The following information was received via E-mail:
On September 8, 2014, at approximately 0845 PDT, the RSO of Sladden Engineering, RML #6318-33, was contacted by RHB Brea concerning a moisture/density gauge, CPN, model MC1DRP, serial number MD40807529 (Cs-137, 0.370 GBq, Am-241, 1.85 GBq) that had been damaged when run over by construction equipment at a building site located at 123 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California, on September 3, 2014, at approximately 1400 PDT. The authorized user at the construction telephoned the RSO. They then went through the radiation safety plan over the phone, and after an initial inspection of the radioactive gauge it was determined that the gauge was heavily damaged but since the source remained in the shielded position, the RSO authorized transport back to the office in the Type A transport container. A closer inspection of the radioactive gauge was conducted by the RSO on the following morning, September 4, 2014, at which time it was determined that the source rod was broken. The RSO contacted the RHB South Brea office and left voice mail messages, then contacted the emergency number and was transferred to a telephone number in Sacramento RHB and left another voice mail message. The RSO performed a leak test on the radioactive gauge and sent it to PNT Company for analysis on September 4, 2014, and received notification that the sources were negative for leakage on September 5, 2014. The RSO performed a follow-up investigation of the incident at the location of the accident and has contacted Maurer Technical Services for disposal of the radioactive gauge since it is beyond repair.
This is being reported to the NRC Operations Center as a 24-hour report under 10CFR30.5(b)(2) since the radioactive gauge cannot be locked in the shielded position (due to the source rod being broken ) despite the fact that the Cs-137 source is in the shielded position as that was the configuration at the time of the accident.
California Report #: 5010-090314