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| Start date | Reporting criterion | Title | Event description | System | LER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS 54173 | 17 July 2019 07:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Stolen Moisture-Density Gauge | The following was received via e-mail: On 07/17/19, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services contacted the Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) to report a stolen moisture-density gauge. The gauge involved is a Troxler Model 3450A, S/N 483, containing 9 mCi of Cs-137 and 44 mCi of Am-241. The gauge was stolen out of a gauge technician's truck parked at a Motel 6 parking lot around 2100 PDT in Oakland, CA. The user had immediately called the Oakland Police Department and was advised to call back at a later time. On the morning of 7/18/19, the Oakland Police Department was contacted again and they declined to take a report due to high volume of incidents. The gauge was chained to the bed of the truck and there were guards present at the parking lot. The licensee will be posting a reward for the safe return of the gauge. RHB will be following up on this investigation. California 5010 Number: 071719 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 53755 | 26 November 2018 08:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Loss or Theft of Moisture Density Gauge | The following report was received from the State of California via email: On November 26, 2018, at approximately 1015 (PST) .., (the) RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) of RMA Group, Radioactive Materials License #8054-37, contacted RHB (Radiologic Health Branch) Brea concerning the moisture/density gauge, Troxler 3430, Cs-137 serial #750-4104, Am-241 serial #47-26740 (Cs-137, 0.333 GBq, Am-241, 1.6 GBq) that had been found missing during a semi-annual inventory of the radioactive gauges possessed at the permanent storage facility at 6976 Convoy Court, San Diego, CA 92111. (The RSO) will contact local law enforcement in San Diego and will fill out a police report with them. A copy of the theft report will be forwarded to the RHB Brea office to be included as part of this report. (The RSO) will contact local newspapers to attempt to retrieve the stolen radioactive gauge as well as notifying local servicing vendors of radioactive gauges to be alert for the serial number of the stolen gauge in case it turns up for service. The investigation will continue to determine if the radioactive gauge can be found and determination can be made on how it was lost at the permanent storage location. This is being reported to the NRC Operations Center as a 24-hour report under 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) since the radioactive gauge has been lost and it can not be determined what condition the sources are currently in. 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 52975 | 17 September 2017 07:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Found Troxler Gauge | The following is a report emailed from the California Department of Public Health, Radiologic Health Branch (RHB): On 09/18/17, RHB received a call from an employee at an unlicensed facility (Clorox Company) in Fairfield, CA, regarding recovery of a lost/stolen moisture density gauge. The gauge is a Troxler Model 3450, S/N 1083 gauge containing approximately 9 mCi of Cs-137 and 44 mCi of Am-241. On Sunday afternoon (09/17/17) one of the Clorox employees noticed a locked container left on the side of the street in front of their facility. On Monday (9/18/17) morning, the locked container was noticed to have been moved farther from the road and closer to their facility. Clorox called Troxler and Fairfield Police, but neither could pick up the container. The Clorox employee then contacted RHB, and received instruction on how to safely store the container until RHB arrives at the facility. RHB picked up the gauge the same day and brought it back to the storage facility at the Richmond Regional office. A survey performed by RHB at the Clorox facility using a Thermo Scientific Rad Eye B20, S/N 30744, calibrated 03/09/17, indicated 0.4 mR/hr at one meter, which is a typical reading for a moisture density gauge in its transportation container. The type A transportation container appeared to be in good condition and was locked with two padlocks. RHB had the padlocks cut, and located a copy of a license indicating the gauge belongs to RMA Group in Rancho Cordova, CA (License # 7565-34). RHB has not received any notification from the licensee regarding a lost or stolen gauge. RHB will be contacting the licensee to follow up on this incident. California 5010 Number: 091817 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 52339 | 1 November 2016 07:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Stolen Moisture Density Gauge | The following report was received from the State of California via email: On November 1, 2016, the RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) of RMA Group, contacted RHB ICE (State of California, Radiation Health Branch, Inspection, Compliance, and Enforcement Section) to report the theft of a moisture density gauge from the gauge user's pickup truck while he was home for lunch (in Grand Terrance, CA). The nuclear gauge was inside a Type A transportation box was reportedly chained and secured properly but the chains were found cut. Troxler Labs model 3430, # 24568, contains 0.3 GBq of Cs-137 and 1.48 GBq of Am-241/Be. A power generator and other assorted equipment was also stolen. (The RSO) will notify the local newspaper to place a Reward Notice for information leading to the safe return of the gauge. (The RSO) was asked to obtain a detailed report from the authorized gauge user. The gauge's theft was reported to San Bernardino Police Dept. as well as the local calibration facilities were alerted of anyone bringing the gauge to them for service. (The State of California) RHB requested a copy of the police report and newspaper notice. California State Report 5010 Number: 110116 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 50512 | 6 October 2014 07:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Stolen Troxler Gauge | The following was received from State of California via email: On October 6, 2014, at approximately 1245 (PDT), (Deleted), RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) of RMA Group, RML (Radioactive Materials License) #2700-36, contacted RHB (Radiological Health Branch) Brea concerning the moisture/density gauge, Troxler, model 3430, serial number 28356 (Cs-137, 0.3 GBq, Am-241, 1.50 GBq) that had been stolen from a transport vehicle in front of a private residence in El Monte at approximately 0700 (PDT). (The RSO) has contacted the Local Law Enforcement officials in El Monte to request an investigation of the private residence where the Troxler radioactive gauge was taken and to take the report of the authorized user that was in possession of the gauge prior to the theft. A copy of the theft report will be sent to RHB Brea as part of this report. (The RSO) will utilize local papers to attempt to retrieve the stolen gauge as well as notifying local servicing vendors of radioactive gauges to be alert of the serial number of the stolen gauge in case it turns up for any of their services. The investigation will continue to determine if the radioactive gauge can be recovered in a reasonable time frame. This is being reported to the NRC Operations Center as a 24-hour report under 10CFR30.50(b)(2) since the radioactive gauge has been stolen and it cannot be determined what condition the sources are currently in. California Event No.: 100614 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 46622 | 16 February 2011 08:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Lost Moisture Density Gauge Source | The following information was received by email: On February 16, 2011, RHB (California Radiologic Health Branch) South RM (Radiologic Materials) was contacted by the (licensee) RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) of RMA Group, concerning a loss of the Cs-137 source from a Troxler model 3430 (S/N 25220) moisture density gauge (8 mCi Cs-137, SN 758021, 40 mCi Am:Be-241, SN 4721490). (The licensee RSO) stated that the Troxler gauge was in use at a construction site located at the on/off ramp of Interstate 10 at North Indian Canyon Drive, near Palm Springs in early February (sometime between Feb. 3 and Feb. 8, 2011). (The licensee RSO) stated that operator noticed that the readings taken had dropped significantly from his previous readings and thought that the computer in the gauge had malfunctioned and the gauge was returned to their facility and stored until it was taken in for service at Southwest Calibration and Training LN 7567 (SWCT) on February 14 or 15. On the afternoon of February 16, 2011, (The licensee RSO) was contacted by SWCT that the Cs-137 source pellets were missing due to the cap of the source capsule breaking off at the weld. (The licensee RSO) stated that Troxler service was consulted and that they were informed that this was an issue that had occurred twice previously in the past 6 years and that they had requested that the source rod be returned to them to allow them to determine how the break had occurred. (The licensee RSO) stated that he had been given a survey meter to be used to attempt to find the source. (The licensee RSO) stated that a survey of the storage area of their Rancho Cucamonga facility (all of the other gauges were out being used at the time) and the vehicle used to transport the gauge when the incident was likely to have occurred and did not find the source. (The licensee RSO) stated that he would attempt to find the sources at the construction site in the morning when he had determined the area that the gauge was in use when the incident occurred. (The licensee RSO) stated that the source may have already been buried under 10 inches of fill (soil) and 8-10 inches of asphalt, but he was not absolutely sure. (The licensee RSO) was informed that a 30 day report was required to be submitted to (the RHB) office. On February 17, 2011, (RHB) confirmed that the damaged gauge had never had any incidents or trauma that potentially could have resulted in damage to the source capsule and that the construction site was on N. Indian Canyon Drive at one of the on/off ramps to Interstate 10. The results of the search for the missing source and a confirmation of the exact location of the incident will be forwarded to NMED when the RSO has confirmed the information. An investigation into the cause of the damage of the source capsule and possible location of the source capsule is ongoing." 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 |