Event Notification Report for August 07, 2024

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOST SOURCE

The following information was provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department) via phone and email:

"On August 7, 2024, the Department was notified by the licensee that they had lost a Humboldt model 5001 EZ moisture density gauge. The gauge contains a 40 millicurie americium - 241 source and an 8 millicurie cesium - 137 source. The gauge was used at a temporary job site and had been placed in the back of a pickup truck to transport back to its storage location. The technician failed to secure the gauge in the truck and did not raise and secure the tailgate. When the technician arrived at the office, they found the gauge was missing. The technician drove the route they had taken looking for the gauge but did not find it. They then notified their radiation safety officer (RSO). The licensee has contacted the Houston Police Department and notified them of the loss. The licensee stated the cesium source rod was locked in the fully shielded position. The RSO stated that the technician and a district RSO are still out looking for the gauge at the time of this report. The RSO stated the gauge would not create an exposure risk to any individual. Additional information will be provided in accordance with SA 300."

Texas Incident #: I-10119


* * * UPDATE ON 08/09/24 AT 2019 EDT FROM ARTHUR TUCKER TO JOSUE RAMIREZ * * *

The following information was provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department) via email:

"On August 9, 2024, the licensee reported that they had recovered the gauge. An individual was driving on the road where the gauge had fallen out of the truck and recognized what it was and picked it up. He found the contact information on the gauge container and called the licensee. The licensee has the gauge in its storage location. The licensee inspected the gauge and stated that the gauge was in good condition."

Notified R4DO (Vossmar), NMSS Events Notification, ILTAB, and CNSNS (Mexico) via email.


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

EN Revision Imported Date: 7/17/2025

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE - LOST STATIC ELIMINATOR

The following is a summary of information provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (the Department) via email:

The Department reported that on August 7, 2024, the licensee notified them of a lost NRD model P-2021 static eliminator containing 0.7 mCi of polonium 210. The licensee continues to search for the device.

Colorado event ID: CO240020


* * * UPDATE ON 07/16/2025 AT 1816 EDT FROM KATHRYN KIRK TO JOSUE RAMIREZ * * *

The following update was submitted by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (the Department) via email:

"The Department was notified today of a static elimination device (serial number: A2MU000) previously reported as missing in August of 2024, was found on 05/21/2025. The device was leak tested and will be sent back to the manufacturer. NMED Number: CO240020"

Notified R4DO (Drake), NMSS Events Notifications (email), ILTAB (email).

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

EN Revision Imported Date: 9/17/2024

EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE - DAMAGED MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was provided by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) via email:

"NYSDOH received a phone call from the radiation safety officer (RSO) on August 7, 2024, to report a damaged moisture density gauge. The gauge was struck by a passing skid steer.

"Device Make: Instrotek
"Device Model: 3500
"Isotopes: Am-241/Be (44mCi), Cs-137 (11mCi)

"The area was cordoned off. The gauge base plate appeared damaged. The source rod was not exposed. Measurements taken with a survey meter were 0.2 mR/hr at 3ft, which appears consistent with the radiation dose profile for this instrument per the sealed source and device registry.

"The RSO reports that the device was removed from the site at the request of the client and transported to the Kleinfelder Scranton, PA, location for leak testing. A leak test was performed and sent out for analysis, however, at this time is not believed that the source would be leaking. It is not believed that this event led to any degradation of the source, source housing, or shielding. NYSDOH is monitoring this incident and has assigned incident number 1496 to track this event.

"As this company was performing work under reciprocity, the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have also been notified of this event for their awareness. Additional information will be provided to NMED once available."

New York event report ID: NY-24-07

* * * UPDATE ON 8/09/2024 AT 1643 EDT FROM ATNATIWOS MESHESHA TO JOSUE RAMIREZ * * *

This event was also reported by the State of Maryland under EN 57267.

Notified R1DO (Bickett), NMSS Events Notifications (Email).

* * * UPDATE ON 9/16/2024 AT 1643 EDT FROM NATE KISHBAUGH TO ROBERT THOMPSON * * *

The following information was provided by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) via email:

"Following the original notification of this event, it was confirmed via leak testing of both the Cs-137 source and Am-241/Be source that neither source was breached, damaged, or leaking from this event. Furthermore, an additional radiation protection survey indicated that there were no breaches to the shielding or integrity of this device and no essential safety functions were damaged. The extent of damage to the baseplate was cosmetic.

"As a corrective action, the licensee retrained the responsible authorized user of the device, including manufacturer's operation training, licensee specific policies and procedure, and a demonstration of proper use of the device with the radiation safety officer (RSO). On August 8, 2024, all authorized users were retrained in constant surveillance and immediate control of the gauges when not secured in permanent storage. Additionally, the licensee placed highly visible stickers affixed to their gauges to remind authorized users to maintain constant surveillance and immediate control over gauges.

"NYSDOH has accepted the findings from this investigation and have accepted the licensee's proposed corrective actions. As a result, NYSDOH has closed this incident."

Notified R1DO (Werkheiser), NMSS Events Notifications (Email).

AGREEMENT STATE - DAMAGED MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE

The following information was provided by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) via email:

"This report is made in accordance with 10 CFR 30.50 (b)(2).

"At 1045 EDT on 8/7/2024, an Instrotek 3500 nuclear density gauge (serial number 566), containing a 10 mCi Cs-137 source and a 40 mCi Am-241 source, was struck by site equipment (skid steer) during asphalt placement operations in Syracuse, NY. The gauge was licensed to, and being operated by, Kleinfelder, a Maryland licensee (MD-05-248-01) and used in New York under reciprocity arrangement. The base plate of the gauge was damaged, but there was no observable damage to the source rod and it was retracted to the safe position at the time of the accident. Kleinfelder contracted a third party to complete a survey and no elevated levels of radiation were detected. The gauge was then transported to the Kleinfelder office, located in Mechanicsburg, PA, and tested for source leakage. MDE was notified on 8/8/2024 at 1258 EDT and requested that the gauge be tested for leakage. Leak tests later showed no leakage of radioactive material. At this time, the gauge is returned to the licensee storage in Maryland and [placed] out-of-service."

The State of New York also reported this event on August 8, 2024, under EN 57266.