EM-Form 22: Request for Australian Government Physical
Assistance
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Request for Australian Government Physical Assistance
(SEC use only)
REQUEST NO.
(Explanatory notes are provided in State EM Response Procedure 20)
PART 1:
TO:
Executive Officer SECG
FROM: Department of Fire and Emergency Services Western Australia
SITUATION
A 19.9 Giga-becquerel (GBq) industrial radiation source in a level gauge was transported by road
on a trailer from s 22 - Irrelevant
the Pilbara to the Perth metropolitan area s 22 - Irrelevant
The ceramic radioactive material was inside a metal capsule which is 6 mm diameter and 8 mm
long.
The source was packed on 10 January 2023 - secured in the gauge housing, then inside a transport
box (to which it was bolted), this was mounted on a pallet and initially stored s 22 - Irrelevant The Pallet
was collected and loaded onto a trailer s 22 - Irrelevant
on 12 January 2023 for transport by
road to Perth. It travelled through some intermediate depots before arriving at s 22 - Irrelevant
Malaga on 16 January 2023. The pallet was stored at those premises until being opened
on 25 January 2023, when the source was found to be missing. The source is thought to have fallen
through a hole in the damaged box and then from the trailer to the road.
s 22 - Irrelevant
by ARPANSA under FOI
Investigations
including physical and
instrumental searches of various sites and a section of the Great Northern Highway near Bindoon,
have been conducted and are continuing. These efforts to find the source have not been successful.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) is the Hazard Management Agency for
the incident.
The potential search area could cover approximately 1400 km of regional and metropolitan roads,
and this task is beyond the direct capability of the State in a suitable timeframe.
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EMA - Form 22 - Request for Australian Government Physical Assistance to State EM Response Procedure 20
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REQUEST
This is a new request.
Australian Government assistance is requested to locate the missing radiation source, namely:
• Specialised radiation detection capability, to locate 20 giga-becquerel of Caesium-137
up to 10 to 15 metres off the side of the road.
• The total distance of road is estimated as 1350km of regional highways, and would also
include some metropolitan road routes.
• The request is a priority, with the requirement for the equipment to be on the ground into
Perth by no later than Wednesday 1 February 2023. The duration of the request is
unknown at this stage and would be dependent on the ground coverage area of the
capability provided.
CONSTRAINTS
N/A
DELIVERY
As soon as possible, due to the risk to public safety.
CONSIGN
Incident Management Team – Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Perth, Western
Australia.
CONTACT
NAME 1: s 22 - Irrelevant
NAME 2: s 22 - Irrelevant
STATEMENT BY DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OPERATIONS (HMA Delegate)
As the HMA delegate making this request, I certify that due to the nature of the event, the total
resources (government, community and commercial) of the State do not possess the required
by ARPANSA under FOI
specialised detection equipment and cannot reasonably cope with the needs of the current situation.
Name:
Signature:
Date/Time:
s 22 - Irrelevant
s 22 - Irrelevant
19:15 Hours
(HMA Delegate)
27 January 2023
Released
(EO SECG use only)
REQUEST NO.
EMA - Form 22 - Request for Australian Government Physical Assistance to State EM Response Procedure 20
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REQUEST FOR AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE
PART 2: To be completed by SECG Executive Officer.
REQUEST PASSED TO STATE EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
Name:
Signature:
Date:
Time:
PART 3:
To be completed by the State Emergency Coordinator
REQUEST APPROVED
(delete whichever does not apply)
Name:
Signat
Date:
s 22 - Irrelevant
27 /01/ 2023
s 22 - Irrelevant
Time:
2030hrs
PART 4: For official use
Date:
Time:
REQUEST PASSED TO EMA
by ARPANSA under FOI
Date:
Time:
RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM
EMA
Date:
Time:
REQUESTING AUTHORITY
ADVISED
Date:
Time:
Name:
Signature:
Date:
Time:
Released
EMA - Form 22 - Request for Australian Government Physical Assistance to State EM Response Procedure 20
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