The following report was received via email:
Exit signs - model 2040-50-R-10 WH, serial numbers A99977 and A99997 [each] with 11.5 Curies of H3 [tritium] were in a laboratory. The laboratory was inundated with water from a frozen pipe. The [laboratory] cleanup went down to the studs or iron beams. The facility has made a search [after the cleanup] but have not been able to locate the signs. The facility presumes that the signs were sent to a landfill. The facility will include exit signs in their next safety training, include information concerning exit signs in the Emergency Action Plan, and will make the leadership team aware of the mistake.
Cause: Inattention to detail.
Corrective Action: Personnel received additional training.
Nebraska State Item Number: NE130003.
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