The following report was received from the
California Department of Public Health via email:
On June 30, 2016, around 2 pm [PDT], a Troxler model 3440 # 20303 (reference date 12/1979) containing 40 mCi of Cs-137 and 8 mCi of Am-241:Be was involved in an accident and was crushed by a construction vehicle. The gauge operator cordoned off the area and notified the San Bernardino County Fire/HazMat office and the CA Warning Center - Event # 16-3978. The gauge's housing was crushed and the Cs-137 source handle was bent and loose. A photograph of the damaged gauge was sent to Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) [California Department of Public Health] for evaluation. An RHB inspector responded to the construction site to assist with shielding the source rod and ensuring all radioactive material is placed into the Type A transportation box to travel to the licensee's storage area. Upon arrival, the inspector noted that the bottom plate had broken off of the shield assembly and the sliding block had fallen out of the assembly, exposing the source. The sliding block was placed back in the assembly and the bottom plate taped back onto the bottom of the shield assembly. The top and bottom halves of the gauge body were taped back together, allowing the gauge to be placed back into the transport case for transport back to storage. A survey of the area of the incident after the gauge was placed in the transport vehicle was at background, indicating the no radioactive material remained at the site. The licensee was notified to contact their service provider to arrange for the gauge to be evaluated and possibly disposed.
Radiation level on the damaged gauge was 4 mR/hr on contact. Radiation level on the loaded Type A case was 0.6 mR/hr on contact.
California 5010 Number: 063016