Event Notification Report for January 18, 2023

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER

The following information was provided by the Tennessee Division of Radiological Health via email:

"During a scheduled source disposal with a Berthold technician, a licensee staff member broke the handle off the gauge when trying to close the shutter. The technician took surveys to verify the shutter was stuck in the open position. The plan from the Berthold technician is to design lead plates to simulate a closed shutter for the device to be shipped offsite.

"Corrective actions or reports as well as additional information will be updated with an NMED report within 30 days."

Manufacturer: Ohmart/Vega
Model: SH-F1A-0
Model SN: 3368CN
Isotope: Cs-137, 5 mCi

State Event Report ID number: TN-23-001

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER

The following information was provided by Alabama Radiation Control (the Agency) via email:

"Licensee reported that a Honeywell model 4202 beta gauge serial number AE1345 was found with shutter stuck in the safe/closed position during routine shutter checks. The gauge's source, an Eckert and Ziegler model PHC.C2, is promethium-147 with 210 millicuries of activity as of 1/9/2023. The maximum exposure rate at 12 inches from the gauge was reported to be 0.03 mR/hr, less exposure than at installation. The licensee reported that no personnel received radiation exposures over background, due to the shutter's position and that the area around the gauge is unoccupied.

"Reported to the Agency 1/10/23.

"Alabama Radiation Control will provide more information as the investigation continues."

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST SOURCE

The following information was provided by Alabama Radiation Control (the agency) via email:

"Licensee advised that a Troxler 3430 serial number 79905, nominally with 8 mCi of cesium-137 and 40 mCi of americium241/beryllium, was lost leaving a job site in north Alabama. The licensee stated that the gauge fell from the technician's truck. The gauge has not been located as of this reporting.

"The agency received information about this matter the evening of 1/10/23 and the morning of 1/11/2023.

"Alabama Radiation Control will provide more information as the investigation continues."

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