ENS 48147
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
04:00 Jul 31, 2012 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Damaged Troxler Gauge |
| Event Description | The following was received from the State of North Carolina via email:
On July 31, 2012 a portable nuclear gauge owned by ECS of Raleigh (License Number 092-0253-1) was run over and crushed by a tracked dozer. The incident occurred off Caveness Farm Road in Wake Forest, NC. The gauge user stated that he had finished performing density testing for the day and was proceeding to leave the job-site. After exiting the job site and traveling the length of Caveness Farms Road to US Highway 1, he noted that his tailgate was down on his pick-up truck. He exited the truck to close the tailgate and noticed that the gauge was missing. He then traveled back to the job site and retraced his path to his testing location. He then observed the gauge approximately 100 feet from where he had been testing. Upon approaching the gauge he noted that it had been crushed by the dozer. The rod on the gauge was in the safe position with the source being shielded. A trigger lock was not present on the gauge at this time. The ECS RSO was notified and the user instructed the other workers in the area to remain at least 50 feet from the damaged gauge. They did. The ECS RSO arrived on the job site at approximately 3:00 pm. Upon arrival, he surveyed the damaged gauge with survey meter. A reading of 0.4 mrem/hr was noted at approximately 1 meter and a reading of 1 mrem/hr was noted on contact with the source. The RSO interviewed the dozer operator, who said that he did not see the density gauge in his path of travel but felt the gauge under the dozer as he traveled over it. He proceeded to a safe distance and notified his supervisor. He stated that moments later the ECS technician returned to the area of the damaged gauge. The RSO contacted the NC Radiation Protection Section and notified them of the incident. A NC RPS inspector was dispatched to the scene. Troxler Laboratories (gauge Mfg) was also contacted about the incident. When the NC RPS inspector arrived on the job site, he and the ECS RSO surveyed the damaged gauge. Once it was determined the gauge was safe to move, the gauge source rod and shield assembly was placed into the transport case. The rest of the gauge was collected and contained. After the pieces of the gauge were removed from the area where it was damaged, the area was surveyed and no reading over 0.03 mrem/hr were noted. The Inspector indicated that the sources had been recovered and the area was safe to resume work. Survey readings were taken of the transport case after the sources had been placed in the case. The highest reading was 70 mR/hr contact on the outside of the transport case at the end where the damaged source shield was located. The tungsten sliding block was damaged and was loose. Dose rates on the rest of the transport box were in the 0.1 range, with higher doses on the end. Dose at 1 meter (app) from the transport box end where the source was 0.2 mR/hr. At 6:00 pm the gauge was transported back to the ECS office. It arrived at the ECS office at approximately 6:45 pm and was stored in the appointed nuclear gauge storage location. The gauge was marked 'Do Not Use' and ECS technicians were instructed not to move the damaged gauge. ECS will take leak tests on August 1, 2012 and upon being notified of the results of the leak test, Troxler Labs will be notified of our intent to transport the gauge to their RTP location. North Carolina Incident NC 12-43. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Ecs Raleigh, North Carolina (NRC Region 1) | |
| License number: | 092-0253-1 |
| Organization: | Nc Div Of Radiation Protection |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+33.57 h1.399 days <br />0.2 weeks <br />0.046 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Henry Barnes 13:34 Aug 1, 2012 |
| NRC Officer: | Charles Teal |
| Last Updated: | Aug 1, 2012 |
| 48147 - NRC Website | |
Ecs with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 481472012-07-31T04:00:00031 July 2012 04:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Damaged Troxler Gauge 2012-07-31T04:00:00 | |