Semantic search
| Start date | Reporting criterion | Title | Event description | System | LER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS 52595 | 7 March 2017 00:30:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Stuck Shutter Device | The following was received by email from the Texas Department of State Health Services: On March 7, 2017, the Agency (Texas Department of State Health Services) was contacted by a representative of the licensee to report that on the previous day a gauge was found to have a stuck shutter. The gauge is a Berthold LB 7442D with a 30 mCi Cs-137 source. The shutter is stuck in the normal operating position. The licensee is in contact with the manufacturer for a repair plan and with licensing for an exemption to operate the gauge temporarily with a stuck shutter. No exposures to the public are expected. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident #: I-9470 | ||
| ENS 51761 | 29 February 2016 06:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State - Stuck Shutter in the Normally Open Position | The following Agreement State Report was received from the State of Texas via email: On March 1, 2016, the Agency (Texas Department of State Health Services) received notice that on February 29, 2016, the licensee had discovered that a Berthold fixed gauge model MB7442D containing 30 milliCuries of cesium-137 had malfunctioned. The shutter was stuck in the open position. The gauge is normally left in the open position, and no exposure to the public is likely. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident #: I 9383
The following updated report was received from the State of Texas via facsimile: The following information was provided by the manufacturer: Celanese of Bishop, TX contacted Berthold in early March (2016), to come out and repair a LB 7442 device with a broke shutter. This device was one of many that was sold by BSI until they went out of business in (approximately) 2003. The cause of the broke shutter was corrosion that had built up on the brass shutter shaft making it hard to turn. When the Berthold service engineer was replacing the shaft he noticed that the source holder did not have a lock washer between the source holder and the source. The missing lock washer was not the cause of the broke shutter but has been an issue in the past with a plant in Wyoming that had some of the older BSI devices. Vibration caused the source to come lose from the source holder, the source dropped down into a position that prevented the shutter mechanism from cutting off the radiation beam when rotated which resulted in continuous high readings. Berthold worked with the NRC and the Wyoming plant to inspect the remaining shields to see if there were others that were missing the lock washer. It was noted that some did in fact have the lock washer in place but some did not. The sources that did not have lock washers on them were disassembled from their source holder and lock washers were added. (The manufacturer has) not seen any other records of this happening except for the FMC Corp plant in Wyoming in 2010. At Celanese, the Berthold service engineer removed the source from the source holder and added a lock washer before placing it back into the shield. It was noted by the Berthold service engineer that Celanese appeared to have more of the same devices from that era. The issue in Wyoming could have been an isolated incident but definitely worth noting. Notified R4DO (Kellar) and NMSS Events Notification. | ||
| ENS 47381 | 13 October 2011 12:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Broken Handle on Berthold Nuclear Gauge | The following was received from the state via e-mail: On October 13, 2011, the Agency (Texas Department of State Health Services) was notified by the licensee that while exercising the shutter handle on a Berthold nuclear gauge containing 20 milliCuries of cesium - 137 the handle broke off flush with the gauge housing. The gauge shutter is in the open position, which is the normal operating position of the shutter. No individual will receive any additional exposure due to the failure. The manufacture has been contacted to repair the gauge. The licensee stated that no entry to the vessel will be allowed until the gauge has been repaired. The cause for the failure is unknown at this time. Additional information will be supplied as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident Number: I-8895 | ||
| ENS 46733 | 6 April 2011 05:00:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Stuck Shutter on Ohmart Model Sh-F1 Gauge | On April 6, 2011 the Agency (State of Texas) was informed by the licensee that on April 6, 2011, while conducting shutter operational checks, the shutter on an Ohmart Model SH-F1 containing 60 millicuries of Cesium (Cs) -137 was found to be stuck in the open position. The licensee stated that this is the normal operating position for the gauge and because of its location it does not create an exposure risk to any individuals. The licensee has contacted a contractor to repair the gauge. The cause for the failure is under investigation. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA - 300. Texas Incident Number I-8832 |