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| Entered date | Event description | |
|---|---|---|
| ENS 46393 | 4 November 2010 14:25:00 | The following information was reported via e-mail by the State of California: On November 03, 2010, the RSO at UC Berkeley informed the (California) Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) that on 11/01/10 an Electron Capture Device (ECD), S/N F7737 containing 15 mCi of Ni-63, was determined to have leakage in excess of 0.005 microcurie criteria. The leaking source was installed in a Hewlett-Packard gas chromatography unit Mode 5890. Immediately after the leakage was found, the unit was taken out of service. Follow-up surveys performed did not show any area contamination. The maximum contamination found on the internal portion of the ECD outlet port was 0.007 microcuries. The extent of contamination was limited to the ECD and exhaust tubing. No personal contamination was expected since the leakage was limited to the internal parts of the gas chromatography unit and vent tubing. The unit was used for routine analysis of organic materials. The leakage may have been due to the routine use over many years (@ 16 years). The University will pursue disposal of this ECD. California RHB 5010 - 110310. |
| ENS 48889 | 4 April 2013 17:43:00 | The following information was from the State of California via email: On 04/04/13, (the licensee) RSO, called RHB (California Radiologic Health Branch) to report a lost gauge. The gauge is a Model 503 DR CPN moisture gauge (S/N H33064926) containing 50 mCi (max) of Americium 241:Be. (The RSO) stated that he placed the gauge in the back of his truck next to the tailgate, then got distracted by a telephone call and started driving from 4181 Brew Master Dr, Suite 4, Ceres, CA, on Crows Landing, Hwy N 99 and then onto Hwy 88 without securing the gauge. He discovered the gauge missing (at 1600 PDT) on 04/03/13, upon arrival at a jobsite. The Ceres Police Department was notified of the lost gauge (case # 213-001653). Licensee was advised to place an advertisement in a local paper/craigslist offering a reward of $4000.00 for the safe return of the gauge. RHB will be investigating the incident and licensee will be cited for the items of non compliance associated with this incident. California Report: #040413 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 52907 | 15 August 2017 16:52:00 | The following information was provided by the State of California via email: On 08/14/17, RHB (California Radiation Health Branch) received an incident report from Office of Emergency Services regarding a damaged moisture density gauge. A CPN gauge, Model MC-3, S/N M380108935, containing 10 mCi of Cs-137 and 50 mCi of Am-241 was run over by a heavy construction equipment at a job site in the city of Santa Clara, CA. The top of the gauge housing was damaged with a broken rod, however, the user managed to retrieve the source back into shielded position. The damaged gauge was placed in the transport case and taken to the licensee's facility for disposal. Fire department was at the incident site, performed surveys using a survey meter (no survey meter information available) and the readings did not indicate any contamination. According to the gauge user, Fire Department readings indicated 500 uR/hr at the damaged gauge and 6 uR/hr at 15 feet from the gauge. The gauge will be transported to CPN for leak testing and disposal on 08/15/17. RHB will be following up on this incident. California 5010 Number: 081417 |
| ENS 53238 | 1 March 2018 15:34:00 | The following information was obtained from the State of Texas via email: On February 28, 2018, the radiation safety officer from ENGEO Incorporated, contacted RHB (California Radiologic Health Branch) to report a stolen moisture-density gauge. This is a Troxler moisture-density gauge, Model 3440, Serial Number 23533 containing 9 mCi of Cs-137 and 44 mCi of Am-241. According to the licensee, the operator left the gauge secured to the open bed truck at a job site, and upon his return noticed the gauge had been stolen. The gauge was stolen without the Type A container. The licensee immediately notified San Ramon Police Department (SRPD) of the incident. Note: On 03/01/18, at approximately 1100 PST, SRPD notified the licensee that they had recovered the gauge near the job site. The licensee is enroute to recover the gauge from SRPD. RHB will be following up on this incident. California Report No.: 5010-022818 |
| ENS 55249 | 11 May 2021 18:33:00 | The following was received from the California Radiation Control Program via email: On 05/11/21 the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) contacted (the Radiologic Health Branch) RHB to report a moisture density gauge that was discovered by (the California Highway Patrol) CHP in Santa Cruz, CA. The message stated that while CHP and (California Department of Transportation) CALTRANS were removing a transient encampment, a Soil Density Gauge (Troxler Model 3430, S/N #38287, containing 9 mCi of Cs-137 and 44 mCi of Am-241) was discovered at the site and the device does not appear to be damaged. CHP contacted the gauge vendor, Troxler, and was able to locate the licensee (Dees and Associates, Inc) and inform them of the stolen gauge. CHP took possession of the gauge and (the Radiation Safety Officer) RSO had already picked up the gauge from the CHP facility. According to the RSO, they have noticed a gauge stolen from their storage on 4/15/21. She had immediately notified Santa Cruz Police Department (Case # 21S-02156) and Troxler of the theft at the time of the incident. RHB was unaware of the theft until the Cal OES notification on 5/11/21. California 5010 Number: 051121 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 55401 | 10 August 2021 12:49:00 | The following report was received from the state of California via email: On 08/06/21, California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) contacted Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) to report an incident involving loss of a Thermo Fisher Scientific, Niton X fill P 300 series XRF analyzer, Model XLP 300, S/N: 91800. The unit was resourced in May 2018 with 40 milliCi of Cd-109, with current activity of 6.7 milliCi. The XRF unit was taken from one of their employee's vehicle parked at his residence in San Jose, CA. A police report has been filed with the San Jose PD (report # is not available at this time). RHB will be following up with this investigation. California ID Number: 5010 - 080621 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 55667 | 20 December 2021 21:52:00 | The following information was received from the California Department of Public Health, Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) via email: On 12/17/2021, the licensee notified RHB of an incident in which an INC IR-100 (S/N 7362) radiography exposure device, containing a 54.2 Ci Ir-192 QSA Global source (S/N 55806M), failed to actuate its safety latch plate upon retracting the Ir-192 source to the fully shielded position. The incident occurred on 12/16/2021, at approximately 1900 PST, at the PBF refinery in Martinez, CA. The radiography site was approximately 150 ft. above grade, on temporary staging, and accessed by an adjacent permanent deck. The RSO ((radiation safety officer)) stated that the device was used all day without issue prior to the safety latch plate's actuation failure. The initial personnel during the incident consisted of a radiographer trainer and an assistant radiographer. The radiographer trainer noticed the failure when attempting to 'crank out' after fully retracting the source. After attempting to fully retract the source, the latch plate maintained a visibly depressed position and the source was not fully secured and free to move. The radiography trainer contacted the RSO for further assistance during which an additional radiographer trainer assisted with maintaining security of the barricaded area until the RSO and staff arrived on the site. The RSO stated that he was able to secure the source by flushing the locking mechanism with brake cleaner and that there was no excessive exposure to any personnel involved. RHB will be investigating this incident further. CA 5010 Number: 121721 |
| ENS 56744 | 18 September 2023 17:53:00 | The following information was received from the California Department of Public Health via email: On 09/13/23, Tesla Corporation contacted (Radiation Health Branch) RHB to report a lost radioactive source. The lost item was a Po-210, 10 mCi source, model P-2021-Z705, serial number A2MK511, shipped to the facility on 10/05/2021. Based on this information, the current activity is approximately 281.12 microcuries. The source was used to blow dust off of auto body panels and prevent static buildup prior to painting. The employees at the shop could not provide an estimate of when the last time the device was used and believe that the device may have been disposed of in the trash. They have placed internal restrictions on sites ordering tools with radioactive sources. Additionally, they have transitioned into using an anti-static tool that does not utilize a radioactive source. 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 56908 | 22 December 2023 20:11:00 | The following information was provided by the California Department of Public Health, Radiation Health Branch (RHB) via email: On 12/22/2023, the (University of California, San Francisco) notified RHB that a shipment of F-18 radioactive materials received from SOFIE CO FKA ZEVACOR PHARMA (license number: CA-RML 7131-43) was contaminated. The licensee reported that their contamination wipe tests ranged from 65,000 counts per minute (cpm) to over 100,000 cpm per 300-centimeter squared wipe area using a wipe counter with an efficiency of 25 percent. This amount exceeds the non-fixed radioactive contamination limits specified in Department of Transportation regulations 49 CFR 173.443 of 240 cpm per cm squared for beta and gamma emitters and is reportable under 10 CFR 20.1906(d)(1). RHB is in contact with SOFIE and will be investigating this matter further. |