ENS Event | |
|---|---|
07:00 Sep 16, 2024 | |
| Title | Damaged Troxler Gauge |
| Event Description | The following report was received by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control (the Division) via email:
On September 16, 2024, one of the licensee's portable gauge users was performing a measurement on asphalt using a Troxler 3430 moisture density gauge (serial number 25688) containing a cesium-137 source (serial number 75-8566, presumably 8 mCi) and an americium-241 source (serial number 47-22058, presumably 40 mCi). The operator had his back to the paving vehicle, and the vehicle did not have a functioning back-up alarm. The vehicle struck the operator in the shoulder, and the vehicle's right rear tire impacted and damaged the gauge. The operator sustained minor injuries, but the gauge suffered serious damage. The licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) surveyed the vehicle's right rear tire using a calibrated instrument and found no evidence of contamination. The highest exposure rate reading from the damaged gauge was approximately 1 mR/hr at 1 meter from the gauge. The RSO was able to return the source rod to the shielded position, secure the damaged source rod from moving using duct tape, and place the gauge in the transportation case. The transport index of the transport case with the damaged gauge inside was 0.3. The RSO contacted Troxler for instructions to return the gauge to Troxler and to order a replacement gauge. This event was discovered during a routine license inspection by the Division on December 6, 2024. At the time of the inspection the transport case with the damaged gauge was still in the licensee's possession. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Earth Tec, Llc D.B.A. Earthtec Engineering Orem, Utah (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | UT 2900300 |
| Organization: | Utah Division Of Radiation Control |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+1953.55 h81.398 days <br />11.628 weeks <br />2.676 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Philip Griffin 17:33 Dec 6, 2024 |
| NRC Officer: | Jon Lilliendahl |
| Last Updated: | Dec 6, 2024 |
| 57460 - NRC Website | |
Earth Tec, Llc D.B.A. Earthtec Engineering with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 574602024-09-16T07:00:00016 September 2024 07:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Damaged Troxler Gauge 2024-09-16T07:00:00 | |