Semantic search
| Entered date | Event description | |
|---|---|---|
| ENS 51261 | 24 July 2015 17:24:00 | The following information was received from the State of Arizona via email: On July 22, 2015, the licensee reported that they lost one gaseous tritium light source on approximately July 12, 2015. The licensee was removing each source from its subsequent device in order to make disposal more efficient. The lost source was part of a TLS Model 42000 drogue light. The model 42000 drogue light consists of two 450 millicuries (November 1988 assay date) mb-Microtec Model T4376-1 gaseous tritium light sources mounted in a stainless steel assembly. The sources are held in place with silicone. To remove the sources from the drogue light, the silicone (containing two sources) is removed from the stainless steel housing. The silicone is then placed in solvent to soften it. Once the silicone is soft, the sources are removed with little effort and with little or no silicone adhering to the source. The sources were placed in the solvent on July 12, 2015 and the nonradioactive components of the assemblies, including the silicone, were discarded as regular trash on that date. The source removal and consolidation was completed for all legacy sources on July 22, 2015, at which time, a complete inventory was performed and one source was discovered to be missing. The missing tritium source has a current activity of 100 millicuries. The Agency (Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency is continuing to investigate the event. Arizona First Notice: 15-017 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 50019 | 9 April 2014 19:02:00 | The following information was received from the State of Arizona via email: On April 8, 2014, the Agency was contacted by the Licensee who indicated that an employee and a Troxler Gauge was missing. The licensee was informed around 6:00 AM that the employee did not show up on a job on the Indian Reservation. The licensee has notified both the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. The gauge is a Troxler Model 3430, Serial Number 7052 containing 9 millicuries of Cesium-137 and 45 millicuries of Am-241. The individual was discovered to have had a diabetic coma and the gauge was still with the individual and the licensee is sending another operator to retrieve the gauge. The individual is in Gallup, NM. The investigation into this event is ongoing. The U.S. NRC, New Mexico, and Arizona Governor's Office have been notified of this event. Arizona First Notice: 14-006
The Troxler Gauge has been recovered and is in the licensee's possession at their Flagstaff, AZ office. 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 48307 | 14 September 2012 13:22:00 | The following report was received from the State of Arizona via email: At approximately 9:00 AM September 13, 2012, the (Arizona Radiation Regulatory) Agency was informed that the Licensee had a Humboldt Model 5001, SN 3920, portable gauge stolen from the back of a truck. The theft occurred between 9:00 PM September 12, 2012, and 6:00 AM September 13, 2012. The gauge was locked in a 16 gauge steel box bolted to the bed of the truck which was parked unattended at an employee's resident. The gauge contains 370 MBq (10 mCi) of Cesium-137 and 1.62 GBq (44 mCi) of Am:Be-241. El Mirage PD is investigating and has issued report number 12-09000902. The Agency continues to investigate this event. The Governor's Office, the States of CA, NV, CO, UT and NM and Mexico, US NRC, and FBI are being notified of this event. Arizona Event Number: 12-020
NOTE: The following information was originally provided as a new report by the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency. After additional information was obtained on 2/1/13 all information was combined into the original report concerning this event. The following information was received from the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency via email: The Agency (Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency), in checking a scrap metal shipment being returned to Glendale, Arizona from California, found a source rod from a moisture density gauge. No other parts of a moisture density gauge were identifiable in the shipment. Based upon experience, it is estimated that the source contained approximately 8 millicuries of Cesium-137. It was confirmed in the field that Cesium-137 was the only isotope present. The Agency was unable to locate any identifying markings with which to trace the source. The Agency has taken possession of the source and has stored the device in a secure location. The Agency continues to investigate this event. This notice is being provided to the State of California, US NRC, and FBI. Arizona Event Report: First Notice 13-005. Notified R4DO (Walker). Notified FSME Events Resource via E-mail.
The following was received from the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency via email: The Agency, in checking a scrap metal shipment being returned to Glendale, AZ from Taiwan through California, found a source rod from a moisture density gauge. No other parts of a moisture density gauge were identifiable in the shipment. The manufacturer, Humboldt, estimated the source as approximately 10 millicuries of Cesium-137. We did confirm in the field that Cesium-137 was the only isotope present. Based on the identifying numbers found on the source rod this is part of Humboldt Model 5001, SN3920, reported stolen September 13, 2012. See First Notice 12-020 sent out September 14, 2012. The Americium-241 source has not been located. The Agency has taken possession of the Cesium-137 source and will store it in a secure location. Arrangements for proper disposal are being made. The Agency continues to investigate this event. This notice is being provided to the State of California, US NRC, and FBI. Arizona Event Report: Supplemental Notice 13-005. Notified R4DO (Walker) and ILTAB (Johnson). Notified FSME Events Resource and Mexico 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 This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source. |
| ENS 44204 | 12 May 2008 18:54:00 | The following information was provided by the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency via email on 5/12/08 @ 1854 EST: By letter dated May 7, 2008, the Licensee reported that their contractor had detected a broken 20 curie tritium exit sign at their Glendale store. A second contractor with a Certified Health Physicist, was called in to decontaminate and investigate the circumstances on April 25, 2008. The second contractor found up to 16,900 dpm/100 cm2 removable contamination on the wall where the sign had been located. On the floor beneath the sign, the contractor reported contamination up to 1,400 dpm/cm2. The date of breakage is unknown and could have actually occurred up to one year prior to discovery. The device was a SRS Technologies, Inc. Serial number 304150, 20. The sign has been shipped to Canada to Shield Source, Inc., a Canadian licensee. The Agency is investigating the delay in reporting this event since the report was not made within 24 hours. |
| ENS 43831 | 10 December 2007 16:36:00 | The State provided the following information via email: At approximately 2:30 PM on December 3, 2007 the Agency was notified that a Cesium 131 seed was found to be leaking. The source was an IsoRay Medical, Inc., Model CS-1, 3.12 milliCuries. The seed became jammed in the Mick applicator cartridge. The patient bed, the OR (Operating Room), and trash all surveyed clean. Upon opening the cartridge, contamination was discovered. One person received some contamination of their hands which was removed within 15 minutes. The licensee estimates the exposure to the hands of that individual as less than 50 rems. The source has been secured for decay and ultimate disposal. The Agency (Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency) continues to investigate this event. The U.S. NRC is being notified of this event. |
| ENS 43130 | 29 January 2007 17:05:00 | Following Agreement State Report was received via facsimile. At approximately 9:00 AM January 29, 2007, the Agency was informed that the Licensee had a Nuclear Density Gauge stolen from the back of a pickup truck, while the user was at his residence. The missing gauge is a CPN Model MC-3 gauge, SN 8853. The theft occurred between 4 - 6:15 AM on January 29, 2007. The gauge contains 8 mCi (milliCuries) of Cesium-137 and 40 mCi (milliCuries) Am:Be-241. The Phoenix PD is investigating and issued report number 2007-701-92664. The Licensee is offering a $500.00 reward for the recovery of the source. A press release is to be made by the licensee. The Agency continues to investigate. First Notice: 07-001 The states of CA, NV, CO, UT , NM, and U.S. NRC , FBI and Mexico are being notified of this event.
On February 29, 2007, MRM notified this Agency that at 3:15 that afternoon, MRM had received a phone call from a private citizen that some person had tried to sell the gauge to them. The gauge was retrieved in good working condition by the licensee. Local authorities were notified by the licensee. Notified R4DO (Powers), FSME EO (Wastler) and Mexico (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. |
| ENS 42796 | 23 August 2006 13:20:00 | The State provided the following information via e-mail: At approximately 12:30 PM 8/18/2006 the Agency was informed by the Licensee that a patient receiving Iodine 131 therapy was discharged 8/16/2006. The Radiation Safety Staff proceeded to clean the patient's room. The containment items were placed into a plastic bag. The bag was transported to the waste storage area, where the Staff was unable to unlock the door. Security was called and they were unable to open the door. The Staff then moved the materials to the nuclear medicine preparation room which could be locked. The trash read 1.3mr/hr at the surface. The trash was not marked as being radioactive. Upon arrival the next day, the Staff discovered that the cleaning crew had removed the trash. The cleaning crew were trained that if the trash is not marked 'Radioactive' they were to remove it. They attempted to catch the trash before removal to the landfill, but they were unsuccessful. The Staff also went to the landfill and attempted to recover the trash but were unsuccessful. The material represents minimal public health risk if disposed into the landfill. The Agency continues to investigate the event. Press coverage is not anticipated. First Notice: 06-07 |
| ENS 42325 | 9 February 2006 17:51:00 | The following information was received via facsimile: At approximately 6:20 PM February 8, 2006, the Agency was informed that the Licensee had lost a Nuclear Density Gauge from the back of a pickup truck, while working in the area of Southern and Cortez Roads in Apache Junction, Arizona. The missing gauge is a CPN Model MC-3 gauge, SN M37037422. The disappearance occurred between 1 PM and 2 PM on February 8, 2006. The gauge contains 8 mCi of Cesium-137 and 40 mCi Am:Be-241. The Licensee is offering a $500.00 reward for the recovery of the sources. A press release is to be made. Please contact Alf Wold, Operations Manager for Alpha Geotechnical. The Agency continues to investigate. The states of CA, NV, CO, UT, and NM and Mexico and U.S. NRC and FBI are being notified of this event. Arizona First Notice: 05-11 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. |
| ENS 41669 | 5 May 2005 16:06:00 | The State provided the following information via facsimile: At approximately 1:35 PM May 4, 2005, the Agency (Arizona Radiation Regulatory) was informed that the Licensee had determined they were missing a Portable Gauge, Troxler Model 3440, SN 19964. The missing gauge was in storage at the company's location at 1335 West Auto Drive, Tempe, Arizona. The gauge was last accounted for when logged into the secured storage room at 6:30 PM on 4/27/2005. The RSO stated that no one had broken into the building. The gauge contains 8 mCi of Cesium-137 and 40 mCi Am:Be-241. Tempe PD is investigating and has issued report number 05-073866 The Licensee is offering a $500.00 reward for the recovery of the sources. A press release is to be made. The Agency continues to look for the source. The states of CA, NV, CO, UT, and NM and Mexico and U.S. NRC and FBI are being notified of this event. |
| ENS 40237 | 9 October 2003 18:08:00 | At approximately 2:15 PM (MST) October 9, 2003 the Agency was informed by the Licensee that a truck carrying a moisture-density gauge had been involved in a single vehicle accident and the driver is dead. The reporting individual indicated that they were informed of the accident by the Department of Public Safety. The accident occurred on AZ Highway 260 between Bridgeport and Camp Verde. The moisture-density gauge is a Troxler Model 3440, SN 27494. The device contained 40 mCi Be:Am-241 and 8 mCi Cs-137 (mCi=millicuries). The device remained in the transporting box inside a locked steel box in bed of pick up. The Licensee is trying to retrieve (it) from law enforcement for storage and leak test. (It is) Currently in an impound yard in Mayer, AZ. Agency continues to receive information regarding this fatality. The Agency is unaware of any press coverage regarding radioactive materials. The U.S. NRC is being notified of this event. AZ First Notice: 03-19
The leak test was negative. It appears the driver was not wearing his seat belt. Notified NMSS (D. Broaddus) and R4DO (G. SANBORN) |
| ENS 40180 | 19 September 2003 13:00:00 | At approximately 1:00 PM September 17, 2003 the Agency was informed of a medical event. The reporting individual indicated that in the course of treating a breast cancer, a saline filled balloon was used to aid in positioning the HDR source, Iridium 192, approximately 9.589 curies. Starting September 15, 2003, a series of 10 fractional treatments was prescribed. Between each, an ultra sound image was made to assure the continued proper placement of the source. The ultra sound technician indicated all was ok for all treatments. After the series was completed, the balloon was deflated for removal and the physician then noted that the balloon had ruptured. A review of the retained ultra sound images indicated (that) starting with treatment 7 the balloon was deflated. The doses were recalculated and the tissue dose was 40 (percent) higher than prescribed. The adjacent skin dose was calculated to be 266 cGy (centigray) rather than the 175 cGy (centigray) as originally calculated. The licensee has proposed corrective measures to prevent a recurrence of this event. The balloon manufacturer has been informed of this event. The patient has been informed of the event. The medical review indicates some additional fat necrosis and possible inflammation may occur. It will be reviewed as a part of the patient follow up. |
| ENS 40102 | 25 August 2003 23:22:00 | At approximately 9:30 AM MST August 25, 2003, the Agency was informed by the Licensee that they had discovered a source had disconnected from a rod in the Process Leaching Vessel. The source contains 3 Curies of Cobalt 60 as of October 2001. The licensee has made measurements and determined the radiation levels outside the vessel are not excessive. The device is a ThermoMeasure Tech Model 5031 L SN B43. Even though the source is disconnected, because it is trapped within a sealed source guide tube, it is still secure from inadvertent removal. The estimated date for full repair is October 21, 2003. Repair will be made by the device manufacturer. The Licensee has agreed not to drain the vessel without Agency notice and approval. The Agency continues to investigate this incident. The Agency is: ARIZONA RADIATION REGULATORY AGENCY. First Notice: 03-13 |