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| Start date | Reporting criterion | Title | Event description | System | LER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS 56982 | 20 February 2024 06:00:00 | Agreement State | Damaged Moisture Density Gauge | The following report was received via phone call and email from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department): On February 20, 2024, the Department was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that a Troxler 3440 moisture/density gauge was damaged at a temporary job site. The gauge contains a 40 millicurie americium - 241 source and an 8 millicurie cesium -137 source. The gauge operator was setting the gauge up for use when they noticed that a large number of construction equipment was moving into the area. The operator decided to move their truck out of the way and while they were doing so the gauge was struck by a piece of equipment. The RSO stated the gauge case was damaged, but the sources were not damaged. The cesium source was still in the fully shielded position when the event occurred. The RSO stated the gauge was transported back to their facility and a leak test was conducted on the sources. The RSO stated they have contacted a service company and as soon as they get the leak test results back, they will dispose of the gauge. No individual received any significant exposure due to this event. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident Number: 10089 Texas NMED Number: TX240007 | ||
| ENS 56276 | 16 December 2022 06:00:00 | Agreement State | Unable to Retract Source | The following information was provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department) via email: On December 16, 2022, the Department received calls from a licensee reporting an equipment failure with a moisture density gauge. The licensee has been unable to retract the rod with cesium-137 back to the fully shielded position and the source is sticking out about 4 inches. This is for a Humboldt 5001 gauge with 40 millicuries (mCi) of americium (-241) and 10 mCi of cesium-137. The rod is presently in the ground to maintain shielding and will be transported back to the storage site with the rod in a bucket of sand. The licensee plans to transport the gauge the same way to a repair facility tomorrow morning. The dose to personnel has not been above normal working conditions but there may be some dose during transportation. The licensee was reminded to minimize dose as much as possible. Further information will be provided per SA-300. Texas Incident Number: 9974 | ||
| ENS 55680 | 29 December 2021 06:00:00 | Agreement State | Cesium Source Unable to Fully Retract | The state of Texas (the Agency) reported the following via phone and email: On December 30, 2021, the Agency was notified by the licensee that on December 29, 2021, one of its technicians was unable to fully retract a 10 millicurie cesium-137 source to its fully shielded position. The source is installed in a Humboldt 5001EZ moisture density gauge. The technician had performed 3 samples that morning and the failure came at the end of the (fourth) exposure. The technician placed the gauge into its transport container and returned the gauge to the shop. The radiation safety officer (RSO) performed a survey of the gauge and found the highest reading 1 meter from the gauge was 0.4 millirem per hour. The RSO stated the transport index for the gauge measured that morning was 0.2. The RSO stated that the source was stuck about 2 inches outside from the fully shielded (position). The RSO stated they used a hammer and anchor bolt and drove the source back into the shielded position. The RSO stated they noticed wet clay material oozing out of the area between the source shaft and the gauge case. The RSO believes the clay is what was preventing the source from fully retracting. The RSO stated they were taking a leak test of the cesium source. The RSO was instructed to isolate the hammer and bolt used to drive the source to the shielded position. The Agency went to the licensee's location and performed fixed and removable contamination survey on the hammer and anchor bolt used to drive the source back to the shielded position. No contamination was detected. The RSO's hands and clothing was surveyed for contamination. No contamination was detected. The RSO stated the gauge will be sent to the service company after the results of the leak test are received. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident Number: 9905 |