The Radiological Council’s investigation into the loss of a tiny but potentially deadly radioactive capsule has been completed, with no charges or fines being issued.
Radiological Council Western Australian chair and WA chief health officer Andrew Robertson confirmed the investigation’s conclusion by saying the report’s findings have been passed onto WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson for review.
“The council has reviewed the matter of potential breaches of the Radiation Safety Act and regulations and no charges or fines have been raised in relation to the matter at this time,” Robertson said in a statement to the ABC.
“The investigation was conducted under the Radiation Safety Act, which has strict provisions related to information held by the council and does not allow for public release. In addition, operational details about the transport of radioactive materials are not typically released in order to maintain security and public safety.”
The caesium-137 capsule was reported as missing on January 25 when it reportedly fell off a truck transporting it from a Rio Tinto mine in the Pilbara region to Perth. It had first vanished between January 11–16, but it wasn’t reported as lost for more than a week.
On February 1, the ABC reported that the radioactive capsule had been found 74km south of Newman in WA. The capsule was only six millimetres in diameter and 8mm in height.
“I do want to emphasise this is an extraordinary result,” WA Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson had said. “The search crews have quite literally found the needle in the haystack.”
The police had ruled out criminal wrongdoing in February, and Rio Tinto was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Radiological Council in late July.
“During its considerations, the council noted Rio Tinto readily and promptly cooperated with the provision of access and information both during the search and throughout the council’s inquiry and investigations,” the letter to Rio Tinto said.
“The inquiry did not identify any breaches of the Radiation Safety Act by Rio Tinto or its licensees or employees and no adverse findings against Rio Tinto or its licensees have been recorded.”