ENS 44348
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
07:35 Jul 14, 2008 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Crushed Moisture Density Gauge |
| Event Description | Approximately 02:35 a.m. on 7-14-08, an employee who coordinates nuclear gauge use with W. G. Yates & Sons Construction Company notified MEMA that a Troxler 4640-B thin lift density gauge had been crushed by an 18-wheeler truck when the truck drove through the cone barrier. The Gauge contents were scattered over a 10 ft X 10 ft area in the middle of highway 49 South, Richland, Mississippi. MEMA then notified [redacted] Director of Radiological Health at approximately 3:03 a.m.
[The director] picked up the gauge parts off Highway 49 South and packed them in the original shipping container with dirt. Surveys were conducted of the accident scene revealing only background readings after the gauge parts were put back into the gauge box. At 4:10 a.m., [the director] reported to MEMA the contents of the crushed gauge and that one lane of traffic was open on Highway 49 South in Richland, Mississippi. Confiscation of the gauge by the Division of Radiological Health was reported to MEMA at 4:38 a.m., when [the director] was leaving the accident site. [The director] returned with the gauge to Radiological Health at approximately 8:30 a.m., on 7-14-08. Pictures of the crushed gauge were taken by [a Senior Health Physicist of the] Division of Radiological Health. Then the gauge was surveyed and placed in a lead storage cask. Surveys revealed 600 Mr/hr at 6 in from the gauge source rod. The RSO for W. G. Yates & Sons Construction Company was contacted by [the director] and asked to give a report on how the accident happened. The report issued to the Mississippi State Department of Health / Division of Radiological Health was received 7-15-08. In summary, the RSO said work was being performed on two of the three South bound lanes of Highway 49 South. The center and right hand lanes of Highway 49 South were blocked off with cones. The RSO said one employee on site walked away from his profiler machine which was in the center lane of Highway 49 South to ask another employee about the measurements from the thin lift density gauge, also located in the center lane of Highway 49 South. Standing approximately 5 feet from the gauge, they witnessed an 18 wheeler veer from the left hand lane and travel to the center lane crossing the cone barrier. The driver of the 18-wheeler veered further to the right of the profile machine which was in the center lane of the highway. One employee's truck was parked in the right hand lane while he was taking readings from the profile machine. Upon approaching the employees truck, the 18-wheeler veered back into the center lane from the right hand lane and crushed the thin lift density gauge. Both employees were uninjured. Upon further review of the accident, the authorized user for the thin lift density gauge was trained and certificates are on file with the Division of Radiological Health. The gauge was also last leak tested on 11/1/07. The RSO said three employees with W. G. Yates & Sons Construction company who were involved in the accident have had there badges sent in for processing. Accident site surveys revealed the source was still in the gauge. Additional site surveys revealed only background readings. The gauge was confiscated by DRH. Isotope(s): Cesium-137; Activity: 8 mCi. This is Mississippi Event Number MS08008. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company Mississippi (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | MS-656-01 |
| Organization: | Mississippi Div Of Rad Health |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+52.57 h2.19 days <br />0.313 weeks <br />0.072 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Jason Moak 12:09 Jul 16, 2008 |
| NRC Officer: | Pete Snyder |
| Last Updated: | Jul 16, 2008 |
| 44348 - NRC Website | |
W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 443482008-07-14T07:35:00014 July 2008 07:35:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Crushed Moisture Density Gauge 2008-07-14T07:35:00 | |