ENS 57557
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
14:00 Feb 18, 2025 | |
| Title | Lost Smoke Detector Foil |
| Event Description | The following information was received from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) via phone and email:
On February 18, 2025, at 1415 EST, NYSDOH received a phone call from the Chief Operating Officer of NRD, LLC to report a compromised package of returned Am-241 smoke detection foils with an activity of approximately 1 microcurie per foil. This shipment contained approximately 30,900 Am-241 foils and originated from a client in Mexico. Identifying information of the facility which sent this package is unclear. NRD, LLC stated that the package was discovered when one of the receiving technicians picked up the package and noticed that approximately 50 individual foils had fallen from the box onto the floor. Staff vacated the area, and shoes were surveyed to confirm that no contamination was present. A more enhanced survey was performed, and the foils appeared to be fully intact, localized to where this box had been temporarily stored, and no removable contamination was present in the receiving area or dock. NRD, LLC reviewed security footage and found that the package in question was transported by a common carrier and was dropped off at approximately 1035 EST on Friday, February 14, 2025. It does not appear that the package had been dropped, mishandled or manipulated upon delivery. Out of precaution, NRD, LLC surveyed the outside locations near where the common carrier driver had parked and pathway to the receiving dock and found one Am-241 foil. There was no evidence of damage or unusual mishandling on the package, however, the labeling and markings for the shipment were not easily identifiable. It is suspected that the foils were improperly packaged when originally sent from the client in Mexico, however, this cannot be confirmed at this time. NRD, LLC immediately quarantined the package to prevent the potential spread of contamination and placed it in a secured location within NRD, LLC's labs. NRD, LLC contacted the common carrier and the client in Mexico to inform them of the situation. NRD, LLC plans to open the package within a restricted laboratory area to minimize the potential for contamination or loss of smoke detector foils, minimize any potential dose to workers, and ensure control over environmental conditions to inventory and survey the package using personnel protective equipment. NYSDOH and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) are closely monitoring this event. NRD, LLC will be following up with NYSDOH and NYSDEC with a written report of the event and any additional information gathered. Given the normal activity of these sources, the loss of one Am-241 foil would meet the reporting requirements by 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i). Provided the nature of this event and the potential loss exceeding the reportability threshold, this event is being reported given the absence of validated information on the inventory. It is not suspected that there is any risk to public health or the environment from this event. NYSDOH is monitoring this event and has assigned NYSDOH Incident No. 1516 to internally track this event. The following additional information was obtained from the licensee in accordance with Headquarters Operations Officers Report Guidance: The estimated dimensions of each foil are comparable to those of a three-ring hole punch. NYSDOH considers it plausible that one or more foils may be missing. Event Report ID No.: NY-25-03 THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A 'Less than Cat 3' LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL 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 | |
|---|---|
| Nrd, Llc Grand Island, New York (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | C1391 |
| Organization: | New York State Dept. Of Health |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+1.52 h0.0633 days <br />0.00905 weeks <br />0.00208 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Nathaniel Kishbaugh 15:31 Feb 18, 2025 |
| NRC Officer: | Sam Colvard |
| Last Updated: | Feb 18, 2025 |
| 57557 - NRC Website | |
Nrd, Llc with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 576192025-03-07T04:00:0007 March 2025 04:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Potential Overexposure ENS 575572025-02-18T14:00:00018 February 2025 14:00:00 Agreement State Lost Smoke Detector Foil ENS 571852024-06-10T20:30:00010 June 2024 20:30:00 Agreement State Unplanned Contamination ENS 571842024-05-08T04:00:0008 May 2024 04:00:00 Agreement State Unplanned Contamination ENS 569812024-01-26T05:00:00026 January 2024 05:00:00 Agreement State Lost Sources ENS 568692023-11-19T05:00:00019 November 2023 05:00:00 Agreement State Potential Overexposure ENS 560452022-08-15T15:45:00015 August 2022 15:45:00 Agreement State Individual Exposed to Radioactive Materials ENS 539742019-04-01T04:00:0001 April 2019 04:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Possible Internal Overexposure 2025-03-07T04:00:00 | |