By Darryl Ray, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, WA

In February 2023, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) led a high-stakes, week-long search for a missing radioactive capsule - no larger than a small coin. Measuring just 8 millimetres high and 6 millimetres in diameter, this tiny capsule, containing radioactive caesium-137, went missing during transport from Rio Tinto's Gudai-Darri iron ore mine to a depot in Perth. Despite its small size, the potential health risks it posed due to its radioactive nature were enormous, prompting a sophisticated, multi-agency needle-in-a-haystack search that covered a staggering 1,400km.

The operation drew the collective expertise and resources of several agencies, including the WA Police Force, the Department of Health, the Australian Defence Force Special Operations Engineer Regiment (SOER), the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).

From the outback to metropolitan Perth, the search teams worked around the clock, scanning vast stretches of Great Northern Highway. DFES coordinated the operation, deploying over 100 personnel equipped with specialised radiation detection tools. The search was a race against time, as the capsule posed serious health risks to the public. After seven days of relentless effort, the capsule was finally located and safely recovered just south of Newman.

What made this operation truly stand out was the seamless integration of specialised knowledge and equipment. ARPANSA, ANSTO and SOER brought critical radiation detection technology and experience, enabling the teams to pinpoint the tiny capsule with precision. But the success of the operation wasn’t just about high-tech tools - it was also about the impeccable communication and coordination between agencies.

Ultimately, the successful recovery of the radioactive capsule not only averted a major public health crisis but also highlighted the tremendous value of interagency cooperation in tackling high-risk, unprecedented situations.