Event Notification Report for November 25, 2020

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST STATIC CONTROL DEVICE

The following was received from the state of Utah via email:

"The licensee indicated that while conducting an inventory of their radioactive devices it was discovered that a small Static Control Device (SCD) was missing containing an estimated 16.27 mCi, Po-210 source, manufacturer: NRD, model: 1U400. The source was licensed and distributed under a general license. The licensee believes the SCD may have been disposed of as lab waste, been moved to a different location within the building, or was inadvertently added to a field project kit that has not been located. The current location of the device is unknown."

Event Report ID No.: UT 200002

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 information was received from the state of Massachusetts via email:

"MA RCP [Radiation Control Program] Officer received notification from the licensee Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) that one of their portable gauges was damaged by construction equipment at a temporary job site of the licensee.

"The portable gauge is a Troxler Electronics Laboratories Model 3400 Series moisture-density gauge containing up to 9 milliCurie of Cesium-137 in one sealed source and up to 44 milliCurie of Americium-241 in another sealed source.

"The RSO reported that they were in route to the site with a survey instrument and that, based on information received by his technician at the site, the damage is expected to be minor. The RSO indicated the portable gauge was in use at the time of the incident. The gauge and rod were pushed into the sand when the damage occurred. The RSO indicated his technician told him the shielding was intact, however, the source and shielding separated from the plastic portion of the gauge. He also indicated the source was able to be retracted into the gauge's shielding. Additionally, RCP dispatched personnel to the site to perform surveys and evaluation of the gauge.

"RCP staff evaluated NRC reporting requirements. Equipment was secured on-site. No loose contamination identified and maximum dose rate was 20 mR per hour at contact on the shielded source holder. No personnel exposure and there was no immediate threat to public health. No additional emergency response was required. RCP personnel assisted in boxing the damaged gauge and the licensee will return the gauge securely to their office and will then arrange for transport back to the manufacturer. RCP will follow up with additional information."

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