ENS 48068
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
07:00 Jun 5, 2012 | |
| Title | Lost Sealed Sources |
| Event Description | The following was reported from the state via e-mail:
During a routine six-month inventory, the licensee was unable to locate four (4) sealed sources, of which one has an activity that exceeds exempt quantities. The last known person using the sources was contacted on June 5, 2012 to determine if they were in his possession. He indicated that the previous x-ray RSO had found them and returned them to the source locker. However, the former x-ray RSO indicated that in-fact he did not locate the sources. Management and the materials RSO was notified and an investigation was initiated. All staff members were questioned and asked to check around their work areas. The assistant RSO checked all devices, pigs, the source cabinet and surveyed the entire facility, including shipping and receiving, with a micro-R survey meter. None of the sources were located on any disposal or transfer records. The sources were used in a prototype instrument called Plombix, designed to operate with an exempt source in the shape of a washer, and were used only for in house experiments. The missing sources were designed for this prototype instrument and do not fit all other instruments at this facility. Washington Department of Health corrective action is pending. The Assistant RSO indicated that sufficient controls are not in place to maintain control of sources stored outside the source locker, and that a single company source custodian will be assigned for all sources. Source Number: 1; Source/Radioactive Material: SEALED SOURCE M & D; Radionuclide: CD-109, 0.000000194 Ci, 0.000007178 GBq; Manufacturer: ISOTOPE PRODUCTS LAB; Model Number: MISC-IND; Serial Number: 1112-35. Source Number: 2; Source/Radioactive Material: SEALED SOURCE M & D; Radionuclide: CD-109, 0.000064 Ci, 0.002368 GBq; Manufacturer: ISOTOPE PRODUCTS LAB; Model Number: MISC-IND; Serial Number: D1-472. Source Number: 3; Source/Radioactive Material: SEALED SOURCE M & D ; Radionuclide: CO-57, 0.000005 Ci, 0.000185 GBq; Manufacturer: ISOTOPE PRODUCTS LAB; Model Number: RFQ482-3; Serial Number: C9-333. Source Number: 4; Source/Radioactive Material: SEALED SOURCE M & D; Radionuclide: CO-57, 0.000000122 Ci 0.000004514 GBq; Manufacturer: ISOTOPE PRODUCTS LAB; Model Number: MISC-IND; Serial Number: 1096-28. Reference Number: WA-12-047 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 This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Bruker Axs Handheld, Inc Kennewick, Washington (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | WN-I0282-1 |
| Organization: | Wa Division Of Radiation Protection |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+682.43 h28.435 days <br />4.062 weeks <br />0.935 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Brandin Ketter 17:26 Jul 3, 2012 |
| NRC Officer: | Dong Park |
| Last Updated: | Jul 3, 2012 |
| 48068 - NRC Website | |
Bruker Axs Handheld, Inc with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 480682012-06-05T07:00:0005 June 2012 07:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Lost Sealed Sources 2012-06-05T07:00:00 | |