The following information was provided by the
Illinois Emergency Management Agency (the Agency) via email:
Alton Steel Inc. contacted the Agency on June 17, 2024, to advise of an incident in which molten steel impacted and damaged a 2.3 mCi Co-60 sealed source. This incident reportedly occurred on June 14, 2024, and results from the same ongoing conditions (source susceptible to molten steel flowing down the dip tube) identified in the licensee's March 2024 incident (refer to EN 57016). The licensee is still working with the source manufacturer to identify an engineered solution.
The source and casting mold lid were collectively moved into a restricted area under the oversight of the radiation safety officer. The damaged source was then secured pending a site visit by the source manufacturer's authorized representative on June 18, 2024. The licensee missed the reporting timeline (24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />). Agency staff will be on site the morning of June 20, 2024, for a reactive inspection. That inspection will assess contamination potential, discuss reporting timelines (reportedly missed due to multiple heat injuries and facility damage), address ongoing susceptibility of sources to damage, review contaminated area remediation timelines, and address proposed corrective actions for the April 19, 2024, Notice of Violation.
Based on the information available at this time, there does not appear to be any impact to public health and safety. A description of the event indicates licensed material was not dispersed or incorporated into any product. This will collectively be assessed and this report [will be] updated thereafter."
Illinois Item Number: IL240014
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A 'Not Recorded' LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL