Event Notification Report for January 26, 2021

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING SOURCE

The following information was received from the Commonwealth of Virginia via email:

"On January 5, 2021, the licensee reported that 34.02 microCuries of I -125 Aqueous Solution (Musk Tracer) was lost. The source was received on December 8, 2020. The licensee's technologist opened the package and checked if it needed to be refrigerated. The technologist verified the source was in the package and determined that the source did not need to be refrigerated. Then the technologist left the source in the package on the floor with the other items in the inventory area. Upon review of the receipt log of radioactive materials, it was noted that this shipment (package) was never logged-in, whereas other products received that day were included in the log, and the source could not be located. On 12/11/2020, the RSO [Radiation Safety Officer] was notified about the possible loss of the package. A search was conducted in the facility, but the licensee was unable to locate the source. The Facilities Department was alerted that there was a missing shipment (source), but five days had already passed. The licensee stated that it was too late to go through the dumpsters. The licensee believed that the package was unknowingly disposed of in a dumpster. However, the search is continuing. The licensee will submit the possible maximum public dose exposure from this source. This report will be updated when the licensee submits their final investigation report."

Virginia report no.: VA210001

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

This material event contains a "Category 3" level of radioactive material.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST SOURCE IN TRANSIT

The following was received from the State of Louisiana, Department of Environmental Quality:

"On January 05, 2021, [the Radiation Safety Officer] (RSO) dropped off seventeen sources to the common carrier for shipment to various locations. Alpha-Omega contacted the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality / Emergency Response Services Division / Radiation Section [at 1530 CST on 1/15/21] to report that a High Dose Rate (HDR) Ir-192 source was lost in transit with the common carrier. The source was being shipped to Mid-Columbia Medical Center, The Dalles, OR. The source serial number is D36R0392. The activity of the Ir-192 source on 1/5/21 was 10.568 Ci (391.016 GBq) when it was shipped. The current activity on 1/15/21 is 9.626 Ci (356.162 GBq). The common carrier does not show this source being tracked or received."

LA Event Report ID No.: LA 20210001

THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "CATEGORY 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Category 3 sources, if not safely managed or securely protected, could cause permanent injury to a person who handled them, or were otherwise in contact with them, for some hours. It could possibly - although it is unlikely - be fatal to be close to this amount of unshielded radioactive material for a period of days to weeks. These sources are typically used in practices such as fixed industrial gauges involving high activity sources (for example: level gauges, dredger gauges, conveyor gauges and spinning pipe gauges) and well logging. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

Note: This device is assigned an IAEA Category 3 value based on the actual radioactivity of the source, not on the device type. (Reference IAEA RG-G-1.9)

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LEAKING CALIBRATION SOURCE

The following information was received via E-mail:

"On 1/4/2021, a leak test was performed on an Isotope Products Laboratories Cs-137 sealed source vial, serial number 1074-19-20, used as a dose calibrator constancy source. The current calculated activity at the time of the leak test measured 147.49 microcuries from the reference date of 9/1/2004. The measured results of the leak test revealed an activity of 0.012 microcuries on 1/4/2021 at 1253 EST.

"The Cs-137 sealed source was promptly sealed within its lead container and firmly taped closed. This taped pig was then placed inside of several nitrile gloves, which were also generously taped closed, adorned with radioactive material stickers and the source was placed into the facility's radioactive material waste storage closet. The visible label includes the isotope, date of storage, current activity, and signature of the individual who stored it. The same documentation was also entered into the sealed source inventory. The RSO was then promptly notified of the event.

"The source leak test was conducted by Alliance Medical Physics."

Georgia Incident Number: 35

NON-AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - SHUTTER NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY

The following is a summary of a call received from the licensee:

The licensee reported a shutter stuck open on a DMC-19 gauge, s/n: 7759LX, with a 1,000 microCi AM-241 source. The shutter is currently closed and locked. There were no overexposures. Global Gauge was working on the shutter and is expected to conduct repairs on 01/20/2021.

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN MOISTURE / DENSITY GAUGES

The following information was received via E-mail:

"On 1/19/21, The California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) contacted the Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) to report an incident involving five stolen moisture / density gauges. The initial report to Cal OES was made by the Santa Clara Fire Department. Upon receipt of the Cal OES incident report, RHB contacted the licensee and learned the following:

"The licensee became aware of this theft on 1/19/21, when one of their staff members attempted to collect a gauge from the authorized storage unit located at 3033 Lafayette Street, Unit A133, in Santa Clara, CA. The licensee had five gauges stored at this location.

"According to the Public Storage facility personnel, the theft occurred late at night on Friday, 1/15/2021, when eight units were burglarized that day. The licensee stated that they did not receive any notification from the storage unit personnel regarding the theft on Friday. On 01/19/21, the licensee notified the Santa Clara Police Department of the theft (case number: 21-115042) and dispatchers were able to recover five transport cases near De La Cruz and Hwy 101 in Santa Clara, but the gauges were all missing.

"The gauges that were stolen include:

"1. CPN International MC-3, S/N M380709085, 50mCi of AmBe 241 and 10mCi of Cs 137
2. InstroTek MCE-3, S/N 30380, 50mCi of AmBe 241 and 10mCi of Cs 137
3. InstroTek MCE-3, S/N 30958, 50mCi of AmBe 241 and 10mCi of Cs 137
4. InstroTek Explorer 3500, S/N 3375, 44mCi of AmBe 241 and 11mCi of Cs 137
5. InstroTek Explorer 3500, S/N 3826, 44mCi of AmBe 241 and 11mCi of Cs 137

"RHB will be following up on this investigation."

California 5010 Number: 011921

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