Semantic search
| Start date | Reporting criterion | Title | Event description | System | LER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS 55753 | 20 February 2022 08:00:00 | Agreement State | Stolen Moisture Density Gauge | The following information was provided by the California Department of Public Health via email: Ninyo and Moore, a geotechnical and environmental sciences firm reported the theft of a Troxler 3430 moisture density gauge No. 38218, containing a Cs-137 sealed source of 0.3 GBq (8 mCi) and Am-241 sealed source of 1.48 GBq (40 mCi). The theft occurred from a temporary job site in Visalia, CA, The locked 10' X 20' Conex job box had the locks cut off and the entire secured Knack box containing the Type A transport container and gauge was taken. Construction tools totaling approximately $12,000 were stolen. Visalia Police Department was notified and an officer took a theft report and is looking for video surveillance in the area. Site security was not at the location at the time of the Sunday night theft. California 5010 Number: 022222 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 | ||
| ENS 52690 | 17 April 2017 07:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Damaged Troxler Gauge | The following information was provided by the State of California via email: On 04/17/17, Ninyo & Moore RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) contacted RHB (California Radiologic Health Branch) to report a moisture density gauge incident happened at a construction site in the City of Hayward, CA. The gauge involved was a Troxler 3430, S/N T343 32379 containing 8 mCi of Cs-137 and 40 mCi of Am-241. The gauge was backed into by a Bobcat. Technician was performing a density test and happened to be about 12 feet away from the gauge at the time of the incident. After the incident, the technician requested the personnel to clear the area. The gauge source rod was bent and could not be retracted into the shielded position. The area was isolated and the gauge was placed next to a concrete slab until help arrived. The RSO immediately contacted a gauge vendor, PNT (Pacific Nuclear Technology), and the RSO from PNT arrived on site within a short period of time. He placed a lead pig around the exposed source rod, loaded up the gauge in his truck and took it away for repair. PNT performed a survey around the incident site and no contamination was detected. RHB will be following up on this incident. CA 5010 Number: 041717 | ||
| ENS 43068 | 29 December 2006 02:30:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Theft of a Troxler Moisture Density Gauge | On December 29, 2006, at 11:10 am, the licensee contacted the California (Radiologic Health Branch) RHB to report the theft of a Troxler, Model 3430 moisture/density gauge (S/N 38217) containing a nominal 10 millicuries Cs-137 and nominal 40 millicuries Am-241. When the licensee initially reported, they had been informed by their technician that the gauge (secured by two locking cables in the truck bed) had been stolen at 11:00 am on December 29, 2006, while the technician was having lunch at a restaurant in Fontana, CA. Subsequently, during the police investigation, the technician acknowledged that the gauge had actually been stolen out of his truck, sometime the night previously (i.e., between about 6:30 pm December 28, 2006 and 8:00 am December 29, 2006), while the truck was parked in front of his home in San Jacinto, CA. The licensee prohibits their technicians from taking the gauges home overnight, and intends to take disciplinary action against the technician in this regard. The San Jacinto police have also been contacted, and the licensee intends to place a reward notification in the local press in the San Jacinto area. RHB will continue to follow up on this matter.
The following was received via email from the State of California via email: On Monday, January 28, 2013, the Border Patrol notified us, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), that a trailer had caused the radiation monitor to alarm at its checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, TX (approximately 90 miles east of El Paso on I-10). The individual pulling the trailer stated he was moving to Texas from California. The source of radiation was identified as being a Troxler moisture/density gauge. (The individual) stated that he had purchased the gauge as a tool for finding underground pipe at a swap-meet in Beaumont, CA, back in late August/early September of 2012 (he paid $125 or $150 for it). He stated he had not used the gauge he had only opened the case and looked at it and then put it in his storage shed where it remained until he packed up to move. The gauge was detained by one of our Agency (DSHS) inspectors and (the individual) willingly surrendered it. Gauge information: Troxler Model 3430 SN: 38217 It, and the case, are in very good condition. Based on isotope identification by Border Patrol and the DSHS inspector, it appears that the cesium-137 and the americium-241/beryllium sources are still in the gauge. Notified R4DO (Walker), Mexico, and FSME Event Resource via email. 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. |