SOURCE DISLODGED FROM DAMAGED GAUGE
The following is a summary of a phone call received from the licensee:
A technician was at a job site taking measurements with a Troxler 3430 density gauge (S/N: 23216). The gauge contains an 8 mCi Cs-137 source and a 40 mCi Am-Be source. While the source rod was extended into the ground, the technician, along with others, attempted to get the attention of the driver of a pickup truck backing up into the work area. They were unsuccessful, and the truck backed into the gauge, bending the rod, preventing it from being retracted. The technician attempted to straighten the rod, but was unsuccessful. Then the rod was bent in the other direction and the Cs-137 source became dislodged. It was placed in a plastic container and the area was cordoned off.
The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) was en route, and with guidance from the service company, will place the source in a bucket and fill it with sand, survey the area for any contamination, return the source to the facility for a leak test, and store the gauge. The RSO will determine how to dispose of the source and gauge once the leak test results are received.
The technician was wearing dosimetry and it will be sent in for analysis. It is not expected that there was much additional exposure received. |