ENS 56833
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
05:00 Nov 4, 2023 | |
| Title | Agreement State - Lost Troxler Gauge |
| Event Description | The following information was provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department) via email:
On November 4, 2023, the Department was notified by the licensee that one of its technicians had lost a Troxler 3430 moisture/density gauge. The gauge contains one 40 millicurie Am-241 source and one 8 millicurie Cs-137 source. The licensee reported that a technician was waiting in their truck to perform a test at a temporary job site when they were told by the job supervisor that the work was done for the day. The technician drove home and when they reached their home, realized they had left the gauge, which was inside its transportation box, sitting on the tailgate of the truck and it was now missing. The licensee did not know if the cesium source rod or transport case was locked. The technician retraced their route twice, but it was already dark, and they did not see the gauge. The technician notified his radiation safety officer that they had lost the gauge. The licensee will notify local law enforcement of the event. The licensee stated they will begin searching for the gauge as soon as it is light out. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident Number: I-10064
On November 5, 2023, the Department contacted the licensee and requested the status of the gauge. The licensee stated that they had performed additional searches for the gauge this morning but did not find the gauge. The licensee stated they had contacted the Harris County, Texas, Sheriff's Department. The licensee stated they would offer a reward for the gauges return. The licensee was advised to contact local pawn shops and watch social media platforms like eBay and Craig's List. The licensee was advised to contact local fire departments about the gauge and provide its contact information. The licensee stated the gauge was labeled with its contact information. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300. Notified R4DO (Roldan-Otero), NMSS Events Notification, ILTAB, and CNSNS (Mexico) via email
On January 4, 2024, the Department was notified by the licensee that a Troxler gauge identical to the one they had lost was on the Facebook Marketplace website. The Department contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent (FBISA) it has worked with previously and shared the information. On January 5, 2024, the FBISA worked with the licensee and was able to set up a meeting with the seller and was able to recover the gauge. [The FBISA confirmed by serial number it was the gauge that was stolen]. The licensee returned the gauge to its secured storage location and will perform radiation and leak test on the gauge. The individual who had the gauge stated they did not know it contained radioactive material. They also stated they never manipulated the source rod. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA300. Notified R4DO (Drake), NMSS Events Notification, ILTAB, and CNSNS (Mexico) via email. 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 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Paradigm Consultants Inc Katy, Texas (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | L04875 |
| Organization: | Texas Dept Of State Health Services |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+18.27 h0.761 days <br />0.109 weeks <br />0.025 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Art Tucker 23:16 Nov 4, 2023 |
| NRC Officer: | Ernest West |
| Last Updated: | Jan 6, 2024 |
| 56833 - NRC Website | |
Paradigm Consultants Inc with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 568332023-11-04T05:00:0004 November 2023 05:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State - Lost Troxler Gauge ENS 498992014-03-11T05:00:00011 March 2014 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Stolen Moisture Density Gauge ENS 493852013-09-20T05:00:00020 September 2013 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Missing Moisture Density Gauge ENS 484742012-11-01T05:00:0001 November 2012 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Damaged Moisture/Density Gauge 2023-11-04T05:00:00 | |