ENS 55010
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
04:00 Nov 25, 2020 | |
| Title | Damaged Moisture Density Gauge |
| Event Description | The following information was received from the state of Massachusetts via email:
MA RCP [Radiation Control Program] Officer received notification from the licensee Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) that one of their portable gauges was damaged by construction equipment at a temporary job site of the licensee. The portable gauge is a Troxler Electronics Laboratories Model 3400 Series moisture-density gauge containing up to 9 milliCurie of Cesium-137 in one sealed source and up to 44 milliCurie of Americium-241 in another sealed source. The RSO reported that they were in route to the site with a survey instrument and that, based on information received by his technician at the site, the damage is expected to be minor. The RSO indicated the portable gauge was in use at the time of the incident. The gauge and rod were pushed into the sand when the damage occurred. The RSO indicated his technician told him the shielding was intact, however, the source and shielding separated from the plastic portion of the gauge. He also indicated the source was able to be retracted into the gauge's shielding. Additionally, RCP dispatched personnel to the site to perform surveys and evaluation of the gauge. RCP staff evaluated NRC reporting requirements. Equipment was secured on-site. No loose contamination identified and maximum dose rate was 20 mR per hour at contact on the shielded source holder. No personnel exposure and there was no immediate threat to public health. No additional emergency response was required. RCP personnel assisted in boxing the damaged gauge and the licensee will return the gauge securely to their office and will then arrange for transport back to the manufacturer. RCP will follow up with additional information. 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 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Mcardle Gannon Associates Tewksbury, Massachusetts (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | 48-0518 |
| Organization: | Ma Radiation Control Program |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+12.57 h0.524 days <br />0.0748 weeks <br />0.0172 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Charma Waring 16:34 Nov 25, 2020 |
| NRC Officer: | Kerby Scales |
| Last Updated: | Nov 25, 2020 |
| 55010 - NRC Website | |
Mcardle Gannon Associates with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 550102020-11-25T04:00:00025 November 2020 04:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Damaged Moisture Density Gauge ENS 501552014-05-30T12:30:00030 May 2014 12:30:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Troxler Gauge Damaged at a Job Site 2020-11-25T04:00:00 | |