The following information was provided by the State of
California via email:
On December 9, 2014, the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] of Geocon, Inc., contacted San Diego County Radiologic Health regarding a gauge that was run over and damaged at a temporary jobsite on December 8, 2014. ICE RAM-South [Inspection Compliance Enforcement Radioactive Material] was notified of the incident and an inspector contacted the RSO. The gauge, a Troxler model 3440, S/N 27309 (8 mCi Cs-137, 40 mCi Am:Be-241), was left unattended by the operator while talking with another worker when a loader ran over the gauge and struck the gauge handle. The damage to the gauge was to the electrical housing and the scalar rod (snapped into two pieces near the gauge body but remained attached at the handle). The Cs-137 source was locked in the shielded position just prior to the incident. The Cs-137 source remained in the shielded position and the source rod and the protective housing containing the Am:Be-241 source were intact after the incident. After the incident, the area was secured and the RSO was contacted. The RSO arrived at the scene and performed a radiation survey (make/model and type not reported). The RSO found that the dose rates were normal for a gauge out of the transport case (dose rate and background not reported). After inspecting the gauge, it was determined that the gauge could be placed in the transport case in its normal position. The RSO then surveyed the transport case and found that the dose rates were normal for a gauge in the transport case (not reported).
The RSO was instructed to prepare a report of the incident to be submitted to our office within 30 days. The investigation is on-going and any citations will be determined at a later date.
CA Report No: 120914