The following information was provided by the
Arkansas Department of Health (the Department) via email:
At 1725 CDT on 4/1/2025, Suzano Packaging notified the Department by email that the rotor pin for the shutter in one of their process gauges on digester #8 was sheared. The discovery was made while attempting to lock out the gauge for process maintenance.
The affected gauge is as follows:
OHMART-03240310036 SR2, SN-4731C0, Cs-137, 1000 microcuries.
Licensee actions are as follows:
A technical representative from BBP Sales [LLC, a dealer and servicer of OHMART Vega Corporation Scientific Instruments] determined on 4/1/2025 that the gauge cannot be repaired in place and steps have been implemented to acquire a replacement gauge.
The process continues to run safely, with no additional exposure to workers, but with confined space entry being prohibited.
Digester #8 remains in service with the affected gauge performing measurements as required.
Upon receipt of the replacement gauge, maintenance will be scheduled with BBP Sales technical support to safely remove the affected process gauge from service and replace it with the new unit.
The investigation is ongoing, and reporting will proceed in accordance with SA-300.
Arkansas Event Number: AR-2025-001
- * * UPDATE ON 10/23/2025 AT 1140 EDT FROM DAVID EICHENBERGER TO IAN HOWARD * * *
The following information was provided by the Arkansas Department of Health (the Department) via email:
The root cause of the event appears to be scaffolding that was erected too close to the gauge preventing proper operation and damaging the shutter mechanism.
The gauge was replaced on July 29, 2025, and the old gauge was shipped for disposal on August 18, 2025.
Notified R4DO (Vossmar),
NMSS Events Notifications Group (email).