The following information was received via E-mail:
On November 16, 2017, the Massachusetts Radiation Control Program determined that one NRD, LLC, Model P-2021-8201, S/N A2KQ898, static control device, containing a 10 milliCurie, polonium-210 sealed source, could not be located by the licensee (Current decayed activity is approximately 600 microCurie with an original assay date of 5/5/2016).
When questioned by the Program, the licensee stated that it noticed that the device has been missing since sometime in May of 2017. The licensee believes that they transferred the device from their Lenox, MA facility to their Pittsfield, MA facility and it is somewhere within their Pittsfield facility. However, the licensee stated that it's very unlikely they will find the device due to the facility size and complexity.
The Program notified the licensee of its responsibility for providing a written report within 30 days of their telephone report in accordance with the requirements of 105 CMR 120.281(B).
Root cause and corrective action are not known at this time and the Program intends to perform a special inspection.
This event remains open.
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than
IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as
moisture density gauges or thickness
gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf