The following information was provided by the
Maryland Department of the Environment (
MDE) via email:
On July 25, 2025, at approximately 1520 EDT, the radiation safety officer (RSO) of Engineering Consulting Services Mid-Atlantic, LLC (ECS) reported an incident to MDE involving damage to a Troxler model 3440 portable nuclear gauge (serial number 30580). The incident occurred at a construction site located in Frederick, MD.
According to the gauge technician, the roller operator initially passed the technician on the right side and then reversed the roller toward the testing site. Despite immediate attempts to alert the driver to stop, the roller continued reversing. Once the gauge operator realized the driver was not stopping, he quickly moved out of the roller's path. The gauge was subsequently struck by the roller.
As reported by the RSO, while the gauge housing was damaged, there is no indication of a breach of the radioactive sources' integrity. The RSO conducted leak tests immediately after the incident and submitted the samples to North East Technical Services Inc. (NETS) for analysis. Results are currently pending. MDE has requested the licensee to transfer the damaged gauge to NETS as per the safety protocol and provide the leak test results, calibration records, and appropriate transfer and/or disposal documentation once the evaluation by NETS is complete. Decisions regarding repair or disposal of the gauge will be based on NETS' findings.
Following removal of the
gauge from the site, a radiation survey was conducted, and no elevated radiation levels above background were detected as per the
RSO.
MDE's radiological health program will continue to monitor and follow up on this reactive investigation until the device is either repaired or appropriately disposed of.