The following was received from the State of
Arkansas via email:
The Agreement State General Licensed Device licensee reported to the State of Arkansas, Arkansas Department of Health [Department], that a 0.59 mCi (0.022 GBq) Co-60 sealed source (Manufacturer: Berthold Technologies, Model Number: P2608-100, Sealed Source Serial Number: 54-01-05) used in a Berthold Technologies General Licensed Device (Manufacturer: Berthold Technologies, Model Number: LB300L, Serial Number: 15951-1189-10000) was damaged by the conveyor belt rubbing and wearing down the steel housing of the device and into the lead shielding. The damage was discovered by the licensee during a routine inventory and inspection on April 14, 2021. The licensee submitted the required report and photographs to the Agreement State on May 17, 2021 at approximately 1400 [CDT].
Licensee took immediate corrective actions including stopping the conveyor belt, locked-out gauge, secured area and blocked off area to gauge, performed exposure surveys, and performed wipe tests to confirm no contamination. The damaged gauge will be disposed and will not be replaced according to the licensee. Licensee confirmed no public exposures, no employee exposures, and negative leak tests results.
Corrective actions by licensee include, but not limited to: (1) storage in place of damaged gauge until the manufacturer removes and disposes the device from its location, (2) installation of a t-roller in front of other similar gauges along with welding it in place to prevent the conveyor belt from contacting a radiation gauge if a troughing idler failure occurs, (3) perform a monthly preventative maintenance inspection of conveyor belts and gauging systems and repair of any damaged or severely worn jointers, (4) perform a monthly inspection of the t-roller in front of the radiation gauges, and (5) perform inspections of the t-roller by the Site Radiation Safety Duty Officer to ensure conveyor belt clearance.
The Department considers this incident to be closed.
Arkansas Event No.: AR-2021-004