Semantic search
| Start date | Reporting criterion | Title | Event description | System | LER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS 56833 | 4 November 2023 05:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State - Lost Troxler Gauge | The following information was provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department) via email: On November 4, 2023, the Department was notified by the licensee that one of its technicians had lost a Troxler 3430 moisture/density gauge. The gauge contains one 40 millicurie Am-241 source and one 8 millicurie Cs-137 source. The licensee reported that a technician was waiting in their truck to perform a test at a temporary job site when they were told by the job supervisor that the work was done for the day. The technician drove home and when they reached their home, realized they had left the gauge, which was inside its transportation box, sitting on the tailgate of the truck and it was now missing. The licensee did not know if the cesium source rod or transport case was locked. The technician retraced their route twice, but it was already dark, and they did not see the gauge. The technician notified his radiation safety officer that they had lost the gauge. The licensee will notify local law enforcement of the event. The licensee stated they will begin searching for the gauge as soon as it is light out. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident Number: I-10064 Texas NMED Number: TX230050
On November 5, 2023, the Department contacted the licensee and requested the status of the gauge. The licensee stated that they had performed additional searches for the gauge this morning but did not find the gauge. The licensee stated they had contacted the Harris County, Texas, Sheriff's Department. The licensee stated they would offer a reward for the gauges return. The licensee was advised to contact local pawn shops and watch social media platforms like eBay and Craig's List. The licensee was advised to contact local fire departments about the gauge and provide its contact information. The licensee stated the gauge was labeled with its contact information. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Notified R4DO (Roldan-Otero), NMSS Events Notification, ILTAB, and CNSNS (Mexico) via email
On January 4, 2024, the Department was notified by the licensee that a Troxler gauge identical to the one they had lost was on the Facebook Marketplace website. The Department contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent (FBISA) it has worked with previously and shared the information. On January 5, 2024, the FBISA worked with the licensee and was able to set up a meeting with the seller and was able to recover the gauge. (The FBISA confirmed by serial number it was the gauge that was stolen). The licensee returned the gauge to its secured storage location and will perform radiation and leak test on the gauge. The individual who had the gauge stated they did not know it contained radioactive material. They also stated they never manipulated the source rod. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA300. Notified R4DO (Drake), NMSS Events Notification, ILTAB, and CNSNS (Mexico) 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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf | ||
| ENS 49899 | 11 March 2014 05:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Stolen Moisture Density Gauge | The following was received via email from the State of Texas: On March 11, 2014, the Agency (Texas Department of State Health Services) was notified of the theft of a Humboldt model 5001EZ moisture density gauge containing an americium-241 source and a cesium-137 source by the licensee. The licensee did not know the activity of the sources. The licensee stated a technician was working at a job site taking measurements every thirty minutes. The technician placed the gauge on the bed of their truck after taking a reading and left it there to talk to the site foreman. When they came back to the truck the gauge was missing. The technician and site foreman looked for the gauge, but did not find it. The technician notified his supervisor who notified the licensee's Radiation Safety Officer. The licensee stated they intend to notify the service providers they use of the theft. The licensee stated the operating rod for the cesium source was locked. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300.
On March 12, 2014 at 0745 (CDT), the Agency was notified by the licensee that the moisture density gauge had been recovered. The licensee had limited information on how the gauge was located and stated they will provide additional information as soon as it can be collected and verified. It did not appear to the licensee that any member of the general public received a significant exposure due to this event. Additional information will be provided to the HOO as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Notified the R4DO(Farnholtz), FSME Events Resource via email and Mexico. Texas Incident # I-9166 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 49385 | 20 September 2013 05:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Missing Moisture Density Gauge | The following report was received from the State of Texas via email: On September 25, 2013, the Agency (Texas Department of State Health Services) was notified by a licensee that one of its Humboldt Model 5001EZ moisture/density gauges was missing and presumed stolen from its facility. The gauge (SN: 3561) contains one 10 millicurie cesium-137 source and one 40 millicurie americium-241/beryllium source. The gauge could not be located on Friday, September 20, 2013, and the licensee began a search and investigation. On Monday, September 23, 2013, it made the determination that it was missing/presumed stolen. The gauge had been secured inside a locked storage area inside the facility with the licensee's other gauges. No other gauges were missing. The licensee notified local law enforcement and a gauge sales/service company in Houston. The Agency will notify the Texas Pawnbrokers Association. An investigation into this event is ongoing. Further information will be provided as it is obtained in accordance with SA-300. (The) Houston Police Department (was notified by the licensee on 09/23/2013). Texas Report # I 9118
The following report was received via e-mail: On April 26, 2016, the Agency was notified by the licensee they had recovered the gauge reported stolen on September 23, 2013. The licensee reported they were contacted by the Houston, Texas Police Department (HPD) and informed that HPD was in possession of their missing gauge. The HPD stated they had recovered the gauge from a vacant property and they had been storing it in their impound building for about one year while they searched for the owner. The licensee will leak test, calibrate, and inspect the gauge prior to returning it to service. Notified the R4DO (Groom), ILTAB (Rockhill via e-mail), Mexico (via e-mail), and NMSS Events Resource (via e-mail). 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 48474 | 1 November 2012 05:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Damaged Moisture/Density Gauge | The following information was provided by the State of Texas via email: On November 1, 2012, the licensee notified the Agency that one of its Campbell-Pacific Model MC-3 moisture/density gauges had been run over by a pickup truck at a temporary work site in Houston, Texas. The gauge contained one 10 millicurie cesium-137 source and one 50 millicurie americium-241/beryllium source. The sources were in the safe position when it was run over. The source rod was broken off at the top of the housing. The gauge was taken to a gauge service company where it was checked. There was no leakage of radiation. A determination will be made by the licensee as to whether they will have the gauge repaired or replaced. There was no exposure to any individual as a result of this incident. "Gauge Information: Mfg: Campbell-Pacific Model: MC-3 SN: M38118595 "Source Information: cesium-137 -- 10 millicuries -- SN: C8595 americium-241/beryllium -- 50 millicuries -- A8595 Texas Incident Number: I-9005 |