PNO-III-97-092, on 971117,moisture/density Gauge Damaged by Earthmoving Equipment.Sealed Source Could Not Be Returned to Shielded Position Due to Bent Source Rod.Source & Gauge Returned to Mfg for Repair
| ML20206R559 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 03014247 |
| Issue date: | 11/18/1997 |
| From: | Jamnes Cameron, Medera J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-III-97-092, PNO-III-97-92, NUDOCS 9901200005 | |
| Download: ML20206R559 (2) | |
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l November 18, 1997 i
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-III-97-092
! This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by Region III staff (Lisle, Illinois) on this date.
Facility Licensee Emergency Classification SHANNON AND WILSON, INC. Notification of Unusual Event Shannon And Wilson, Inc. Alert St. Louis, Missouri Site Area Emergency License No: 24-18839-01 General Emergency X Not Applicable
Subject:
NOTIFICATION OF DAMAGED MOISTURE / DENSITY GAUGE AND INABILITY TO RETURN SEALED SOURCES TO SHIELDED POSITION On November 17, 1997, the licensee notified the NRC of an incident involving a damaged moisture-density gauge at a licensee temporary job site located in St. Louis, Missouri. The licensee's technician used the l gauge -- containing a sealed 8 millicurie (300 megabecquerels) cesium-137 source and a 40 millicurie (1500 megabecquerels) americium-241 source --
to measure the density of compacted earth on a construction site.
I During the test, the operator was attending the gauge and heard the backup warning indicator from a piece of heavy earthmoving equipment. The operator turned, observed the vehicle approaching, and jumped out of the way before it hit the gauge. The operator was not injured. The operator l- secured the area around the gauge and contacted her radiation safety j officer. l l The licensee's initial assessment determined that the source rod had been bent during the incident, preventing the return of the sealed source to the shielded position. The licensee also contacted its radiation
- protection contractor, R. M. Wester Associates, located near St. Louis, ,
l Missouri, who is also an NRC licensee. The contractor arrived at the J site, conducted a field leak test, and confirmed that the sources remained intact. The sealed sources and the damaged gauge were packaged for transport and will be sent to the manufacturer for repair or replacement. The incident did not result in damage to or loss of the radioactive sources or exposures to licensee personnel or the public.
I NRC Region III (Chicago) will review the incident during the next routine inspection.
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9901200005 971118 PDR I8:E PNO-III-97-092 PDR g
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PN-397092 l
The State of Missouri and the NRC Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards have been notified. The information in this preliminary notification has been reviewed with the licensee management.
Region III was notified of this incident at 12:30 p.m. on November 17, 1997. This information is current as of 4:00 p.m.
Contact:
JAMNES CAMERON JOHN R. MEDERA (630)829-9833 (630)829-9834 l
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