SYDNEY, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Authorities in Australia will
review laws that penalise the mishandling of radioactive
material with a A$1,000 ($707) fine as a search for a hazardous
capsule lost in the Outback enters a seventh day.
Officials from Western Australia's emergency response
department, defence authorities, radiation specialists and
others are combing a 1,400 km (870 mile) stretch of highway for
the tiny capsule, from a mining device, that was lost in transit
more than two weeks ago. The radioactive capsule was part of a gauge used to measure
the density of iron ore feed being transported from Rio Tinto's Gudai-Darri mine in the state's remote Kimberley region
to a facility in the suburbs of Perth - a distance longer than
the length of Great Britain.
The penalty for failing to safely handle radioactive
substances is A$1,000 and A$50 per day the offence continues,
according to state legislation from 1975.
"That figure is ridiculously low but I suspect that it's
ridiculously low because people didn't think such an item could
be lost," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a news conference
in the state capital, Perth, referring to the fine.
The silver capsule, 6 mm in diameter and 8 mm long, contains
Caesium-137 which emits radiation equal to 10 X-rays per hour.
"It shouldn't have been lost," Albanese said.
Rio Tinto apologised for the loss on Monday. It had
entrusted shipment to specialist packing and transport
operators.
The state minister for health, Amber-Jade Sanderson, told
the news conference her government was looking to change laws to
allow for higher penalties and cost recovery in such
circumstances, she said.
"The current fine system is unacceptably low and we are
looking at how we can increase that," Sanderson said.
She said the investigation suggested the loss was the result
of incompetence not conspiracy.
Authorities suspect vibrations on the bumpy road loosened
screws and a bolt on the gauge letting the capsule fall out. The
gauge was picked up from the mine site on Jan. 12 and was
unpacked for inspection on Jan. 25 when the loss of the capsule
was discovered.
People have been told to stay at least five metres (16.5
feet) away from the capsule if they spot it as exposure could
cause radiation burns or radiation sickness, though driving past
it is believed to be relatively low risk, akin to taking an
X-ray.
($1 = 1.4152 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Robert Birsel)
+613 9286 1421; Reuters Messaging:
melanie.burton.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
