AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIUM SOURCE FOUND IN SCRAP METAL
The following information was received from the state via e-mail:
"Nucor-Yamato Steel in Blytheville, Arkansas reported to the Arkansas Radiation Control Program on October 20, 2009, that they believed a source had been found in a load of scrap metal received at their facility. The shipper for this load of scrap metal was Southern Scrap, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
"Radiation surveys conducted by steel mill personnel indicated an on contact reading of 5.0 mR/hr.
"Health Physicists from the Arkansas Radiation Control Program responded to Nucor-Yamato Steel in Blytheville, Arkansas on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 arriving at 3:00 p.m.
"The device is 20 inches long and 6 inches square. The only identifying marks are a plate labeled 'MFD BY S.H. COUCH CO INC' and appears to be a type of selector switch containing a Radium-226 backlight. The switch can select 'AFT STA' or 'WHEEL HSE.'
"Survey readings at the selector switch were 5.5 mR/hr. Removable contamination (not quantified) was found on smears of the device taken in the field.
"The device was packaged and transported to the Arkansas Department of Health and is currently in a secured storage area. The Department continues to investigate this incident to determine the identity of the device as well as the owner." |