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 Start dateReporting criterionTitleEvent descriptionSystemLER
ENS 4804926 June 2012 05:00:00Agreement StateAgreement State Report - Troxler Gauge Struck by Vehicle at Construction Site

The State of Illinois submitted the following report via email: On the morning of June 26, 2012, the Agency's Communication Center contacted the Radiological Duty Officer about a Troxler (Model 3411-B) gauge that had been hit by a truck on the Westbound I-90 in Chicago. The licensee, Interra, Inc., reported that an asphalt truck crossed the barriers and ran over the gauge while it was in use in an inactive traffic lane. The source rod was subsequently thrown from the gauge housing. (Illinois Emergency Management) Agency inspectors were dispatched to the scene. State police were also dispatched for traffic control.

In the interim, the licensee located the source rod two lanes over near the center median using their own survey meter. With instruction from the duty officer, they were able to scoop the rod up in an asphalt shovel and put it in a 5 gallon bucket full of sand for shielding. Approximately one hour later, (Illinois Emergency Management) Agency inspectors arrived and were able to secure the source rod back into the damaged gauge housing. A leak test was done and no removable contamination was noted. The shield and shutter were intact and radiation levels were 0.5 mR/hr at a meter once secured. The device was transported back the licensees storage area for further investigation.

(Illinois Emergency Management) Agency inspectors arrived at the licensee's facility at 2:00 pm that same afternoon to inspect the gauge, the storage area, and interview the RSO. The gauge was in view of the authorized user about 5 feet away when the truck crossed the barrier so it does not appear to be a surveillance violation by the licensee. The condition of the gauge was confirmed. The gauge is secure in its Type A container and radiation levels are 0.5 TI (Transportation Index). All records for transportation were present and correct. The licensee appears to have followed their operating procedures correctly for this type of event. Pending leak test results, film badge results and return of the device to Troxler, we are considering this matter closed. The gauge is a Troxler Model 3411-B, Serial number 40-9314, with a Cs-137 0.009 Ci and Am-241 0.04 Ci source. IL Item Number: IL12010 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