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| Entered date | Event description | |
|---|---|---|
| ENS 49761 | 23 January 2014 16:21:00 | The following information was obtained from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts via email: Immediate report in accordance with 105 CMR 120.281(A)(1) of missing device containing a 100 millicurie americium-241sealed source. After (a) billing inquiry by Massachusetts Radiation Control Program (the Program) (to) the licensee about generally licensed devices registered with (the) Program, the licensee reported on January 23, 2014 that one Industrial Dynamics Co., LTD Model FT-12 device (a fill level gauge), S/N 102282, containing a 100 millicurie americium-241 sealed source, cannot be located or is missing. The licensee informed the Program that the device is obsolete and has been out of service for about 15 years and may have been returned to manufacturer or might be in storage at licensee's facilities. The licensee informed (the) Program that it is making the effort of contacting a person that may have known about the device and is conducting a search of it's storage facilities. The Program notified the licensee of it's responsibility for providing (a) written report in accordance with the requirements of 105 CMR 120.281(B). Root cause and corrective actions are not known at this time and the Program intends to make site visit. This event remains open.
The following information was obtained from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts via email: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts performed an on-site inspection on 2/17/14. Licensee has been in contact with the gauge manufacturer and has been searching numerous potential storage locations on licensee's property which covers multiple city blocks to determine possible long ago return to manufacturer or possible long-term on-site storage. There is no change in status and the device is still missing. The investigation is ongoing and the event remains OPEN. Massachusetts Event Number: 14-1155 Notified R1DO (Krohn) and FSME Event Resource via email.
The following information was obtained from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts via email: (The) licensee confirmed via telephone on 3/21/14, that subject gauge was still missing. Based on current information, the Agency (Commonwealth of Massachusetts) presumes gauge lost. The Agency considers this matter to be closed. Massachusetts Event Number: 14-1155 Notified R1DO (Welling) and FSME Event Resource 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 48135 | 26 July 2012 13:20:00 | During conversion of the former Waltham Watch Co. property to offices and apartments the property owner discovered sub-floor areas to be contaminated with radium-226 and americium-241. The consultant submitted that the property had functioned as a watch factory; that during World War II the site was used to support the war effort; and that radium was used in self-luminous paints for watches, nuclear panels, aircraft switches, clocks, and instrument dials starting in the early 1900s and was still used as late as the 1960s. The americium was likely not part of the dial painting process and may have been associated with a former tenant. The consultant reported on radioactive waste manifest dated July 24, 2012 that a total of 890 microCuries (approximately 727 microCuries of americium-241 and approximately 163 microCuries of radium-226) was removed from the property. These materials are in addition to 10 microCuries of radium-226 that was removed from the property on May 23, 2012. In aggregate, the activities of materials meet the reporting requirements of 105 CMR 120.281(A)(1). Radioactive materials discovered and removed were mostly found under layers of flooring in areas of original wood subflooring materials in apartments not yet inhabited. The americium-241 was confined to two areas whereas the radium-226 was discovered in many areas. Final status surveys performed by the consultant indicate that no radioactivity is present above natural background levels in post-remediation areas. The Agency (Massachusetts Radiation Control Program) continues to investigate this incident and has performed on-site inspection of the specifically licensed person providing decontamination and decommissioning services to the property owner of the site. 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 46579 | 1 February 2011 10:07:00 | The following Agreement State Report was received via fax: The Radiation Safety Officer of QSA Global, Inc. reported the following information on February 2, 2011, to the Massachusetts Radiation Control Program: On Wednesday, January 26, 2011, QSA shipped a radioactive (High Dose Rate) HDR source to Memorial Hospital SW Cancer Center in Houston, TX. It was scheduled to deliver on Friday, January 28. On Monday, January 31, the (common carrier) tracking website still showed it as 'At destination sort facility' in Houston, TX. (The common carrier) was called to track the package, and we (QSA Global, Inc.) were told that it was actually still in Memphis, TN. A trace was requested. The (common carrier) trace number is (redacted). (The common carrier) said they would inform us with any new information. As of this morning, Tuesday, February 1, there was no news, so (the common carrier) was called. We were informed that the package was indeed LOST. We gave (the common carrier) a physical description of the package, and informed them of the importance of locating this package due to the fact that it was radioactive. They will call with any results. The specifics of the package are as follows: Isotope - Ir-192 Activity - 10.951 Ci / 405.2. GBq Container s/n - 81C6 Source s/n - D36C-6084 Surface reading - 26.0 mr/hr Transport Index - 0.4
On February 3, 2011, the licensee notified the Agency (Massachusetts Radiation Control Program) that the missing / lost shipment was found. The licensee reported that the shipment was never actually lost. It had been delivered to the hospital on 1/27/11 under a different air way bill number and the licensee was not aware of the new number. On February 4, 2011, the Agency asked the licensee for the new air way bill number, received the new number from the licensee, and used the (common carrier) tracking system to confirm the shipment was received on January 27, 2011. Notified R1DO (Dwyer) and FSME EO (Villamar). THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Category 3 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for some hours. It could possibly - although it is unlikely - be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of days to weeks. These sources are typically used in practices such as fixed industrial gauges involving high activity sources (for example: level gauges, dredger gauges, conveyor gauges and spinning pipe gauges) and well logging. 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 45266 | 17 August 2009 13:49:00 | The following was received from the State via FAX: The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) for the University of Massachusetts - Lowell (UMASS - Lowell) reported an improper shipment of radioactive material where the package was prepared for shipment as a regular package and should have been prepared for shipment as a Class 7 (radioactive) package. On Friday, August 14, 2009, the RSO discovered, from information received by General Dynamics C4 Systems (GD), that GD received, on Tuesday, August 12, 2009 a regular package sent by UMASS-Lowell on Monday, August 10, 2009 that should have been prepared as Class 7. The package was reported by GD to UMASS-Lowell to have radiation levels of 2.6 mrad/hr at 2 cm above the package or contents of package as measured with a Ludlum G-M instrument. The RSO reports that the package contained electronic components subjected to irradiation from UMASS - Lowell's research reactor and that the radioactive materials contained in the package was likely Bromine-82. The RSO reports that he does not believe that there was any contamination discovered on the outside of the package. The RSO reports that based on calculations performed, the estimated activity of the package, for Bromine-82, was one (1) MBq and that the specific activity of bromine-82 of the samples (electronics) was likely between 42 and 170 Becquerel's/gram. The address reported for GD, the recipient of the package, is Scottsdale, AZ 85252 and any radioactive materials license number for GD was not known at time of this report. |
| ENS 43908 | 16 January 2008 16:47:00 | The Licensee's RSO reports that a total of five (5) I-125 brachytherapy seeds, each containing 0.395 millicuries (assayed January 15, 2008) (total activity of 1.975 millicuries) are missing. The Licensee's RSO reports that the seeds were likely lost during or after a procedure performed in the Licensee's operating room on January 15, 2008. The seeds were discovered to be missing on January 16, 2008 and the seeds likely were disposed of in regular trash. The Licensee's RSO reports that the missing seeds are Oncura Echo seed Model 6733 seeds. The Licensee continues to search and survey for the seeds. 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 43559 | 10 August 2007 12:12:00 | The State provided the following information via facsimile: Thermo NITON Analyzers LLC reported that it had received 10 (ten) sealed sources from Isotopes Products Laboratories (IPL) that were contaminated or leaking sources. Five (5) of the sealed sources exceeded leak test reporting limits of 0.005 microcuries (185 Bq) removable activity and five (5) sources were contaminated, but with less than 0.005 microcuries (185 Bq) removable activity. The ten (10) sealed sources were each identified as IPL Model XFB-3, each containing 40 millicuries of Cd-109. Each sealed source was individually wipe tested by Thermo NITON Analyzers LLC and each wipe test was analyzed by a licensed consultant. Thermo NITON Analyzers LLC shipped back the affected sealed sources to IPL via Federal Express Priority Overnight shipment on 8/1/07. Thermo NITON Analyzers LLC stated that IPL is in licensed possession of the sources in Burbank, CA where they are being evaluated by their quality group. The area where the source leak tests were acquired was surveyed thoroughly by Thermo NITON Analyzers LLC and no contamination was found. Thermo NITON Analyzers LLC reports that the following five (5) sources exceeded the reporting limit of 0.005 microcuries by the amount indicated. 1. Serial Number NR9014 was 1.02 times the state limit of 0.005 microcuries. 2. Serial Number NR9012 was 1.08 times the state limit of 0.005 microcuries. 3. Serial Number NR9019 was 1.00 times the state limit of 0.005 microcuries. 4. Serial Number NR9020 was 2.46 times the state limit of 0.005 microcuries. 5. Serial Number NR9011 was 2.88 times the state limit of 0.005 microcuries. Thermo NITON Analyzers LLC reports that the following five (5) sources were contaminated but did not exceed the reporting limit of 0.005 microcuries. The percent of the limit is reported below. 1. Serial Number NR9016 was 44% of the state limit of 0.005 microcuries. 2. Serial Number NR9013 was 18% of the state limit of 0.005 microcuries. 3. Serial Number NR9015 was 34% of the state limit of 0.005 microcuries. 4. Serial Number NR9018 was 42% of the state limit of 0.005 microcuries. 5. Serial Number NR9017 was 26% of the state limit of 0.005 microcuries". |
| ENS 44022 | 29 February 2008 16:39:00 | Avery Dennison, a General Licensee, reported to the Agency (MA Bureau of Environmental Health) via telephone at 10:15 a.m. on February 26, 2008 that two static eliminator devices are believed to be missing. Avery Dennison reported that one device was sent to the manufacturer in July, 2007 but that the manufacturer never received it. Avery Dennison reported that another device was in a box and it was tossed. The Agency followed up with the Licensee and the Manufacturer (NRD, LLC) of the devices and confirmed that the following two devices are believed to be missing: Device 1: NRD, LLC Model P-2001-080, s/n A2EV025, containing 181.1 millicuries of Po-210 Device 2: NRD, LLC Model P-2001-080, s/n A2FM086, containing 181.1 millicuries of Po-210 Device 1 has an approximate assay date of January 3, 2006. Device 2 has an approximate assay date of January 12, 2007. The Agency has scheduled a site visit with cognizant individuals to investigate the matter. Notified R1DO (Doerflein), FSME EO (Bubar) and ILTAB 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. |
| ENS 42793 | 22 August 2006 12:09:00 | The State provided the following information via facsimile: As a result of re-labeling effort by Thermo Niton Analyzers LLC (Thermo Niton) to add Am-241 check source information to the device label, the Radiation Safety Officer of Thermo Niton discovered that the device is lost or missing and provided the following information: With regard to Unit 5213 (Model XLi 848, serial number 5213), we (Thermo Niton) have visited Morris Iron and Steel in person to re-label Unit 5213 and they did not have it in their inventory of devices. An exhaustive review of our (Thermo Niton) records indicate that the last time we (Thermo Niton) were in possession of this device was when we (Thermo Niton) sent it to Morris Iron and Steel at 7345 Milnor Street, Philadelphia, PA 19136 under General License on 9/17/04. The device had 40 mCi (millicuries) Cd-109 source (reference date 4/23/02), a 20 mCi Fe-55 source (reference date 4/20/02), and a 1 microCurie Am-241 Check Shutter source. Morris claims to have sent it back to us but has not been able to produce a tracking number or any other evidence of their shipment. We (Thermo Niton) have contacted Federal Express who is our primary carrier and they have reportedly not maintained records of shipments going back that far. We (Thermo Niton) have also contacted Valley Safety Services who performs leak tests for us and many of our customers and they have not leak tested this device for anyone since prior to 9/14/04. We (Thermo Niton) have put a flag in our database system that will automatically flag us if the device is received here at any time in the future. As of 8/22/06, the approximate calculated activities of the sources are 3.8 milliCuries for the Cd-109 source; 6.6 millicuries for the Fe-55 source and 1 microCurie for the Am-241 check source. 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. 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 40986 | 26 August 2004 11:21:00 | AEA reports that an AEA Model PDM.1002.Hn Series static eliminator device, containing approximately 3 millicuries of polonium-210 was returned from a customer and found to be leaking. A wipe survey of the NRD, Inc. Model P-001 foil sealed source contained in the device measured 0.008 microcuries of polonium-210. Wipe survey of the outside package detected no contamination. The device was received from AEA's customer, Hank Graff Chevrolet in Davidson, MI. on August 19, 2004. AEA contacted the sealed source manufacturer, NRD, Inc. AEA Technology QSA, Inc. (AEA) sealed the source in a plastic bag and the immediate area was checked for further contamination. No contamination other than what was on the source was found. AEA contacted the source manufacturer, NRD, Inc. An investigation is pending. The Agency will notify the U.S. NRC and the State of New York as applicable to the device customer site and source manufacturer site jurisdiction. |