Case 5  - Detection of orphan source in stainless steel metal works

Radiation portal monitors at a stainless-steel factory indicated that an incoming shipment of scrap metal contained a radiation source.

Response  / Action taken

The factory immediately contacted the regulatory body for radiation safety. An inspector from the regulatory body went to the site and the source was tentatively identified as Cs-137. It was later confirmed by the regulatory body that the source was Cs-137.

The container in which the source was discovered was transported back to the shipper under an authorization by the regulatory body. The source was in a partly flattened 150 mm long metal tube with no markings or additional shielding. No contamination was found. 

The activity of the source was estimated based on dose rate measurements to be approximately 1.5 GBq.

The source was sent to a recognized installation waiting further investigation.

The origin of the source was not known at the time of reporting.

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