radioactive container stolen from vehicle.. | |
DesinzitizedSleepWalker9978 User ID: 33296170 United States 02/18/2013 11:34 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
mimmsy (OP) User ID: 26293126 United States 02/18/2013 11:35 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
DesinzitizedSleepWalker9978 User ID: 33296170 United States 02/18/2013 11:38 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
mimmsy (OP) User ID: 26293126 United States 02/18/2013 11:41 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | The main questions that arise are: 1. Why on earth was this source left in the van unattended ? 2. Can this material be used to make a dirty bomb ? 3. If the source is taken out of the container and dumped, what will happen to any children or adults picking up the unprotected material. |
mimmsy (OP) User ID: 26293126 United States 02/18/2013 11:41 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
DesinzitizedSleepWalker9978 User ID: 33296170 United States 02/18/2013 11:42 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
mimmsy (OP) User ID: 26293126 United States 02/18/2013 11:49 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 17742737 United States 02/19/2013 12:58 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | "The main questions that arise are: 1. Why on earth was this source left in the van unattended ? 2. Can this material be used to make a dirty bomb ? 3. If the source is taken out of the container and dumped, what will happen to any children or adults picking up the unprotected material." 1. Iridium-192 is one of the most commonly shipped Class 7 hazardous material in the world. The most common shipper is radiology departments at hospitals and universities. Every person on this forum has shared the road with a vehicle transporting one of these containers, I guarantee it. Most aren't going to be aware of this, however, because A) not all Class 7's require placarding per 49 CFR/DOT regulations, and B) some couriers are lazy, and don't bother flipping the placards when they are transporting a commodity that requires it. If they get caught doing this, they will A) lose their jobs, B) have their CDL revoked, and C) likely be personally responsible for paying the *very steep* fines. 2. In theory, sure. Unless the person making the bomb has the proper knowledge and facilities to extract the small container from the lead-lined case, though, they're probably going to suffer more exposure than anybody would should they succeed in their little mission. The risk is far greater than any perceived reward. 3. Unless they are qualified hazmat cleanup specialists, they better not. Some other comments - many of which may answer questions left on the original page: "Which ever Van company had the brain to keep something so dangerous in a van over night unprotected should to shut down" The article stated, "officers were alerted to the theft in the early hours of Monday after the van driver discovered the material was missing." This doesn't mean that the guy clocked out on Friday, drank all weekend, and had an "oh, shit!" moment late Sunday night when he realized the radioactive container somehow disappeared from his truck. Transportation is a 24/7, 365 days a year business. Although I find it rather unlikely that he picked up the container some time between Saturday night and the early hours of Monday morning, it's possible. (Side note to shippers out there: this is why you don't hire some half-assed small time logistics outfit to ship anything dangerous, delicate, or sensitive.) The reason why I believe it is possible that it was some small outfit is that if it were UPS, FedEx, TNT, Parcelforce, or DHL, they would have probably been named in the article. "everybody here is asking the same question (why was radioactive material left inside a van) but I'd like to know, WHO knew that exactly THIS van was going to have something this dangerous inside it?" It doesn't require conjuring the spirits or consulting the sages. Seeing the courier wheel it out is a dead giveaway (unless he is the incredible hulk and can carry it out by hand, because these rarely weight less that 90lbs.) Also, they almost never travel in that cute little lunchbox-style container with the handle. It's a lead-lined steel container, 99% of the time. Other comments were to the effect of "that should have been completely supervised, protected by the Vatican Swiss guards, escorted by CHiPs, etc, etc." The reason this does not happen ultimately boils down to this: constant surveillance, protective security, escort service, etc. are very, very, very expensive services. Most organizations who can afford it are likely not contracting out their logistics. Standard Operating Procedure for this problem (and as an added bonus, even MORE easy achieved in jolly old England, where there are cameras everywhere): Take the list of every stop on the courier's route. Contact the security department of every building where the van is parked. Ask them to review their camera footage for unauthorized entry into the courier van. The van SHOULD have a "tattle-tell" box installed, so it would be obvious by now if the courier made any "unscheduled stops." |
DesinzitizedSleepWalker9978 User ID: 33296170 United States 02/19/2013 01:15 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 34737506 United Kingdom 02/19/2013 02:44 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 9253150 United States 02/19/2013 03:11 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | The main questions that arise are: Quoting: mimmsy 1. Why on earth was this source left in the van unattended ? 2. Can this material be used to make a dirty bomb ? 3. If the source is taken out of the container and dumped, what will happen to any children or adults picking up the unprotected material. It's ONLY dangerous if it is in contact (or close proximity) to a human for a long time period. And it decays pretty quickly, so has no real lasting danger. . |
ladyannie2009 User ID: 24291496 United States 02/19/2013 03:26 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | marty: 'one point twenty-one gigawatts? what the hell's a gigawatt?' "the truth will stand up, when nothing else will" - annie's mom "When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for." - Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes |
DesinzitizedSleepWalker9978 User ID: 33296170 United States 02/19/2013 11:52 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
DesinzitizedSleepWalker9978 User ID: 33296170 United States 02/19/2013 07:09 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |