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ENS 5586427 April 2022 17:10:00The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via e-mail: On April 27, 2022, the Agency received a notification from the licensee that the drive mechanism on their Theratronics T708C teletherapy device failed in the shielded position. The device contains 5,042 Curies of Co-60. The licensee stated that while starting a procedure at around 0915 hours CDT on April 27, 2022, the technician found that the source would not move out from the shield. There were no exposures as a result of this event. The licensee contacted a service company and scheduled a repair. An investigation is ongoing. TX Incident Number: I-9926
ENS 5570514 January 2022 17:13:00The following report was received by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency): On January 14, 2022, the Agency was notified by the licensee that a Troxler model 3430 was damaged at a temporary job site. The gauge contains a 40 millicurie americium - 241 source and an 8 millicurie cesium - 137 source. The gauge was run over by a Bobcat machine, damaging the gauge body and separating the cesium source rod and handle from the base of the device. The cesium source was in the fully shielded position at the time of impact. The cesium source was determined to be intact and still attached to the source rod. The technician contacted the radiation safety officer (RSO). The RSO visually inspected the device, returned the device to its transport container, and confirmed that the radiation profile had not changed from the manufacturer's specifications. The gauge was returned to the licensee's facility. The gauge will be sent to the manufacturer. No individual received a significant exposure due to this event. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas State Incident Number: I-9910
ENS 5543730 August 2021 15:49:00The following was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: On August 30, 2021, a licensee reported to the Agency a package delivered to the licensee containing 39 mCi of Tc-99m had removable contamination on the exterior of the package of approximately 652 dpm/cm^2. The package arrived at about 1045 CDT. The licensee discovered the contamination during the routine package check-in survey at around 1130 CDT. The licensee confirmed that the vial inside the container was intact and that the contamination was only on the exterior of the package. The licensee notified the shipper and carrier of the contamination. An investigation into this event is ongoing. Texas Incident Number: 9879
ENS 555593 November 2021 16:21:00The following information was received from the State of Texas via email: On November 3, 2021, a licensee reported a moisture density gauge was discovered missing on August 30, 2021. The licensee's attempts to locate the gauge were unsuccessful. The licensee last had eyes on the gauge during the previous inventory in January of 2021. The gauge is a Humbolt model 5001 serial 7442 containing 10 mCi of Cs-137 with serial 2376CZ and 40 mCi of Am-241 with serial 404-09. The empty transport container with locks on the latches was present at the licensee's storage location. The gauge may not be inside a transport container. The licensee was unsure if a lock was present on the source rod. The incident was reported to the local police department. More information will be provided per SA 300 as it is obtained. Texas incident no.: 9892 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 5533230 June 2021 12:26:00The following report was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: On June 30, 2021, the Agency was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that a Troxler model 3440P was stolen from a truck parked overnight at a technician's home. The gauge contains a 40 milliCurie americium - 241 source and an 8 milliCurie cesium - 137 source. The technician had taken the gauge home on June 29, 2021. The gauge was inside a locked transport container that was located inside a locked metal container which was chained with two independent chains and locked to the back of the truck. The chains were cut and the metal container was stolen. The technician went to their truck at 0530 (CDT) hours on June 30, 2021, and discovered the theft. The technician spoke with neighbors that told him their dogs were barking at around 0230 (CDT) hours, and he suspects this may have been when the gauge was stolen. The RSO stated the operating arm was locked in the shielded position and that local law enforcement (Fort Worth Police) was notified. Texas Incident Number: 9862 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 5500824 November 2020 18:58:00The following information was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: On November 24, 2020, the Agency was contacted by the radiation safety officer (RSO) of a Texas licensee reporting that two self-luminescent tritium exit signs were not able to be located. The signs are Sealed Source Inc. Isolite signs each containing 7.5 curies (original activity) of tritium manufactured in April of 2015. The RSO stated that the area they were in had some work done and that he believes the signs may have been thrown into construction dumpsters after being replaced. The signs were first discovered missing on November 11, 2020. The RSO has been actively searching for the signs but as of today he has determined that they are no longer at the facility. The RSO stated that he will attempt to determine the final disposition of the construction dumpsters believed to have contained the devices. Additional information will be provided as it is received. Texas Incident Number: 9814 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 5448216 January 2020 14:47:00The following was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: On January 16, 2020, the Agency was notified by a licensee of a source disconnect event. The licensee stated that on January 15, 2020, a crew using a QSA Spec-150 camera with 76 Curies of iridium-192 were unable to retract the source back into the camera. The source was recovered and returned to the shielded position. The licensee suspects that the source was not properly connected to the drive cable, allowing the source to be pushed inside the guide tube but unable to retract it. The licensee stated that the individuals that performed the recovery received 50 mR to 60 mR of exposure, and that no overexposures are suspected as a result of the event. Investigation is ongoing. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident #: 9732
ENS 543052 October 2019 11:09:00The following was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: On October 2, 2019, a licensee reported to the Agency that they could not locate one of their Industrial Nuclear Co. IR-100 radiography cameras (S/N: 4414) containing an Iridium-192 source (S/N: 850D) with approximately 6 Curies of activity. The licensee stated that he believed the source was located at one of his satellite locations in Orange, Texas. The loss was discovered after performing an inventory check. The licensee has initiated an investigation and is currently searching for the device. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident #: 9718 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 Note: This device is assigned an IAEA Category 3 value based on the actual radioactivity of the source, not on the device type. (Reference IAEA RG-G-1.9)
ENS 5417722 July 2019 12:30:00The following is a synopsis of information received verbally and via email from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency): On July 22, 2019, the Agency (Texas Department of State Health Services) received a report from Harris County Hazmat that at approximately 0715 CDT a Harris County Region 3 Constable had found a Spec-150 radiography camera (s/n:1763), containing a 39 curie Ir-192 source, at the intersection of Miller Road 2 and State Highway 90 in Houston. While recovering the radiography camera, the Constable was approached by the radiographer who had lost the camera. Apparently the radiographer had placed the camera on the tailgate of his vehicle and failed to secure it before driving to a gas station. While driving away from the gas station, the radiographer noticed a law enforcement officer holding what appeared to be a radiography camera. The radiographer stopped, checked for his camera, and discovered that it was not in his possession. That is when the radiographer approached the Constable. After verification, the radiography camera was returned to the licensee. An investigation is ongoing. Texas Incident #: 9696 THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 2" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Category 2 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 a short time (minutes to hours). It could possibly be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of hours to days. These sources are typically used in practices such as industrial gamma radiography, high dose rate brachytherapy and medium dose rate brachytherapy. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
ENS 5395725 March 2019 17:53:00The following was received via e-mail: On March 25, 2019, the agency (Texas Department of State Health Services) reviewed a voicemail left on an investigator's office phone line in which a licensee reported a stuck shutter on a gauge. The gauge is a Thermo Fisher Scientific model 7062BP, with serial number S99G0101, containing a 100 millicurie Cesium-137 source with serial number 6551GQ. The shutter is stuck in the open position. Open is the normal operating position. The gauge is located on a 6" line and no exposures are anticipated as a result of this malfunction. The manufacturer has been contacted and service will be scheduled. Updates will be sent in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident: I-9668
ENS 539198 March 2019 16:59:00The following report was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services via email: On March 8, 2019, a licensee reported to the Agency (Texas Department of State Health Services) that a shutter on a fixed nuclear gauge failed to open completely. The gauge is a Thermo Fisher Scientific model SCL-1C, serial number UM900, containing 100 milliCuries of strontium-90. No individuals received any exposure due to this equipment failure. The manufacturer has repaired the gauge and the shutter now functions as intended. Texas Incident #: 9662
ENS 539208 March 2019 17:50:00The following report was provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services via email: On March 8, 2019, the Agency (Texas Department of State Health Services) was notified by the Houston Fire Department that they had recovered a moisture density gauge belonging to a Texas licensee. The gauge contained 10 milliCuries of cesium-137 and 40 milliCuries of americium-241. The Agency has not yet been notified by the licensee about this loss. Investigation is ongoing. Updates will be provided in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident #: 9663 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 5394619 March 2019 12:13:00The following was received from the state of Texas by email: On February 25th, 2019, the Agency (Texas Department of State Health Services) was notified by a licensee that control was lost of a Spec 150 (SN: 2472) radiography camera containing a 49 Curie iridium-192 source (Source SN: ZL1103, model G-60 manufactured by SPEC) as the result of an employee arrested for driving while intoxicated (in Odessa, TX). The vehicle containing the source was impounded. The keys to the vehicle were left with the impound yard. The vehicle was locked, alarm armed, in a fenced lot, behind a locked gate, and under video surveillance. Keys to the darkroom, where the source was stored, were located in the center console of the vehicle. No individuals accessed the vehicle while in the impound lot. The vehicle was retrieved by the licensee shortly after being notified of the arrest and impounding. The source was out of the licensee's control for approximately eleven hours. No exposures occurred as a result of this event. TX Incident #: 9657
ENS 537187 November 2018 14:49:00The following was received via email from Texas Department of State Health Services: On November 7th, 2018, the Agency (Texas Department Of State Health Services) was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer that a moisture density gauge was damaged by heavy equipment (at a construction site in San Antonio, TX). The gauge was manufactured by Troxler, serial number 38348, with Cs-137 (S/N:77-5682) and Am-241:Be (S/N:47-8792) sources of 8 mCi and 40 mCi respectively. The technician was operating the gauge at a construction site and a heavy equipment operator failed to notice the technicians attempts to stop him, and subsequently ran the gauge over. The source rod remained intact, however it could not be retracted into the shielded position. The licensee contacted the manufacturer and received shielding instructions. The gauge and the soil surrounding it were removed and transported to the licensee's office. The gauge will be sent back to Troxler for repair in an approved type package. No overexposures to the technician or to the public were reported. Texas Incident #: I-9631
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