Event Notification Report for May 29, 2018
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
05/28/2018 - 05/29/2018
EVENT NUMBERS
53432
Agreement State
Event Number: 53432
Rep Org: TEXAS DEPT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Licensee: TERRACON CONSULTANTS INC
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County:
License #: 05268
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: KENNETH MOTT
Licensee: TERRACON CONSULTANTS INC
Region: 4
City: HOUSTON State: TX
County:
License #: 05268
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ART TUCKER
HQ OPS Officer: KENNETH MOTT
Notification Date: 05/30/2018
Notification Time: 11:14 [ET]
Event Date: 05/29/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/30/2018
Notification Time: 11:14 [ET]
Event Date: 05/29/2018
Event Time: 00:00 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 05/30/2018
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
Person (Organization):
THOMAS FARNHOLTZ (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
THOMAS FARNHOLTZ (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED TROXLER GAUGE
The following was received from the state of Texas via email:
"On May 30, 2018, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that on May 29, 2018, a Troxler model 3440 moisture/density gauge was damaged at a field site. The gauge contains an 8 millicurie cesium-137 source and a 40 millicurie americium-241 source. While the gauge was in taking a measurement and the technician and the job site foreman were talking, a bobcat operator working in the area failed to see the gauge and ran over it. The RSO stated the foreman and technician attempted to stop the operator of the bobcat, but were unable to get his attention. The RSO stated the operating rod for the cesium source was slightly bent, but the technician was able to return the source to the shielded position. The RSO stated the gauge was surveyed and radiation levels were normal. The gauge was returned to the licensee's location in San Antonio, Texas, for storage. The manufacturer has been contacted for guidance on what to do with the gauge. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident # - 9577
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
The following was received from the state of Texas via email:
"On May 30, 2018, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was notified by the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) that on May 29, 2018, a Troxler model 3440 moisture/density gauge was damaged at a field site. The gauge contains an 8 millicurie cesium-137 source and a 40 millicurie americium-241 source. While the gauge was in taking a measurement and the technician and the job site foreman were talking, a bobcat operator working in the area failed to see the gauge and ran over it. The RSO stated the foreman and technician attempted to stop the operator of the bobcat, but were unable to get his attention. The RSO stated the operating rod for the cesium source was slightly bent, but the technician was able to return the source to the shielded position. The RSO stated the gauge was surveyed and radiation levels were normal. The gauge was returned to the licensee's location in San Antonio, Texas, for storage. The manufacturer has been contacted for guidance on what to do with the gauge. Additional information will be provided as it is received in accordance with SA-300."
Texas Incident # - 9577
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