Semantic search
| Start date | Reporting criterion | Title | Event description | System | LER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS 55862 | 27 April 2022 16:48:00 | Agreement State | Damaged Moisture Density Gauge | The following is a summary of information received from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment by e-mail: The licensee reported a damaged Troxler 3430 portable moisture density gauge (SN:24886) containing Am-241/Be (SN:4721079) and Cs-137 (SN:757025) sources. The gauge fell out of the back of a truck onto an interstate highway while in transit. Pieces of the gauge are on the interstate as a result of vehicles running over the gauge and the licensee is attempting to retrieve them. The licensee intends to contact the police to help cordon off the affected area to support retrieval of the remaining pieces and conduct surveys. A search is ongoing and some of the pieces of the gauge have not been accounted for. CO Incident Number: CO220013 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 53682 | 11 September 2018 04:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Damaged Moisture Density Gauge | The following was received from the State of New York by fax: Terracon Consultants reported that a moisture/density gauge (Troxler model 3430P, serial #70428, containing 0.30 GBq (8 mCi) Cs137 and 1.48 GBq (40 mCi) Am-Be source) was damaged at a mass fill project in Rochester, NY. The source manufacturer and serial number are not yet available. While at a mass fill project in Rochester, NY, a technician had completed a round of density testing and placed the gauge within a roped off area at the end of the fill area. He then walked to his truck approximately 100 feet away to get water. During that time, a 10-ton single drum roller moving in reverse headed towards the roped off area and gauge. The technician noticed the operator approaching the gauge as he walked back towards it and yelled and tried to gain the attention of the roller operator. The rear rubber tire of the roller impacted the side of the gauge and damaged the plastic covering. The technician cordoned off the area 15 feet around the gauge and surveyed the operator and roller. The technician called their office manager and a regional manager (who happened to be in their office) and went to the site and surveyed the gauge and all parties/equipment involved and it did not appear that the gauge was leaking. The gauge was visually inspected for damage and it appeared that only the top case was damaged, the gauge was still operational, and the source rod was fully enclosed in the gauge. The gauge was returned to its transport case and returned to its permanent storage location in Rochester, NY. The gauge will be transported for repair and leak testing. An internal root cause analysis and follow up training with the technician will be set in place with their corporate RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) in the next few days. NY EVENT REPORT ID NO. NY-18-02 | ||
| ENS 52983 | 21 September 2017 12:59:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Damaged Gauge at Construction Site | The following report was received from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control via email: The licensee notified the Department (South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control) that a piece of heavy equipment backed over a Instrotek Model 3500 moisture density gauge serial number 2323. The gauge contained 10 mCi of Cs-137 and 40 Ci of Am-241:Be. The gauge operator had contacted his RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) at the time of the incident. The BRH (Bureau of Radiation Health) inspector arrived on scene. The gauge was surveyed and tested for removable contamination. The highest reading found was on the bottom of the gauge at the shutter. The shutter was in the closed position. The reading was 15 mR/hr which is consistent with the radiation profile identified in SSD NC-1241-D-101-S. There was no removable contamination found. | ||
| ENS 51541 | 16 November 2015 16:15:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Damaged Density Moisture Gauge | The following was received from the State of Tennessee via email: On November 16, 2015, a neutron soil density and moisture gauge belonging to Terracon Consultants, Inc. was run over by a dump truck. The source was fully retracted at the time of the incident. Initial surveys have indicated that the source remained in the shielded position after the incident. A leak test has been taken and sent off for evaluation. The device was a CPN MCIDR (SN# MD40407363) with 50 mCi of Am-241 Be (Source #7363) and 10 mCi of Cs-137 (Source #7363). The licensee placed the device 'out of service'. On November 16, 2015, the device will remain in shielded storage until Terracon Consultants, Inc. decides what they are going to do with it. A follow-up report will be submitted upon receipt of further information. Tennessee State Event Report ID No: TN-15-168 | ||
| ENS 45410 | 3 October 2009 19:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report Involving a Stolen Troxler Moisture Density Gauge | At approximately 1400 CDT on 10/3/09, a Terracon Consultants Ford Ranger pickup truck was stolen from the Powell Replacement Elementary School construction site in Chicago, IL. In the bed of the truck was a Troxler Model 3430 Moisture Density Gauge. These gauges typically contain two (2) radioactive sources; 8 millicuries Cs-137 and 40 millicuries Am-241:Be. The Chicago Police Department was informed of the theft and subsequently located the abandoned vehicle approximately two (2) miles away from the construction site at about 2300 CDT on 10/3. The vehicle had been ransacked and both the storage container and gauge were missing. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency informed the Illinois State Police (ISP) Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center (STIC) and will followup with additional details as they become available.
The serial number of the missing Troxler Model 3430 Moisture Density Gauge is S/N 32686. The state also confirmed the quantities of material in the gauge. Notified R3DO(Daley), FSME(Villamar), and ILTAB 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 43497 | 17 July 2007 16:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Lost Moisture Density Gauge | The State provided the following information via email: At approximately 9:00 AM July 17, 2007, the Agency was informed that the Licensee had a gauge in a pickup truck traveling north from 67 Avenue and Lower Buckeye to I-10 noticed at the I-10 ramp the gauge was missing. He began the trip at approximately 7:00 AM. The Gauge case was secured in the truck as required. He did not put the gauge in the case however. The gauge is a Troxler Model 3430, Serial Number 39005 and contains 8 mCi of Cesium-137 and 40 mCi Am:Be-241. The Company plans a press release and will offer a reward for the gauge. Phoenix PD is investigating. The Agency continues to investigate this event. The states of CA, NV, CO, UT, and NM and Mexico and U.S. NRC and FBI are being notified of this event. Arizona report number: 07-010
The gauge has been recovered. It was found by a street sweeper. It was not opened and no radiation exposures appear to have occurred. The states of CA, NV, CO, UT, and NM and Mexico and U.S. NRC and FBI are being notified of this event. Notified the R4DO (Smith), FSME (Thorp), ILTAB (via e-mail) , Mexico (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. |