ENS 51786
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
20:34 Mar 11, 2016 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Damaged Moisture Density Gauge |
| Event Description | The following report was received via e-mail:
A private company reported a soil density meter was damaged and an increase in background radiation was detected due to possible shielding damage. Event terminated. Gauge has been safely transported back to the manufacturer, Instrotek at 1905 [EST]. Radiation surveys at the scene indicated sources were intact and not leaking. Swipes on the source rod, device and equipment confirmed no contamination at the scene. Scene has been released for general public use. Radioactive Material Licensee: Froehling & Robertson Incident Location: 1202 Redwood Valley Lane, Knightdale, NC Gauge: Instrotek 3500 Radioactive Material: 10 mCi Cesium 137; 40 mCi Americium 241, Beryllium Summary: Radiation Protection Staff arrived on site at 1720 [EST]. Gauge housing was found to be damaged along with a bent source rod. When staff approached the gauge, at 5 feet, the readings were 5mR/hr (milliRem per hour) indicating that sources were not properly shielded. When staff surveyed the bottom of the gauge at the shutter, the source rod fell out backwards from the top of the device. All items were moved to survey the area around where the accident occurred to see if the sources had fallen out in the compacted soil. They had not. Readings were background for the area of 25 to 30 uR/hr (microRem per hour) indicating the sources were still in the source rod. Staff put the source rod back in the gauge housing. Readings at the bottom of the device with the source rod in place, showed readings of 150 to 200 mR/hr. This confirmed the sources were in the rod, but indicated the shutter shielding the sources was not functioning properly. The reassembled gauge was placed back in the certified DOT shipping container and properly blocked and braced in the licensee's (Froehling & Robertson) truck. Staff followed the licensee to Instrotek where the device was safely stored until the manufacturer can assess the damage. US Nuclear Regulatory Commission notified via this email Radiation Protection Section will continue its compliance investigation of why this event occurred. Radiation Protection Section will update the National Material Event Database. Pictures to be uploaded into event reporting. No further updates will be given. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Froehling & Robertson Knightsdale, North Carolina (NRC Region 1) | |
| Organization: | Nc Div Of Radiation Protection |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+-0.73 h-0.0304 days <br />-0.00435 weeks <br />-9.99954e-4 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Lee Cox 19:50 Mar 11, 2016 |
| NRC Officer: | Mark Abramovitz |
| Last Updated: | Mar 11, 2016 |
| 51786 - NRC Website | |
Froehling & Robertson with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 517862016-03-11T20:34:00011 March 2016 20:34:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Damaged Moisture Density Gauge ENS 504212014-08-27T04:00:00027 August 2014 04:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Moisture Density Gauge Damaged at Construction Site ENS 493382013-09-11T04:00:00011 September 2013 04:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Stolen Troxler Gauge 2016-03-11T20:34:00 | |