 INES 1 |
Found orphan Cs-137 source |
On 22.11.2013 radiation portal monitors at a Finnish stainless steel factory indicated that an incoming shipment of scrap metal contained a radiation source. The factory immediately contacted Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK). An inspector from STUK went to the site. The source was tentatively identified as Cs-137.
The container in which the source was discovered was transported back to the shipper under a license by STUK. Upon a detailed inspection by STUK inspectors at the scrap metal facility the source was con-firmed to be Cs-137. 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 corresponding to a category 4 source.
The source was sent to a recognized installation waiting further investigation.
The origin of the source is not known at this time. It is not known whether the source has caused over-exposure of members of the public.
The event was classified as level 1 on the INES scale.
Event date: Fri, 22-11-2013
