On April 15, 2015, the licensee notified the Agency that on April 14, 2015, one of its technicians was removing a
cesium-137 source, with a current activity of 694 millicuries (original activity was 1200 millicuries in 06/1991), from an
Ohmart SHLG-1 nuclear
gauge. When he opened up the
gauge, the source was ruptured. The cause of the rupture has not yet been determined. Areas of the workroom and the technician were contaminated. The technician was immediately [externally] decontaminated. The licensee swabbed the technician's nasal passages and found contamination. The licensee has sent the technician's dosimetry for immediate processing and is in the process of determining the internal dose estimate. Surveys confirmed that no contamination was carried outside the work room. Cleanup and surveys of the workroom are being performed. Access has been restricted since the incident. An investigation into this event is ongoing. More information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300.
Texas Incident I-9302
Currently 3 homes of employees have been found to have contamination, characterization has not been performed. Various articles of clothing have been confiscated by the company and residents have been moved to hotels, with all objects brought along cleared.
The room in which the incident occurred has been sealed off. Additional licensee personnel have arrived to assist with surveys and cleanup. Assay of the source to determine what activity remains within the capsule has not yet been performed. Interviews of involved individuals are ongoing.
Full body counts have been performed with initial readings of 4.86 mrem CEDE for one employee and 290 mrem CEDE for another.
Notified R4DO (Drake) and
NMSS Events Notification via email.