Lax security in radioactive transport in Northern Territory

Uranium miner defends moving radio-active goods in back of ute,ABC 105.7 Darwin, 20 February, 2014 By Xavier La Canna Uranium Miner Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) says moving radio-active material in barrels in the back of a ute is in accordance with national guidelines, after a photograph emerged showing that was happening in the Northern Territory. The photograph showed a ute carrying two green barrels bearing warnings that they contain radio-active material, apparently being moved with only a rope over the top of them on the Arnhem Highway.

ERA said while the practice was in accordance with guidelines the company was reviewing what had occurred on this occasion……..

Lauren Mellor from Nuclear Free NT said transporting goods by ute in such a manner was dangerous.”It defies common sense and community expectations that this kind of material isn’t physically secured,” Ms Mellor said. d.

“Especially in Wet Season transport on the Arnhem Highway, we know all the risks associated with that,” Ms Mellor told the ABC.

“It really boggles the mind that a company under the spotlight as ERA are at the moment, with three separate investigations into the regulation of their mine ongoing, that they are not taking a closer look at how people feel about this kind of dangerous cargo being transported on their roads,” she said……http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2014/02/20/3948778.htm?site=darwin