ENS 46800
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
06:00 Apr 28, 2011 | |
| Title | Missing Thermo Measuretech Model 5201 Density Gauge |
| Event Description | The State of Utah is making a preliminary report that a Thermo MeasureTech Model 5201 density gauge was discovered missing. The gauge was attached to a pipe that was removed. That section of pipe had been locked shut and not in use for a period of over 3 years. The last time the gauge was accounted for was October 29, 2010. The licensee is conducting a search of the site to locate the gauge.
The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and the Assistant RSO (ARSO) were performing a routine 6-month physical inventory of the devices in the licensee's possession containing radioactive material when they noticed that one of the fixed gauging devices was missing. The device was a Thermo Measuretech Model 5201 (serial #B3988) densitometer containing a 100 mCi Cs-137 source that was attached to a pipe. The device had not been used for more than 3 years prior to the incident, and the licensee had 'locked out' the device at that time with the shutter in the 'closed' position. The RSO had accounted for the gauge during a physical inventory on October 29, 2010. At the time of the incident, the device and the pipe were gone. At the time of this report, the RSO and ARSO are continuing to contact anyone who may have any knowledge as to the location/disposition of the device. The RSO and ARSO are also contacting various waste companies and scrap metal companies to see if they received a gauge containing radioactive material, if the company has the capability of measuring for radiation, and to ask them to keep a watch out for the gauge. The licensee is undergoing expansion, and employs a number of contractors. The licensee stated that all of the licensee's employees are thoroughly instructed in radiation safety, and that the employees are told that no work involving the licensee's gauges can be done without the RSO or ARSO being present. The licensee's contractors are provided general radiation safety training twice a year. The licensee's working theory regarding the loss of the gauge is that a contractor was working in that area of the licensee's facility and was instructed to demolish that portion of the facility. Since contractor often use a demolish that portion of the facility the licensee speculates that a contractor may have placed the gauge in the waste bin with the other materials from the demolition, and the waste bin was then hauled off by a waste disposal company. The licensee is currently attempting to identify any contractors who may have been working in the area of the gauge during the time period from October 29, 2010, to the present. Notified R4DO (Proulx) and FSME EO (Piccone). THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf Although IAEA categorization of this event is typically based on device type, the staff has been made aware of the actual activity of the source, and after calculation determines that it is a Less than Cat 3 event. Note: the value assigned by device type "Category 3" is different than the calculated value "Less than Cat 3 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Great Salt Lake Minerals Corporation Ogden, Utah (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | UT2900154 |
| Organization: | Utah Division Of Radiation Control |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+11.7 h0.488 days <br />0.0696 weeks <br />0.016 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Thilip Griffin 17:42 Apr 28, 2011 |
| NRC Officer: | Charles Teal |
| Last Updated: | May 2, 2011 |
| 46800 - NRC Website | |
Great Salt Lake Minerals Corporation with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 468002011-04-28T06:00:00028 April 2011 06:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Missing Thermo Measuretech Model 5201 Density Gauge 2011-04-28T06:00:00 | |