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| Entered date | Event description | |
|---|---|---|
| ENS 56018 | 22 July 2022 16:27:00 | The following information is a synopsis provided by the licensee via email: An incident involving a Nuclear Gauge #26 (CPN MC1 DR serial# MD60503240) on a job site (#37: 1564-C) at about 1315 EDT on 07/22/22 in SE Washington, DC 20032. The gauge contained the following sealed sources: 370 MBq (10 mCi) Cs-137 01/17/96 and 1.85 GBq (50 mCi) Am-241/Be 03/27/96. The gauge was damaged by an excavator while it was under the control of an authorized user (AU). The AU went to their car about 50 feet away to grab some paperwork. The operator of the excavator did not see the gauge, and hit it hard enough to crack its plastic shell. The source rod and electronics were not damaged. The AU informed an ECS field supervisor about the incident immediately and cordoned off the 15 foot radius of an area around the damaged gauge. The back-up radiation safety officer (RSO), was contacted and came to the site to evaluate the damage. The gauge's plastic case was broken due to the impact, but the sources were in the shielded position. Several surveys were made using a survey meter (RADIATION Alert M4, calibrated on 12/22/21) at one meter distance, and the readings were found to be less than 0.4 mR/hr range. In addition to contacting the NRC Operations Center on 7/22/22, the Virginia Department of Health was informed at 1755 EDT the same day. All the pieces of the gauge were placed in a box and it was hauled back to the designated storage area in the Chantilly, VA office around 1700 EDT. After performing a leak test and once an all-clear report is received, the damaged gauge will be returned to the authorized distributor in the area, for them to repair it properly. All authorized users will be informed about the incident immediately, and this will be discussed in detail at our safety meetings to reiterate and stress the importance of maintaining physical control of gauges when the gauge is not otherwise secured using two independent physical locking systems to prevent unauthorized access or removal. |
| ENS 44373 | 29 July 2008 15:38:00 | At approximately 1400 EDT on 07/29/08 a CPN moisture density gauge, model #MC1DR - S/N M36056763, containing a Cs-137 10mCi and Am-241:Be 50 mCi source was run over by a compactor at a construction site at 7152 Heller Loop in Springfield, VA. The sources remained in the safe stored position during the incident, however, the Cesium source rod was broken off. The device was secured and removed from the construction site after a rad survey confirmed readings less than 0.4 mr/hr at 1 meter. |
| ENS 41795 | 24 June 2005 16:15:00 | At approximately 1515 EDT on 6/24/05, a CPN Nuclear Gauge, Model NC1DRP, S/N MD00505618 containing two (2) sources, i.e., 10 millicuries Cs-137 and 50 millicuries Am-241:Be, was run over by a loader at a jobsite near the intersection of Olley Lane and Little River Turnpike in Fairfax County, VA. The area was isolated and rad surveys conducted by the RSO confirmed that the source was not exposed (a radiation level of .4mR/hr was measured at a distance of 1 meter). The RSO will package the damaged gauge and return it to the manufacturer for evaluation. No assistance from any HAZMAT/Fire Department personnel was requested or needed. |