OFFICIAL
TASK REQUEST
–Support to Search for missing Capsule containing radioactive material - Western Australia --
2023288
Task Request #001
Event Title:
Radiological Incident Western Australia
Activated Plan:
COMDISPLAN activated on 28th January 2023
NSR Task Request No.:
#001
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Time/Date:
28 January 2023
Agency/Jurisdiction:
WA
Situation:
A 19.9 Gigabequerel (GBq) industrial radiation source in a level gauge was transported by road
on a trailer from s 22 - Irrelevant
s 22 - Irrelevant
the Pilbara to the Perth metropolitan area
The ceramic radioactive material was inside a metal capsule which is 6 mm diameter
and 8 mm long.
A under FOI
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
The pallet was collected and loaded on a trailer s 22 - Irrelevant
on
12 January 2023 for transport by road to Perth. It travelled through some intermediate depots
before arriving at the premises s 22 - Irrelevant in 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.
Investigations by s 22 - Irrelevant
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.
by ARPAN
Task Description:
Australian Government assistance is requested to locate the missing radiation source, namely:
• Specialised radiation detection capability, to locate 20 giga-becquerel of Caesium-137
ed
up to 10 to 15 metres off the side of road.
Assistance for this task is being sought from a number of authorities s 22 - Irrelevant
who will need to work collaboratively and collectively in support of lead WA
authorities to locate the missing radiation source.
Delivery Location:
The total distance of road being considered in the search area is estimated as 1350km of
regional highways, and would also include some metropolitan road routes.
Timeframe:
The Specialised radiation detection capability is to be delivered to Perth and then subsequently
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deployed at the direction of WA authorities.
Duration:
Support is requested as soon as possible, due to the risk to public safety.
The requirement is 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 capability provided.
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OFFICIAL
Jurisdiction/Agency
s 22 - Irrelevant
Point of Contact:
Assigned To:
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)
Authorisation NSR Contact Officer:
s 22 - Irrelevant
Authorising Officer:
National Emergency Management Agency
by ARPANSA under FOI
Released
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