The State provided the following information via email:
A Troxler 3440 portable gauge serial number 37319 (8 millicuries Cs-137, 40 millicuries Am-241:Be) was damaged when a large earth moving piece of equipment backed over it. The operator was taking density readings about 20 feet behind the equipment when the equipment backed up. The operator ran to safety as the gauge was struck. The operator roped off a 50 foot radius around the gauge and called the RSO. When the RSO arrived at the site, the RSO and the operator took the buried gauge out of the soil and inspected it. The fire department was called and took readings in the area with a Geiger count-rate meter. Radiation levels were determined to be in the normal range. The top outer portion of the gauge was damaged and the source rod bent slightly, but the source areas were intact. The source rod was put back into the gauge by pounding the handle up with a mallet. The gauge was transported back to the licensed storage location and will be sent back to the manufacture for repair or disposal.
Location of Event: SeaTac Airport, Port of Seattle, City of SeaTac.
Washington State report number: WA-06-044