ENS 54056
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
22:30 Apr 24, 2019 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Fixed Gauge Shutter Failed Closed |
| Event Description | The following was received via e-mail:
On April 24, 2019 at about 4:30 PM [MDT], the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] for Kennecott Copper Corporation called and notified a DWMRC [Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control] staff member that one of their gauges was not working properly. The licensee reported that the shutter on a fixed gauge, an Ohmart Vega, model number SH-F2, serial number 68852, containing 800 mCi of Cs-137 in a sealed source did not open when a shutter test was conducted. The licensee stated that the gauge would be left in place for now and removed and cleaned the next week, to see if that resolved the problem. The RSO reported that he would engage a licensed provider if disassembly is required to fix the problem. Another [DWMRC] staff member spoke to the licensee's RSO at about 5:00 PM that evening. The licensee's RSO indicated that they did not have the information regarding the gauge with them at the time but that they believed the gauge just needed to be cleaned. The licensee indicated that the gauge had not been in use for a while and that they were testing the device prior to putting the device back into operation when the issue was discovered. The gauge is located in an area difficult to access. The licensee would need to use certain equipment to safely reach and remove the gauge. The RSO had tried to contact their regular gauge service licensee and determined that the service licensee would not be available until after May 1, 2019. The RSO indicated that they would remove and clean the gauge the following week. Specific individuals on the licensee's radioactive materials license are authorized to install and remove gauges and the extra time would allow the RSO to ensure that the appropriate individuals were available. On April 30, 2019, the licensee's authorized personnel removed the gauge from its location at the pebble crusher. After a thorough cleaning of the exterior of the source housing, the shutter was still showing no movement. The RSO realized the gauge needed to be taken apart and cleaned in order to allow the shutter to work properly. The service licensee was contacted and arrangements were made for the service licensee to work with the gauge on May 2, 2019. The device was stored in a properly secured area at any time it was not under the licensee's constant surveillance until the service licensee took possession of the device. The licensee informed the DWMRC that they would provide a report regarding the outcome. Event Report No.: UT190002 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 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation Utah (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | 1800289 |
| Organization: | Utah Division Of Radiation Control |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+352.82 h14.701 days <br />2.1 weeks <br />0.483 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Gwyn Gallow 15:19 May 9, 2019 |
| NRC Officer: | Thomas Kendzia |
| Last Updated: | May 9, 2019 |
| 54056 - NRC Website | |
Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 540562019-04-24T22:30:00024 April 2019 22:30:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Fixed Gauge Shutter Failed Closed ENS 444052008-08-07T00:40:0007 August 2008 00:40:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Broken Shutter on Fixed Gauge ENS 443762008-07-28T13:00:00028 July 2008 13:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Broken Shutter on Fixed Gauge ENS 416262005-04-21T21:50:00021 April 2005 21:50:00 Agreement State Equipment Failure to Function as Designed 2019-04-24T22:30:00 | |