ENS 53916
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
06:00 Mar 5, 2019 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Troxler Gauge Destroyed When Run Over |
| Event Description | The following was received from the Arkansas Department of Health via e-mail:
The Department [Arkansas Department of Health Radioactive Materials Program] received notification on March 5, 2019, from licensee GTS, Inc. that a Troxler gauge model 3440 [serial number: 73390, 40 mCi Am-241, 8 mCi Cs-137] had been struck by a skid steer while performing routine measurements at a road construction site. As a result of the incident, the source had been pulled from its testing position and become partially exposed. Upon review of the event, it was noted that the technician quickly created a thirty (30) foot containment barrier and notified his company's Radiation Safety Officer [RSO]. The [RSO] for GTS mobilized to the event location and contacted the [Department]. Upon receiving an exemption from the Department, the RSO was able to manipulate the source into the shielded position and place the remnants into the transportation container for transport to the permanent storage location. The gauge was returned to the permanent storage location at approximately 1330 [CST] on March 5, 2019. The licensee performed leak tests of the sources, surveys of the gauge transport container, and surveys of the storage location. [Department] inspectors visited the licensee on March 6, 2019, to investigate the event. Surveys at the exterior of the transport container were determined to be 3-5 mR/hr. Surveys performed inside of the transport container were measured to be a maximum of 15 mR/hr at a location close to the surface of the shielded source. The [Department] considers this investigation open pending receipt and review of the licensee's 30 day report State of Arkansas Event Report No. : AR-2019-002
The following was received via e-mail: Upon review of the licensee's 30 day report, received April 5, 2019, it was noted that the dosimetry badge worn by the RSO during the retraction and transportation of the source showed no measurable dose. The dosimetry badge was new for the month of March. The report also contained leak test results for the sources both prior to the event, January 19, 2019, and after the event, March 6, 2019. The results for the leak tests in both instances were measured to be below 185 Bq (0.005 microCuries), considering the sources to be non-leaking sources. The company conducted mandatory safety meetings with all staff who work with the portable gauges and also sent a companywide e-mail to all employees as a result of the event. Topics discussed during the meetings and e-mail included radiation safety, worksite safety, portable gauge specific safety and use, emergency response procedures, and gauge security. The contractor responsible for the skid steer also conducted an on-site safety meeting immediately following the event on March 5, 2019. The Department now considers this event to be closed providing that no new information is received by the Department. Notified R4DO (Werner) and NMSS Events (via e-mail).
The following was received via e-mail: The Licensee has transferred the radioactive sources and associated nuclear gauge remnants to the manufacturer for disposal/repair. The sources are now listed under North Carolina Radioactive Materials License #032-0182-1. The Department now considers this event to be closed. Notified R4DO (Kozal) and NMSS Events (via e-mail). |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Gts, Inc. Rogers, Arkansas (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | ARK-0995-03121 |
| Organization: | Arkansas Department Of Health |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+75.83 h3.16 days <br />0.451 weeks <br />0.104 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Christopher Talley 09:50 Mar 8, 2019 |
| NRC Officer: | Jeffrey Whited |
| Last Updated: | May 31, 2019 |
| 53916 - NRC Website | |
Gts, Inc. with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 562332022-10-07T15:15:0007 October 2022 15:15:00
[Table view]Agreement State Damaged Troxler Gauge ENS 539162019-03-05T06:00:0005 March 2019 06:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Troxler Gauge Destroyed When Run Over 2022-10-07T15:15:00 | |