BF Goodrich fined for loss of radioactive materials

ERJ staff report (DS)

Montgomery, Alabama -- Alabama's Department of Public Health has proposed a $650 fine against BFGoodrich Tire Manufacturing of Tuscaloosa after BFGoodrich reported in May that two devices containing radioactive sources were missing from the Tuscaloosa plant site.

BFGoodrich reported that these devices were last accounted for in October 2008 and were discovered missing on April 22, 2009. They may have left the site when the production line on which they were attached was dismantled and removed as scrap.

Each of the two devices -- which measured the thickness of rubber product during production -- contained small amounts of the isotope Americium 241.

Kirksey E. Whatley, director of Alabama's Office of Radiation Control, said, “This violation is a concern because someone could have been exposed to radiation if the devices were found and mis-handled. There is also the possibility that the devices could be melted as scrap and thus cause radioactive contamination at the steel mill and in recycled steel produced by the mill.”

Following the discovery of the missing devices, BFGoodrich took immediate corrective actions to properly account for all remaining radioactive devices on site, to retrain employees in the importance of maintaining security and accountability of devices, and to institute revised safety procedures for sources of radiation.

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Press release from Alabama Department of Public Health