Based on discussion between field personnel (authorized nuclear
gauge user) and [the licensee], the rubber-tire wheels of a piece of construction equipment ran over [a Troxler]
gauge. [The licensee] personnel, with assistance from the contractor, immediately cordoned off the area so that the appropriate steps could be taken to access the situation.
Based on the pictures that were sent to [the licensee] and conversations with the field personnel, [the licensee] does not believe that the gauge was damaged severely enough to cause a radiation leak from the gauge.
The source rod was inside the inner protective housing (i.e. shield) when it was damaged. It appears that only the outer plastic casing was cracked and the index rod was snapped. The inner protective housing (i.e. shield) protecting the CS-137 source and the Americium 241 source protective cover appear to still be intact. The source rod was not bent. The sliding block at the bottom of the gauge is fully closed.
Since the index rod locks the source rod in place, [the licensee] instructed field personnel how to temporarily restrain the index rod and therefore keep the source rod inside the protective shield. After properly securing the source rod, [the licensee] had field personnel place the damaged gauge inside the yellow DOT transport box. The transport box / gauge was then properly secured inside a large steel container (dedicated to [the licensee]) at the construction site. Only [licensee] personnel have access to the steel container.
[The licensee] sent down a radiation meter to field personnel via FedEx overnight. The radiation meter only showed that the radiation level immediately next to the gauge was 4 mrem. The measured radiation level several feet away from the gauge was about 0.12 mrem. No radiation was measured outside of the steel container.
[The licensee has] scheduled for the gauge to be picked up on Thursday by [licensee's] repair service firm. The repair service will perform their own leak test in the field prior to transporting the gauge back to their shop.
Gauge Make/Model: Troxler 3440
Gauge Serial Number: 28929
Langan Gauge No.: #22
Nuclide (Serial No.): AM-241:BE (47-25121), CS-137 (750-3218)
Typical
Troxler gauges of this series contain a 8 mCi
Cs-137 source and a 40 mCi Am/Be source.