Event Notification Report for September 15, 2023

TROXLER GAUGE DAMAGED

The following summary information was provided by the PA Bureau of Radiation Protection (PA DEP) via email"

"On September 6, 2023 a Troxler gauge, model 3411, serial number 6829 was hit by a vehicle while on a job site. This gauge contained a 9 millicurie Cesium-137 source and a 44 millicurie Americium 241:Be source. The area was secured, and the PA DEP responded to the site. The owner/radiation safety officer (RSO) retrieved the sources with long handled pliers and secured them in the transportation box for the gauge. The area and gauge were surveyed and smears were taken for contamination. The case was also surveyed and the owner/RSO has contacted a consultant/vendor to leak test the sources and arrange for disposal."

Pennsylvania Event Number: PA230024

AGREEMENT STATE - LOST AND RECOVERED TROXLER GAUGE

The following information was provided by the Florida Bureau of Radiation Control (the Bureau) via email:

"On or about 1715 [EDT], 9/7/23, [the licensee's] Assistant Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) notified [the Bureau] of a missing soil moisture density gauge. Operator [deleted] believed the gauge to be absent due to the storage/transport box 'feeling light' when the box was moved at 1700 EDT. Sanford Police Department (PD) was notified by the licensee. [A Bureau investigator] was notified. The NRC was notified.

"Upon a subsequent thorough search of job site with Sanford PD, [the licensee] called the [Bureau's] duty officer at approximately 1800 EDT to report the gauge was located in the storage/transport box, which was within a locked and fenced area."

Florida Incident Number: FL23-141

* * * UPDATE ON 09/08/23 AT 0930 EDT FROM ROBERT LATHAM TO TOM HERRITY * * *

"Just to clarify, I talked to the RSO this morning and he said the gauge user assumed the gauge was left at the job site that morning because when he got back to the office that evening to remove his samples, he had to move the gauge case and it felt light. It wasn't until they went back to the job site to meet with the PD that someone actually looked in the case and then realized the gauge was still in there. So the gauge was never out of their possession or control, they just assumed it was.

"I will be submitting an investigation and incident report, but not a radioactive material license inspection report since there was no violation for loss of control."

Notified R1DO(Young), NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION via email.

* * * RETRACTION ON 09/08/23 AT 1037 EDT FROM MONROE A. COOPER TO TOM HERRITY * * *

"On 9/8/23, at 1026 EDT, the Bureau spoke with Tierra and it was explained that the gauge was misidentified as missing. This occurred because a user determined the Troxler case felt light, and reported the object missing without ensuring the gauge was not present."

Notified R1DO(Young), NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION via email.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST TRITIUM EXIT SIGNS

The following was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department) via phone and email:

"On August 10, 2023, the Department was notified by the licensee that during the August 9, 2023, inventory of the ExxonMobil (EM) Beaumont Polyethylene Plant (BPEP) Tritium (H-3) exit signs, 9 uninstalled signs previously stored in the [instrumentation and electrical] shop could not be located. After an investigation and questioning of the personnel with access to the signs it was determined the box of tritium exit signs was placed in the trash dumpster during cleanup of the [instrumentation and electrical] shop area. As of August 14, 2023, the signs are considered missing/lost. The general licensee stated there is no evidence the integrity of the signs was compromised during the cleanup and thus there was no radiation exposure to personnel. All other unused exit signs were moved to a secured storage location. The Department has requested additional information from the general licensee. The investigation into this event is ongoing. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."

The signs contained a total of 234.9 Ci, H-3 when manufactured in 2016.

Texas Incident Number: 10047

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

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST GENERALLY LICENSED SOURCE

The following was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:

"On July 12, 2023, the Agency received an e-mail from Tesla stating they had lost a generally licensed NRD device model number P-2021 Z705. The device contains a 10 millicurie polonium-210 source. The source is sealed inside an air tool used to blow off dust from cars prior to painting. The company performed searches for the device, but was unable to locate the device. The device was discovered missing when the company was getting ready to return them to the manufacturer. The company stated that due to the remaining activity (purchased on March 30, 2021) and the design of the device, it does not pose an exposure risk to any individual."

Texas Incident Number: 10037

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

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST GENERALLY LICENSED SOURCE

The following was received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email:

"On July 12, 2023, the Agency received an e-mail from Tesla stating they had lost a generally licensed NRD device model number P-2021 Z705. The device contains a 10 millicurie polonium-210 source. The source is sealed inside an air tool used to blow off dust from cars prior to painting. The company performed searches for the device, but was unable to locate the device. The device was discovered missing when the company was getting ready to return them to the manufacturer. The company stated that due to the remaining activity (purchased on June 8, 2022) and the design of the device, it does not pose an exposure risk to any individual."

Texas Incident Number: 10038

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