Western Australian radioactive capsule incident
Between 10 and 16 January 2023, a radioactive capsule containing caesium-137 went missing from a truck in Western Australia. The capsule was being transported from Rio Tinto's Gudai-Darri iron ore mine near Newman to a depot in the Perth suburb of Malaga. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services announced to the public on 27 January that the capsule had gone missing. It was discovered on the side of the road near Newman on 1 February.
The capsule
The capsule is 6 mm × 8 mm (0.24 in × 0.31 in) in size[1] and is used as part of a nucleonic level sensor in the crushing circuit[2] in iron ore mining. The capsule contains a caesium-137[3] ceramic source[4] that emits 19 gigabecquerel.[5]
Timeline
On 10 January 2023, the capsule was packed in order for repair works to be carried out in Perth.[6]
Between 11 and 14 January, the capsule left Rio Tinto's Gudai-Darri mine[6] for transport. The package containing the capsule arrived in Perth on 16 January and was unloaded and placed into secure storage. The package was unpacked for inspection on 25 January, with one of four mounting bolts and all screws on the gauge missing, and the capsule itself also missing. Authorities surmised that the bolt had worked loose because of vibrations during the journey, and then the capsule had fallen through the bolt hole.[7]
On the evening of 25 January, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) was notified of the missing capsule by the Western Australia Police Force.[8]
The Chief Health Officer of Western Australia, Andrew Robertson, held an emergency press conference, with DFES issuing an "urgent public health warning" on 27 January.[8][7] Members of the public were warned to observe a safe distance of five metres if they found the capsule, and drivers who had recently used the Great Northern Highway were asked to check their vehicle tyres in case it was lodged in the tread.[7]
A search was carried out after the capsule was reported missing, with more than 100 personnel involved.[9] Agencies assisting the search included the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, WA Police, DFES, and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.[10]
The capsule was found on 1 February, 74 kilometres (46 mi) south of Newman by a search crew in a vehicle travelling at 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph). The presence was noticed when the detection equipment picked up radiation emitted by the capsule.[9][1]
Responses
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticised the low penalty for losing radioactive materials in Western Australia. Under the Radiation Safety Regulations Act, the maximum penalty for failing to safely store, pack and transport radioactive materials is a $1,000 fine. The Government of Western Australia has stated it will review the penalties for mishandling radioactive materials, but any change will not be retroactive.[11][12] Rio Tinto has offered to pay for the search costs.[13]
The search and subsequent recovery of the capsule has been likened to finding a "needle in a haystack" by the media and authorities.[14][15]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Remarkable recovery of tiny radioactive capsule leaves questions unanswered amid 'silver lining'". ABC News. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ "Rio Tinto expresses its gratitude to search crews for locating missing capsule". www.riotinto.com.
- ^ Hastie, Hamish (27 January 2023). "WA health risk as tiny amount of radioactive substance lost in transit". WAtoday. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ Bunch, Aaron (28 January 2023). "Lost radioactive capsule from Rio Tinto". Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ Doherty, Ben (29 January 2023). "Search stepped up for potentially deadly radioactive capsule lost in Western Australia". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ a b Anderson, Anthony (28 January 2023). "Tiny radioactive capsule lost somewhere on road for up to 18 days". news.com.au. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b c Guardian Staff (27 January 2023). "Missing radioactive capsule sparks urgent health alert in Western Australia". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Hazmat General Warning" (PDF). EmergencyWA. 27 January 2023.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=requires|archive-url=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Carmody, James; Murphy, Rosemary (1 February 2023). "'We've found the needle in the haystack': Tiny radioactive capsule found in outback WA". ABC News.
- ^ "Australian nuclear body joins search for missing radioactive capsule". NBC News. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ Ho, Cason; Searson, Amelia (1 February 2023). "Prime minister slams 'ridiculously low' penalty for mishandling radioactive material". ABC News. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Zimmerman, Josh; Le Messurier, Danielle (1 February 2023). "Rio Tinto's missing capsule found as Government discusses increasing fines for losing radioactive material". The West Australian. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Carmody, James; Murphy, Rosemary (1 February 2023). "Missing radioactive capsule found in WA outback after frantic search". ABC News. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Needle-in-a-haystack search for lost radioactive capsule continues". 9 News. 29 January 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Hastie, Hamish (1 February 2023). "'Needle in a haystack': Search over after radioactive capsule found in WA outback". WAtoday. Retrieved 3 February 2023.