Officials gave the all clear shortly after 7am Friday when a construction worker returning to the work site reported that he had discovered the gauge — used to test density in soil compaction during construction — left at the site Thursday night, and he had placed it into his car trunk for safekeeping.
Radiation officials with the NC Department of Health and Human Services checked the worker’s car trunk and took radiation readings of the gauge. Readings were found to be normal and it was confirmed that the radioactive sources had remained shielded. The gauge appeared to have no damage, and was returned to the licensee to be sent to the manufacturer for testing.
An initial investigation indicates no member of the public was endangered while the device was missing. Radiation officials shifted from a recovery operation to a compliance investigation once the device was found. The device was used by a private contractor at an apartment job site on Shady Summit Way in Garner (Wake County).
