PNO-I-99-007, on 990129,state of AL Was Notified That Ronan Model SA-15 Gauge Containing 100 Mci Cs-137 Source Was Inadvertently Transferred to Acutus Gladwin Mold Co.Region I Will Have Inspector at Company on 990203

PNO-I-99-007:on 990129,state of AL Was Notified That Ronan Model SA-15 Gauge Containing 100 Mci Cs-137 Source Was Inadvertently Transferred to Acutus Gladwin Mold Co.Region I Will Have Inspector at Company on 990203

ML20202F538
Person / Time
Issue date:	02/03/1999
From:	Henderson P, Mcgrath J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
PNO-I-99-007, PNO-I-99-7, NUDOCS 9902040087
Download: ML20202F538 (1)

.

February 3, 1999 PRELIMINARY NbTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-I-99-007 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE

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cafety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by Region I staff in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on this date.

Facility Licensee Emeroency Classification Acutus Gladwin Mold Notification of Unusual Event

'Acutus Gladwin Mold Alert Oil City, Pennsylvania Site Area Emergency Dockets: 99990001 License No: GENERAL General Emergency X Not Applicable

Subject:

GAUGE SHIPPED TO UNLICENSE_ SERVICE COMPANY On Friday, January 29, 1999, the State of Alabama was notified by Tuscaloosa Steel Co. (Tuscaloosa) that a Ronan Model SA-15 gauge containing a 100 millicurie cesium 137 source was inadvertently transferred to Acutus Gladwin Mold Co. (AG Mold) in Oil City, PA. The gauge was contained in a mold caster which had been sent to AG Mold for repair. An employee of AG Mold recognized that the mold still contained

-the gauge and contacted Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa instructed AG Mold to move the mold caster to a remote area and wait for an engineer from Ronan Co., manufacturer and installer of the gauge, to arrive. On Saturday, January 30, a Ronan engineer arrived at the site and removed the source from the gauge and placed it in a storage container. A health physicist from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP)

' conducted an inspection at AG Mold on Monday, February 1. The PADEP inspector determined that during the time the gauge was at AG Mold and before the Ronan engineer arrived, a number of AG Mold employees had worked in the vicinity _of the gauge. The PADEP inspector interviewed workers from two shifts at AG Mold and determined that most worked about one day-(6 hours6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br />) near the gauge. One individual, however, claimed that hn worked for two days (12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br />) near the gauge. The PADEP inspector estimated'that this individual could have received greater than the

.public dose limit of 100 millirems based on his interviews with AG Mold

. personnel and measurements provided by the Ronan engineer. AG Mold is providing for a medical examination of this individual and two other workers.

R;gion-I will have an inspector at the service company on February 3 to interview personnel, examine the gauge, and gain a better understanding

-of the dose consequences, if any, of the event. Region I is prepared to respond to media inquiries.

This information is' current as of 7:30 a.m., February 3, 1999.

Contact:

John McGrath Pam Henderson i (610)337-5069 (610)337-6952 h I o\

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