Event Notification Report for April 18, 2017

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was provided by the State of Arkansas via email:

"On April 18, 2017, at 1210 [CDT], the licensee contacted the Department [Arkansas Department of Health] reporting that a moisture density gauge was missing from the permanent storage facility in Hot Springs, Arkansas and presumed stolen. In addition to the Department, the licensee had notified local law enforcement offices.

"The licensee believes that the gauge was taken between Friday, April 14, 2017 and Tuesday morning, April 18, 2017. The licensee believes that the gauge may be in possession of a former employee.

"The gauge is a Troxler, Model 3440, Serial Number 15160, containing 40 milliCuries of Americium-241 and 8 milliCuries of Cesium-137.

"In accordance with RH-1501.c.1.A. (10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(i)) the stolen gauge is immediately reportable.

"Law Enforcement is investigating.

"The State of Arkansas is awaiting the outcome of the law enforcement investigation and a written report from the licensee. The State's event number is AR-2017-001."

* * * UPDATE FROM DAVID STEPHENS TO DONALD NORWOOD AT 1338 EDT ON 4/20/2017 * * *

The following information was received via E-mail:

"The Arkansas Department of Health Radiation Control Section received notification that the Troxler Electronic Laboratories Gauge (Model 3440, Serial Number 15160) reported stolen on April 19, 2017, was recovered in Hot Springs Village by the Garland County Sheriff's office. The gauge does not appear to be damaged, and has been transported to the licensee's permanent storage location. A leak test has been performed by the licensee. The Department considers the matter closed pending receipt of the licensee's report and leak test results."

Notified R4DO (Azua), ILTAB (Salisbury), and NMSS Events Notification Group.

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.

FAILURE OF THE RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA LOCKING MECHANISM

After performing a routine exposure with a QSA model 880D (serial number D8127) camera containing a 133 curie Iridium-192 source, the source was cranked back into the camera. The radiographer noted that the outer locking mechanism did not lock. The source was let out again then retracted. The camera locking mechanism worked the second time. The locking mechanism did not work because of the icing condition. The radiography camera was placed in a warmer environment, and the locking mechanism was retested. No overexposure occurred during the event.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST SOURCE

The following information was received from the State of New Jersey via facsimile:

"The RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] for this cardiology office called to report a lost/missing Cs-137 dose calibrator vial source. Control of this facility was recently transferred to a medical center. When the new RSO visited the cardiology office to become familiar with it, it was discovered that the Cs-137 source was missing. The source, as listed on the cardiology office's inventory, contained 199.04 uCi [microCuries] of activity as of its calibration date of 9/1/2005. The decayed source would contain approximately 152.2 uCi [microCuries] of activity as of the date of this notification. The manufacturer and model # of the source were not immediately available. The RSO will follow-up with a written report within 30 days."

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

FITNESS-FOR-DUTY TEST POSITIVE FOR A NON-LICENSED SUPERVISOR

"A non-licensed employee supervisor had a confirmed positive for a prohibited substance during a random fitness-for-duty test. The individual's unescorted access to the plant has been suspended.

"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident [Inspector]."

FITNESS FOR DUTY REPORT - FALSE NEGATIVE OCCURRED ON QUALITY ASSURANCE TEST

The testing laboratory returned results for a blind specimen that was inconsistent with what was expected.

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

EN Revision Imported Date: 6/27/2022

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST/MISSING LICENSED MATERIAL

The following was received from the state of South Carolina via email:

"The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control was notified via telephone on 11/18/2019 that two Ba-133 sources (Isotope Product Laboratories Model PHI-133 GFS series, serial numbers XX-621 and XX-622) contained in a Marconi Medical Systems BEACON non-uniform attenuation correction device (Model N211xxx series source housing) attached to a Marconi Axis camera were lost and could not be found. According to the licensee's report, on 04/18/2017 the camera was de-installed by a vendor and shipped to a scrap metal dealer in North Carolina. The estimated activity at deinstallation on 04/18/17 was 2.4 mCi total. Details of the event were provided to the North Carolina Agreement State Program on 12/18/2019.

"This event was entered into NMED in 2019, the NMED reference number 200018."



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