ENS 53714
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
08:00 Nov 3, 2018 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Damaged Density Gauge |
| Event Description | The following report was received from the Washington State Department of Health via email:
On 11/3/2018, a gauge user was working at a jobsite located in Kirkland, Washington. He sat the gauge down and moved approximately 30 feet away to speak to a contractor. While the gauge was out of his direct control, it was hit by a piece of heavy equipment and damaged. The contractor took the gauge back to the Redmond office, secured it in the gauge storage room, and notified the office ARSO [Assistant Radiation Safety Officer] and corporate RSO [Radiation Safety Officer]. The ARSO, notified DOH [Washington State Department of Health] that evening. [The Washington State Department of Health Laboratory Program Manager] spoke with [the ARSO] to get an overview of the incident. [The DOH Laboratory Program Manager] met with the ARSO and the corporate RSO, at the Redmond office at 0930 PST on 11/4/2018 to examine the gauge (CPN MC1DRP S/N MD00805859) to determine whether the Cs-137 and Am-241 sources had been compromised. After performing swab tests of the interior and exterior of the gauge and measuring the exposure rates around the gauge, [The DOH Laboratory Program Manager] made the assumption that the sealed sources were not compromised (the licensee couldn't do this because they don't have a survey instrument). [The DOH Laboratory Program Manager] also surveyed the vehicle used to transport the damaged gauge to verify that there was no detectable contamination in the vehicle. DOH will conduct an investigation into the incident, and the licensee is submitting an incident report. More information to follow. Event Report ID: WA-18-027
The following update was received via e-mail: DOH [Washington State Department of Health] conducted an investigation and a review of the licensee's internal incident report and root cause analysis. The gauge user did not maintain direct control of the gauge, resulting in the gauge being left unattended when it was damaged by an excavator. Additionally, the licensee failed to follow both the emergency procedures and radiation safety program guidance included in their radioactive materials license application renewal, further compounding the health and safety issues. Instead of securing the area and remaining onsite and alerting DOH as required by procedure, the gauge user and project manager decided to remove the damaged gauge and return it to the Redmond storage location. Both the failure to maintain control of the gauge and the failure to follow the emergency procedures were cited as violations in a compliance letter sent to GeoEngineers. In addition to the corrective actions required by the compliance letter, DOH will also perform a follow-up inspection of the Redmond office and field site. This event was closed on 12/5/2018. Notified the R4DO (Gaddy) and NMSS (via e-mail). |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Geoengineers, Incorporated Redmond, Washington (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | WN-I0204-1 |
| Organization: | Wa Office Of Radiation Protection |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+36.58 h1.524 days <br />0.218 weeks <br />0.0501 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Andrew Halloran 21:35 Nov 4, 2018 |
| NRC Officer: | Jeff Herrera |
| Last Updated: | Dec 6, 2018 |
| 53714 - NRC Website | |
Geoengineers, Incorporated with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 537142018-11-03T08:00:0003 November 2018 08:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Damaged Density Gauge 2018-11-03T08:00:00 | |