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| Entered date | Event description | |
|---|---|---|
| ENS 55018 | 2 December 2020 17:48:00 | The following was received from the State of Washington via email: On Monday, November 30, 2020, at a construction site at 2800 MLK Jr South, Seattle, WA, a density gauge was run over by a mini dozer. The source was extended and in use at the time. When the device was run over, the handle that is used to extend and retract the source rod broke off from the gauge completely, leading to concern that the source rod had also broken off. Personnel on site were evacuated and the area secured. Because of the concern that the source rod had broken off, it was necessary to wait until a licensed entity that had the ability to handle the unshielded source arrived on site to continue recovery operations. Also, shortly after the incident, Northwest Technical Services (NTS), was hired for remedial action. When NTS personnel arrived, they were able to determine that the source rod had not detached as feared. A leak test to check the integrity of the source revealed no leakage and the source rod was able to be retracted back into the shielded gauge. Radiation readings and additional leak tests in the area were conducted to ensure there were no remaining safety concerns. There were none. The damaged source was taken to Northwest Technical Services in Snohomish, WA and has been secured while awaiting disposal. Washington Incident Number: WA-20-026. |
| ENS 54961 | 20 October 2020 21:12:00 | The following was received from the State of Washington via email: At approximately 1430 (PDT) on October 19, 2020, a portable gauge technician, working for GN Northern, had completed performing compaction tests at Mt. Adams Elementary School in Harrah, Washington. At the end of the job, about 1500 (PDT) he placed his gauge (not in its case) on his pickup tailgate and did his write-up. Then at approximately 1515 (PDT) he drove off down the highway toward the GN Northern's home office in Yakima with the gauge on the tailgate. Then at approximately 1530 (PDT), the technician looked behind and noticed his tailgate down and remembered the gauge on the tailgate but (was) no longer there. The technician then turned around to look for it for about three (3) hours. He then called the RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) of GN Northern, and reported what had happened. After returning to Yakima the two of them looked for the gauge with flashlights along the highway but could not find it. The RSO then called 206-Nuclear and reported it to the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Section who then notified the Radioactive Materials Section the following morning. The Radioactive Materials Section then learned on the morning of October 20, 2020 from the RSO and the Washington State Patrol (WSP) that a private citizen ran over the gauge during the afternoon of October 19th and notified the WSP. At approximately 1600 (PDT) on October 19th, a WSP Trooper was notified by dispatch that there was a male individual at the WSP office in Union Gap, WA with a damaged gauge that he had struck on the highway and drug it while it was lodged underneath until he could (pull) over. The Union Gap police had also stopped to assist and advised the two males to deliver the gauge to the WSP for safe keeping. WSP Troopers took the gauge and delivered it to the WSP impound facility in Union Gap, WA for safe keeping. Meanwhile, during the afternoon of October 19th, GN Northern had notified Yakima County Sherriff's Department. Shortly after, the Yakima County Sherriff's Department notified other law enforcement agencies including WSP. Therefore, at approximately 0730 (PDT) on October 20th, WSP called GN Northern to let them know that they have their gauge. GN Northern then came and picked up their damaged gauge from WSP at approximately 0830 (PDT) on October 20, 2020. WA incident no.: WA-20-021
The following update was received from Washington State via email: The WSP personnel were not able to perform an adequate survey to check for external radiation levels or count wipes for removable contamination from a possible breech of one or both sources. Therefore, (on 10/21/2020,) one of the inspectors from the Richland office drove to Yakima to perform radiation and contamination checks. To summarize, there was no removable contamination and no radiation levels above what would be expected while the sources are in their shielded positions. Hence, while the portable gauge has been damaged beyond repair, the source holders remain intact. Notified R4DO (Pick) and NMSS Events Notification 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 52338 | 1 November 2016 14:07:00 | This report was received by the State of Washington via email: During preparation of a radiography exposure, the radiographer and another radiation worker from Bechtel, attempted to untangle their dosimetry from the camera apparatus. In doing so, they left their dosimetry next to the camera during a shot. The radiographer exposed his TLD (Thermo Luminescent Dosimetry) and pocket dosimeter, as well as a client's electronic dosimeter during the exposure. Their dosimetry minus the radiographer's rate alarm was left next to the camera during the exposure. The radiographer wears dosimetry issued by Northwest Inspection and their client, Bechtel, sub contractor of the US Department of Energy. The radiographer's pocket dosimeter was off scale. Bechtel's electronic dosimeter showed an exposure dose of 300 mrem. The radiographer reported the incident to the RSO (Radiation Safety Officer). The radiographer's TLD was sent to the dosimetry processing facility. Additional training for the radiographer has already taken place. In view of the fact that no 'persons' were overexposed, a spare TLD will be issued to the radiographer and will be allowed to continue to work. The radiography camera is a QSA Model Number A424-9, Serial Number 32886G, containing an Ir-192 34.5 Ci source. Washington State Incident Number: WA-16-045 |
| ENS 50429 | 5 September 2014 16:07:00 | The following was received from the State of Washington via email: On Thursday, September 4, 2014, (Washington State) Emergency Response Duty Officer received a call from the Radiation Safety Officer of GeoResources, LLC. She informed (Washington State) that a portable gauge was run over by heavy equipment in a construction area. The gauge operator was within a few feet of the gauge and tried to stop the driver of the front end loader but could not and had to jump out of the way for his own safety. Because of the circumstances, there will be no citations of the radiation safety program. (A Washington State inspector) drove to the location and assisted the RSO and gauge operator. The mangled gauge was put into a 55 gallon drum surrounded by soil. The highest external surface of the drum was 80 mR/hr. For health and safety purposes and the short distance to transport the drum from the construction site to the licensee's facility, a decision was made to transport the drum without DOT Yellow III package labeling and vehicle placarding, while escorted by the state inspector. The drum was put into a secured room while waiting for the consultant to come the next day (today). A consultant from Northwest Technical Services is communicating with Instrotek and R.L. Carriers for transport and disposal. WA Incident # WA-14-037 The gauge contained 0.050Ci AM-241 and 0.010Ci Cs-137 |