ENS 48166
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
05:00 Aug 7, 2012 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Missing Source |
| Event Description | The licensee's RSO at the University of Chicago called to advise that while performing a routine inventory of sealed sources, one radioactive source was determined to be missing . A radioactive strontium source which was believed to have been constructed at the University in 1972 was examined more closely than in the past and no radiation readings were detected from it. The source had been made at the University in 1974 to contain 0.828 milliCi of Sr-90. The source was not officially added to the sealed source inventory and leak test records until the mid '90s. For the past 12 years (and perhaps longer) the source had been in storage and unused while use of a similar commercially constructed source was favored. On this occasion the source was removed from the locked storage safe and from the presence of the other stored sources and direct readings from the 3 inch bolt showed no elevated radiation levels.
No ready explanation as to why the radioactivity which had been embedded into the bored centerline of the bolt was not present was available. The item had been transferred to a new researcher in 2000 when the original researcher had retired and had not been used since. A comprehensive review of records suggests that a similar source and quantity was disposed in the 80's however direct correspondence to provide strong assurance that the disposed material and the missing quantity were a match was not possible. Interviews were conducted with the current responsible investigator, past students and colleagues of the original user. Those interviews were inconclusive on the fate of the radioactive material. No other items or sealed sources have been identified as missing from the secure storage location or the researcher's inventory. Without additional information to verify the source's whereabouts, the licensee has declared the source as missing with little chance of recovery. The licensee advised that a written report will be filed in advance of the 30 day deadline. The current activity of Sr-90 involved would be 317 microCi. Illinois Item Number: IL12013
The licensee's Radiation Safety Officer called the Agency [State of Illinois] on the morning of August 8, 2012 with additional information concerning the August 7, 2012, reported missing Sr-90 source. Based on continued reviews of purchase records, inventories and direct radiation measurements from sources present at the laboratory location, the missing source of Sr-90 has been identified as being in their possession but as a different and mislabeled source. Discrepancies noted between purchase records, inventory records and leak test records caused radiation safety staff to look closer at the existing results of the physical inventories they had performed in an attempt to locate the missing source. After conducting reference radiation measurements from a known quantity source of Sr-90 and then taking measurements from the remaining Sr-90 sources on the inventory, a source holder incorrectly identified as containing a larger activity Sr-90 source was confirmed as being the missing source. The licensee's 30 day report will detail the cause of the event, corrective action taken as well as actions taken to prevent future occurrences. Notified R3DO (Lipa) and FSME Events Resource via email. 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 | |
|---|---|
| University Of Chicago Chicago, Illinois (NRC Region 3) | |
| License number: | IL-01693-01 |
| Organization: | Illinois Emergency Mgmt. Agency |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+8.52 h0.355 days <br />0.0507 weeks <br />0.0117 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Daren Perrero 13:31 Aug 7, 2012 |
| NRC Officer: | Dong Park |
| Last Updated: | Aug 8, 2012 |
| 48166 - NRC Website | |
University Of Chicago with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 481662012-08-07T05:00:0007 August 2012 05:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Missing Source 2012-08-07T05:00:00 | |