th St and New Ave., Lemont, IL 60439. The caller reported that while his crew was performing routine shutter checks of fixed gauges in his area of the plant, a shutter failed to close. The vessel the gauge was on was in use as part of a sulfur unit and needed to remain in operation with the gauge 'on-line', so no other immediate action was taken other than to advise all shift supervisors of the gauge's status and to avoid performing any work in the area.
This morning, the radiation safety officer was contacted for additional information and instructions regarding necessary actions on their part. The RSO advised that the gauge was an Ohmart model SH-F1-45, containing 15 milliCi of Cs-137 as of April 2002. It was one of two gauges on that vessel. The other gauge which was lower on the vessel showed no difficulties in its operation. However, he noted that a similar problem had occurred in the past with the same model gauge on a parallel sulfur unit in the same physical position. At that time, field notes prepared by the manufacturer's representative who inspected the device indicated that some corrosion was present on the device. Both vessels and thus all four gauges are exposed to the full range of seasonal cycles of weather. All site staff have been made aware of the gauge condition and to ensure all 'lock out - tag out' practices are in effect in the area to preclude any work on the vessel until such time the manufacturer's rep has repaired the device or removed it from the vessel.
The radiation safety officer was advised of the need to file a written report within 30 days in keeping with Illinois regulations.
Source/Radioactive Material: SEALED SOURCE GAUGE Radionuclide: CS-137
Manufacturer: OHMART CORP. Activity: 0.015 Ci [or] 0.555 GBq
Model Number: A-2102
Serial Number: unk
Illinois Item Number: IL11117