ENS Event | |
|---|---|
16:20 Nov 6, 2025 | |
| Title | Damaged Gauge |
| Event Description | The following is a summary of information provided by the Virginia Radioactive Materials Program (VRMP) via email:
The VRMP was notified by phone of an incident at a soil compaction project site in Wytheville, VA. At approximately 1120 EST, on November 6, 2025, a Troxler 3440 portable nuclear gauge (S/N 71116, 8 mCi Cs-137 and 40 mCi Am-241) was struck by a motor grader while the rod was locked in the safe position within the gauge. The authorized user (AU) was approximately 100 yards from the unattended gauge when the incident occurred. The AU secured the area and contacted their radiation safety officer (RSO) to report the incident. The impact damaged the plastic housing, bent the source rod handle, and broke the depth rod off the device. The licensee and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) RSOs verified the source rod was still locked within the gauge shielding and there was no apparent damage to either source capsules. Surveys indicated the radiation levels were within acceptable ranges. The licensee RSO reported that there were no exposures or injuries. Surveys of the surrounding area and grader tires showed only background radioactivity. The gauge was placed into its transport case and returned to the licensed storage location. A leak test will be performed, and the gauge will be transported to North East Technical Services, Inc., a licensed nuclear gauge service company in Maryland, for further evaluation. VRMP will investigate the licensee. Virginia event report ID number: VA250005 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Atcs, Plc Wytheville, Virginia (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | 059-250-1 |
| Organization: | Virginia Rad Materials Program |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+19.03 h0.793 days <br />0.113 weeks <br />0.0261 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Sheila Nelson 11:22 Nov 7, 2025 |
| NRC Officer: | Karen Cotton |
| Last Updated: | Nov 7, 2025 |
| 58030 - NRC Website | |
Atcs, Plc with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 580302025-11-06T16:20:0006 November 2025 16:20:00
[Table view]Agreement State Damaged Gauge 2025-11-06T16:20:00 | |