Semantic search

Jump to navigation Jump to search
 Start dateReporting criterionTitleEvent descriptionSystemLER
ENS 549378 October 2020 05:00:00Agreement StateDamaged Troxler GaugeThe following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: On October 8, 2020, the Agency was contacted by the licensee and notified that while being used at a job site, a Troxler 3440 nuclear gauge was damaged by a road grader. The gauge contains a 40 milliCurie americium-241 source and an 8 milliCurie cesium-137 source. The licensee's technician had started a measurement and walked back to their truck when the grader came around a dirt pile and struck the gauge before the technician could respond. The cesium source operating rod was extended about 6 inches into the soil. The licensee performed a survey at the gauge and the reading at 3 feet was 1.2 millirem per hour. The licensee established a boundary at 15 feet from the gauge. The radiation safety officer (RSO) responded to the location. The RSO inspected the gauge and thought they could retract the cesium source back to the shielded position. The RSO's attempt to retract the source was successful. The RSO took a radiation reading 3 feet from the source and it was 0.14 millirem per hour. The gauge was placed in the transport case and will be taken to the licensee's storage area. The RSO stated they would contact the manufacturer to dispose of the gauge. No individual received an exposure due to this event. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident Number: I - 9805