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Post Info TOPIC: WA: "Have you seen my radioactive isotope? I seem to have mislaid it"
Mike Harding


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WA: "Have you seen my radioactive isotope? I seem to have mislaid it"
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Bit of an issue in Western Australia with a radioactive isotope falling off the back of a truck:

News item

The news item shows a picture of a small (6 x 8mm) cylinder but I imagine (hope!) it was inside a safe of perhaps, something like, 600 x 600mm although it's possible the safe door opened and the isotope fell out?

In any event if you find it don't mess with it - stay 10m+ clear and call police.

All a bit sloppy really, someone should be fired and perhaps prosecuted.



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Whenarewethere


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Surely the thing would be in multiple layers of protective & security packaging then in a larger container for transport.

 

A bit like ordering a micro SD card, it comes in an A4 padded envelope with tracking number.

 

My guess it was lost before it even got out of the building & people are trying to blame others.



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hufnpuf


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I saw the report on the tv, but wasn't paying close attention because I'm not in the locations in which it was lost to be thinking I needed to be looking out for it. They said it was in a container and the container was broken but they didn't notice it was broken until a later time when they'd arrived at their destination. Whatever the packaging was, it wasn't good enough and I'm sure they'll be improving their procedures.

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dogbox


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it has been reported that it has been missing since the 10/01/2023.

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Are We Lost


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RE: WA: "Have you seen my radioactive isotope? I seem to have mislaid it"
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Whenarewethere wrote:

Surely the thing would be in multiple layers of protective & security packaging then in a larger container for transport.


Hard to believe but it seems that was not the case according to this ABC News article. In there it says:

"It is believed the capsule fell through the gap left by a bolt hole, after the bolt was dislodged when a container collapsed as a result of vibrations during the trip."

 



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hufnpuf


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They said on the news today that they are flying around in aircraft that can detect radioactivity.  Hopefully that might discover it,  I can't imagine it could ever be located by people looking on the highway, unless it dropped out in a town or layby or somewhere that people congregate.



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Whenarewethere


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The more information I hear, the more farcical the story becomes. 

 

You couldn't write a book on this debacle.



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Aussie1


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If it was that important a reward would have been offered. Not exactly a Chernobyl situation.

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Whenarewethere


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Don't think they want village idiots looking for it.



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Aussie1


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Dah, yah think

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Stretch60


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Not the first time either, same thing happened a few years ago.

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Whenarewethere


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So they haven't learnt!



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bobsa


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That's going to cost someone a carton


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Ivan 01


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bobsa wrote:

That's going to cost someone a carton

 Sure is. biggrin biggrin



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Whenarewethere


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I hope people take a touch more care transporting mining explosives around the country.



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Ivan 01


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Whenarewethere wrote:

I hope people take a touch more care transporting mining explosives around the country.

 For those travelling the Michell Highway stop and have a read of what happened out there about 8 or 9 years ago.

It made quite a dent in the landscape and I am being kind with that description.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-22/angellala-creek-bridge-destroyed-truck-blast-fixed-by-november/6411440

Edit a better news link;

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-07/ammonia-truck-explosion-site-near-charleville-queensland-unsafe/5725376

-- Edited by Ivan 01 on Monday 30th of January 2023 11:33:48 AM



-- Edited by Ivan 01 on Monday 30th of January 2023 03:23:29 PM

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dorian


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Ivan 01 wrote:
Whenarewethere wrote:

I hope people take a touch more care transporting mining explosives around the country.

 For those travelling the Michell Highway stop and have a read of what happened out there about 8 or 9 years ago.

It made quite a dent in the landscape and I am being kind with that description.

Here are full sized photos:

https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/b423e6d395dd8c07e4a6ccba925d94a9

https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/f726e7d34772a7406ba3684e78fc4dcd

https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/8aa7bfc1b59e6426ac43e2308af96ea6

https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/e11c36d9085babada25908e9aa525193

https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/1a200f9d6e88c7aae553ee0ee1cff5d6

https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/a554e8810aab000cc45f7166de8187cd

https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/7b05b5988ba404fcae09e4b9e93a3c22

https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/398fe0bf93eb7f64343c1e4d6874ac20



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Ivan 01


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Great shots dorian.

There was certainly nothing left of the truck carrying the explosives.

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Whenarewethere


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RE: WA: "Have you seen my radioactive isotope? I seem to have mislaid it"
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The shot before detonation!

 

normal_IMG_1747-explosives.jpg

 



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Kebbin


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Assuming what we have been told is the facts I cannot fathom the stupidity involved, it was put in a box with other isotopes and fell thru a bolt hole, bullsh*t.

So no protective packaging and no secure container! These things just rolling around in a half a cubic metre wooden box. Something stinks, did the courier get curious? Seems to be more likely than falling thru a bolt hole!



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Kebbin
hufnpuf


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Kebbin wrote:

did the courier get curious?

 For human intervention, wouldn't the person be discovered when all their skin starts peeling off and they are sick?

I wonder what nefarious purpose this thing could be used for, if it has been nicked on purpose and not just lost.

In relation to the search, they showed on the news a convoy of cars/SUVs going up the highway.  They said they had detection equipment in them. 

If it is out there, I wonder if there will be signs in time, like the bush dying or something where they can tell where it is.

At least this "dodgy brothers" incident should result in better procedures and safety in future.  We can only hope.



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Mike Harding


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A good article:

The Guardian



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Whenarewethere


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Kebbin wrote:

Assuming what we have been told is the facts I cannot fathom the stupidity involved, it was put in a box with other isotopes and fell thru a bolt hole, bullsh*t.

So no protective packaging and no secure container! These things just rolling around in a half a cubic metre wooden box. Something stinks, did the courier get curious? Seems to be more likely than falling thru a bolt hole!

 I heard on ABC Radio National that all international protocols for transporting radioactive material were followed according to someone involved in this... what do you call it... stuff-up.

 

It sounded like the child of a unicorn & mermaid had more credibility!



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dorian


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It sounds like the Simpsons.

 

homer_accident.jpg

homer_uranium.jpg



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hufnpuf


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They've found it.  One of the vehicles with specialist equipment located it.  I bet those directly responsible are very relieved.



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Mike Harding


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Good news.

I hope a prosecution or two follows of both companies and individuals.



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Whenarewethere


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Did they lose it going north > south or south > north.

 

If it was north > south, packaging didn't last long!



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hufnpuf


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Whenarewethere wrote:
If it was north > south, packaging didn't last long!

 I think it was coming from a mine site up north.  If it rattled over unsealed roads from the mine, that might have caused the dislodgement of the bolt and package problem.  No doubt, there'll be an enquiry with a view to ensuring this does NOT happen again.



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Bobdown


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They found it not far from Newman, WA..................where it started it's journey from.



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hufnpuf


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Bobdown wrote:

They found it not far from Newman, WA..................where it started it's journey from.

 Yes, that's right.  They said on the news that it wasn't far from the mine site.  Rio Tinto has said it will reimburse the government for the cost of the search "if asked".  I don't know why they need to be asked, they should just do it.  They also confirmed they'll be doing an enquiry.



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