ENS Event | |
|---|---|
17:00 Mar 10, 2005 | |
| Title | Tritium Contamination From A Broken M1A1 Collimator |
| Event Description | The following information was provided by the licensee by fax.
On 17 March 2005, the TACOM-RI RSO received a call from the Ft. Sill RSO informing the licensee that he discovered 3 ea broken M1A1 collimators (nsn 1240-00-332-1780 sealed source registration no. NR-155-S-102-S). Each M1A1 collimator contains a 10 curie sealed source lamp. One collimator (s/n 933) was discovered in a training area. After this collimator was discovered, the Ft Sill RSO immediately proceeded to inspect all M1A1 collimators found in the 3/30th Field Artillery, sections 2nd, 3rd, and 6th. As a result of this inspection, the RSO discovered two additional broken M1A1 collimators, (s/n's 8644, 4116). The RSO immediately took survey wipes of the collimators and areas where they were located. There was no physical damage on the exterior of the devices or cases containing the devices. Physical damage was observed of the tritium sealed source cell itself, however exterior lenses were intact on all three collimators. It could not be determined how the damage occurred. Leak tests were performed on the three collimators with the following results s/n 933 (837,000 dpm or 3.7E-4 millicuries), s/n 8644 (6,950 dpms or 3.1E-7 millicuries), and s/n 4116 (26,300 dpms or 1.2E-5 millicuries). Only Collimator s/n 933 exceeded reportable limits [110,000 DPM]. The RSO secured the purging and training areas upon discovery of the broken devices and conducted area survey in the purging area, conex trailers (where collimators are stored) and training area. None of the areas surveyed had removable tritium contamination in excess of 5,000 dpms. Tritium bioassay samples were taken on individuals (approx 10) who may have actually handled the broken M1A1 collimators. Bioassay samples will be analyzed at the US Army lab, CHPPM Aberdeen, MD. At the time of this report, the bioassay results were not available, The Ft Sill RSO has secured the three collimators in a low-level rad waste storage site for future disposal. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| U.S. Army Rock Island Il Rock Island, Illinois (NRC Region 3) | |
| License number: | 12-00722-06 |
| Organization: | U.S. Army Rock Island Il |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 30.50(b)(1) | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+284.83 h11.868 days <br />1.695 weeks <br />0.39 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Thomas Gizicki 13:50 Mar 22, 2005 |
| NRC Officer: | Chauncey Gould |
| Last Updated: | Mar 22, 2005 |
| 41514 - NRC Website | |
U.S. Army Rock Island Il with 10 CFR 30.50(b)(1) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 415142005-03-10T17:00:00010 March 2005 17:00:00
[Table view]10 CFR 30.50(b)(1) Tritium Contamination from a Broken M1A1 Collimator 2005-03-10T17:00:00 | |