The following information was provided by the
Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department) via phone and email:
On March 7, 2025, at approximately 1700 CST, the Department was notified by the licensee that a Troxler 3440 moisture density gauge containing an 8 mCi Cesium-137 source (original strength) and a 40 mCi (original strength) Am-241/Be source were damaged by being run over by construction equipment at a job site in Melissa, Texas. The radiation safety officer (RSO) was onsite, the sources were intact, but the gauge was damaged to an extent that the cesium source could not be retracted into a safe position. The RSO, in coordination with the Department, removed the gauge from the accident site, and made the device safe by placing it in a container filled with sand. The damaged gauge was then secured to the container, the container was secured to the licensee's vehicle, and the damaged gauge was transported to their vault which was less than 1 mile away. The manufacturer, who has a local repair facility, was already closed for the weekend so the damaged device was placed in the vault at the licensee's facility for transport to the manufacturer on Monday. The RSO performed several surveys at the accident site, with the gauge in the truck, and at the licensee's vault. All readings were well within normal limits. No overexposure occurred as the only time the source was exposed was when the RSO transferred it from the ground to the sand filled container. Additional information will be provided in accordance with SA-300.
Texas Incident Number: I-10181
Texas NMED Number: TX250018