Event Notification Report for June 11, 2018

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE-DENSITY GAUGE

The following was received from the State of Texas via email.

"On June 11, 2018, the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) notified the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] that one of their Troxler 3440 moisture/density gauges (SN: 67091), containing a 40 milliCurie americium 241 source and an 8 milliCurie cesium-137 source, could not be accounted for. The gauge was last used at a temporary job site on May 25, 2018. The technician that used the gauge stated to the RSO that he had returned the gauge to the storage area at their facility in Midland, Texas, that afternoon. He further stated the insertion rod was locked. The gauge, along with another, were to have been picked up by, and transferred to, another licensee (a company associated with the licensee) the week of May 28th. On June 4, 2018, the RSO discovered the gauge had not been picked up/transferred nor was it in the storage area. He began an investigation. The RSO interviewed the technician and facility supervisor and reviewed documentation. The gauge had not been used by the licensee since May 25th. The associated licensee conducted a physical inventory of all of its gauges. The associated licensee's RSO was on vacation and could not be reached until June 11th. After it was confirmed with him that the associated company did not have possession or any further knowledge of the gauge, the RSO made the notification. The RSO is continuing his investigation. More information will be provided as it is
obtained in accordance with SA-300."

Texas Incident #: 9583

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 - DAMAGED MOISTURE-DENSITY GAUGE

The following was received from the State of Texas via email.

"On June 11, 2018, the licensee's radiation safety officer (RSO) reported to the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] that one of its Humboldt 5001-EZ moisture/density gauges (serial number 4097) containing a 40 milliCurie americium-241/Beryllium source (NJ04418) and a 8 milliCurie cesium-137 source (7146GQ) had been run over by a dump truck at a temporary job site. The upper casing on the gauge was damaged and the guide bar broke off as the rod was taking a reading. The rod was in the ground when hit by the truck. The technician was taking readings when he noticed a dump truck backing up close to his location. He moved to the side and tried to wave the person driving to stop. The truck didn't stop and hit the gauge. The incident was reported by the RSO and stated the area has been restricted access until the device can be recovered. The RSO traveled to the site and accessed the device. The source was successfully pulled/retrieved into the shielded position, surveyed and being transported to a servicing company for possible repair or disposal. The company will provide full details of the incident within the next few days. Investigation ongoing."

Texas Incident #: 9584