The following information was obtained from the State of
Tennessee via Email:
On June 15, 2012, Building and Earth Sciences contacted the Division of Radiological Health to report that their Troxler Moisture Density Gauge model 3430 (SN#37366) which contains 8 mCi of Cesium-137 and 40 mCi Americium-241:Beryllium had been hit by a bull dozer at a jobsite in Sevierville, TN. The gauge was visually inspected, and it was determined that the source rod was retracted and inside the gauge but the sliding block was not in place. The survey meter indicated an exposure level of 100 mRem/hr within 1 meter of the base of the gauge in its case. After speaking with Troxler, the RSO replaced the sliding door and held it in place with duct tape. This reduced the dose rate to 18 mR/hr. The gauge was secured into a truck bed and was returned to their licensed facility in Birmingham, AL. Upon arrival in Birmingham, a leak test was conducted and sent for analysis. Once the results were returned, they obtained a return authorization to ship the gauge to Troxler.
Tennessee Event: TN-12-164
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