We previously wrote about The Importance of Securing Nuclear Density Gauges several years ago when there were a rash of nuclear density gauges being stolen. Well, there have been several more instances since that article. Just recently in Houston, Texas, it was reported that a radiographic camera containing radioactive material went missing. State health services officials said it was “sealed within multiple layers of protection and thus was unlikely to pose much of a threat unless it’s comprehensively dismantled.” But as noted by an official, “if somebody were to get into the part of the capsule where the radioactive material is, it’s extremely hazardous.”
Last April, it was reported by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection that a portable nuclear gauge used in construction was reported missing, and anyone who finds it was advised to report it but not touch it. The gauge was stored in a vehicle that was stolen, which was then recovered but the gauge was missing. The press release read: “If the gauge is badly damaged or was struck by a vehicle, there is potential for damage to the radioactive source and spread of contamination.”
The same type of instrument was reported stolen a year before in the same area, but luckily the gauge was found and had minor cosmetic damage but no radiological material was released.
And it’s not just the United States that is experiencing these events; three thousand miles away, the same type of instrument, was stolen, but this time from a van in Ireland. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Reports on Lost or Stolen Sealed Sources and Radiation Devices disclosed that there were five lost or stolen devices last year, and only two were recovered.
In January, Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services revealed it was bringing in new radiation detection equipment to help locate a source lost somewhere along its 1,400km journey. According to a news report, “The 8mm by 6mm capsule – a 19-gigabecquerel caesium 137 ceramic source, commonly used in radiation gauges – fell from a secure device on a truck which travelled from a mine site north of Newman in Western Australia’s Pilbara region to a depot in the capital Perth.” Authorities have not been able to find it and are not sure if it was picked up along the way.
Some of these instruments are getting stolen because thieves think they are expensive pieces of equipment they can pawn, but others are stealing them to sell the nuclear source on the open market. The widespread availability of radiological materials at unsecured facilities also increases the potential for terrorists to obtain these materials and use them.
As you can imagine, even if the instruments were lost and not stolen, unsecured radioactive sources can lead to catastrophic scenarios for law enforcement, emergency response teams, and the community.
We’ll repeat the advice we gave in the previously published article. If you have density gauge instruments at your workplace, you should of course make keeping them secure a high priority. However, local officials should also have a plan in place in case they become a threat to public safety. When these instruments are lost or stolen, officials must be able to monitor, detect, and respond.
Since many law enforcement agencies are aware that a radiation preparedness plan is necessary, but they don’t know where to begin, we’ve outlined five steps that every law enforcement agency should consider. Below are the steps but read the 5-Step Radiation Preparedness document to get more details.
- Step 1: Recognize the importance of preparation.
- We’ve covered the reasons above, but know that the latest technological advances now provide law enforcement officers with the ability to monitor large areas for radioactive sources in real time.
- Step 2: Develop a coordinated, smart program.
- Law enforcement agencies need to account for such factors as size of jurisdiction, population, density and proliferation of radioactive sources, and proximity to critical infrastructure such as ports, borders or power plants.
- Step 3: Determine funding sources
- Grants are available to reduce the financial burden on local budgets, including grants earmarked specifically for radiation detection and identification instruments. Federal grants are often available through the Department of Homeland Security. PoliceGrantsHelp.com and FireGrantsHelp.com allow units to identify local, state and federal grant programs.
- Step 4: Identify instrumentation and a vendor with solutions to match your needs.
- An economical and comprehensive radiation monitoring plan will allow you to purchase instrumentation from a single vendor that offers a complete product portfolio. This will allow simplified training programs by leveraging common user interfaces and terminology.
- Step 5: Train agents and implement your plan.
- The most innovative devices available today are designed for use by non-technical experts and can be easy-to-use.
From routine monitoring and surveillance to emergency response situations, advanced, integrated radiation detection and radioactivity measurement instruments help mitigate the threat and keep your community safe. Every law enforcement agency should have a portfolio of these instruments to provide comprehensive, real-time monitoring, early warning, and complete information about the possible danger lurking in a neighborhood.
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