LITTLEROCK – A potentially dangerous piece of construction equipment that’s used to measure the density of soil and roadway asphalt and went missing from a county truck in the Littlerock area was back in the hands of the county Department of Public Works on Tuesday, Dec. 18.
The device, known as a thin layer density gauge, was reported missing Thursday, Dec. 14, by public works crews testing the thickness of the roadway at the intersection of 110th Street East and Avenue R-4. The gauge was last seen about 4 p.m. Thursday in the truck bed of a marked LA County Public Works vehicle. It remained unclear what happened to the device.
Public Works officials warned last week that the density gauge, which uses x-ray-type radiation to measure roadway thickness, can be hazardous if mishandled or damaged, and radiation sickness could occur. Late Monday night, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced that a Littlerock resident had found the device and contacted her office. She said public works officials recovered the device and tested it, determining it was still intact and in working order.
“I am pleased the lost tool was recovered,” Barger said in a statement. “An individual contacted my office today to share that they had the gauge in their possession. I’m glad that my message to the community to do their part, be vigilant, and contact officials if found was heeded by the public.
“It’s a big relief to know that no one was hurt by radiation sickness in the process of recovering it. However, this cannot happen again. I am calling on Public Works to immediately report back to the Board with a corrective action plan to ensure this type of risk to the public never materializes again,” Barger said.
Public works officials had offered a $1,000 reward for the device’s return. It was unclear if the person who contacted Barger’s office would receive the money.
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Mars says
SOOO IS DUDE GONNA DIE FROM EXPOSURE OR WILL HE ACTUALLY GET $1000 REWARD OR WAS IT A SETUP TO HAND FAMILY $ FOR CHRISTMAS…EITHER WAY MERRY CHRISTMAS HOPE NOTHING DROPS
Tim Scott says
The only way to ‘die from exposure’ with that thing is if you point it at yourself and repeatedly measure your density, or take it apart and pull out the source so you can keep it in your pocket.
Marty Bills says
Barger is pretty desperite to be making these kinds of news releases. Word on the street is this was a gift from the public works union to get her media attention??
Mars says
FOR SHOW