ENS 47991
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
15:00 Jun 1, 2012 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Lost Ni-63 Electron Capture Detector |
| Event Description | On June 1, 2012, the licensee reported a lost Ni-63 electron capture detector (ECD) to the state of Oregon. The source is an Agilent Technology model 19233, serial number L5286 and was used in a gas chromatograph (GC) device. The source was obtained in April of 2006. The last time the source was known to be in possession of the licensee was during a 6-month wipe test performed on November 1, 2011.
The gas chromatograph was sent to Far West Fiber Metal Recycling around the first of the year and it is possible the source was in the machine at the time of disposal. The licensee will continue to search for the source. The state of Oregon will follow-up with the licensee.
The following update was received from the State of Oregon Radiation Protection Services via facsimile: Inspection/investigation at TestAmerica Analytical Testing Corporation (TAATC) site performed on June 14, 2012. Missing ECD device not located, believe to have been housed inside a gas chromatograph (Hewlett-Packard model 5890, serial number 3033A30613) that was turned over to Far West Fiber Metal Recycling on December 5, 2011. All other ECD devices (25) were accounted for during the inspection. Discussion with Far West on June 4, 2012 indicates that metal items received are held for downstream customers for two weeks and then turned over to them for stripping/smelting. Far West had no record of receipt of the GC/ECD or which customer it may have gone to. Checks were made with local firms (Schnitzer Steel and Metro Metals) but no record of the GC/ECD unit receipt was located. TAATC continued to search for ECD unit for several months but it was not found. Believe ECD was smelted with GC at this time. Cause of this event due to management deficiency. RSO was moved to new position in November 2011 and out of room where ECD unit located and was training replacement person to perform some R50 duties (6-month leak testing/inventory) for ECD's. Missing ECD was housed in GC unit that was not used for 4 years and GC was used for spare parts. An employee of TAATC not listed on the materials license and unfamiliar with GC/ECD's removed 3 GC units from the room on December 5th and delivered to Far West Fiber for recycling, including the GC unit that normally housed the ECD in question. The other GC's did not house ECD's. The RSO and his trainee were unaware of the missing ECD until June 1, 2012 during routine 6-month leak testing nor was the RSO aware of the GC transfer since RSO works in a different area on site and do not routinely monitor ECD locations anymore. No other actions available at this time. The State of Oregon is closing this event. Notified the R4DO (Gaddy) and e-mailed FSME Events Resource. OREGON NMED REPORT NUMBER 120345 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 | |
|---|---|
| Testamerica Analytical Testing Corp. Beaverton, Oregon (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | ORE-90559 |
| Organization: | Or Dept Of Health Rad Protection |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+73.75 h3.073 days <br />0.439 weeks <br />0.101 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Daryl Leon 16:45 Jun 4, 2012 |
| NRC Officer: | Howie Crouch |
| Last Updated: | Jan 9, 2013 |
| 47991 - NRC Website | |
Testamerica Analytical Testing Corp. with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 479912012-06-01T15:00:0001 June 2012 15:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Lost Ni-63 Electron Capture Detector 2012-06-01T15:00:00 | |