At approximately 0800 EDT on 05/04/04, an equipment operator backed an excavator over a
Troxler density
gauge model 3430, Serial No. 29858, containing an 8 millicurie
Cs-137 and a 40 millicurie Am-241:Be source. The exterior cover of the
gauge was damaged, the source rod was bent and stuck in the exposed position at the time the incident occurred. The technician removed personnel from the area and contacted the local Hazmat fire department which placed the damaged
gauge in a steel drum. The licensee is in possession of the steel drum containing the damaged
gauge and has plans to return it to the manufacturer for disposal. The licensee believes that based on the structure of the damaged
gauge, there was no source leakage and they are in process of performing personnel exposure calculations as warranted. The licensee contacted Region 3 and will submit a written report of this incident, as required.
- * * UPDATE AT 0937 EDT ON 05/07/04 TO JOHN MACKINNON FROM NICK HUTCHINSON * * *
Correct
gauge serial number mentioned above should be 30162 instead of 29858. R3DO (
Christine Lipa) &
NMSS (
Roberto Torres) notified.