May 23, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Berthold Technologies in Oak Ridge takes in radioactive material and ships it out all over the country. Monday night, nine yellow steel and lead-lined shielding containers left Berthold, bound for an undisclosed location. Inside, something smaller than a baby aspirin, but an adult-sized headache if not packaged and shipped safely and securely.
"We all have families, we live here, we've been in this business for 60-years," says Mike Schwartz, business unit manager for Berthold Technologies. "We take that very seriously in our business, all the way from the manufacturing procedures to the way we handle the equipment to the way we load up our radioactive sources and all that's taken into consideration."
Last night, a scare at the Roadway terminal on Hilton Drive, when low levels of radiation were detected by officials after Berthold's containers fell off a crate and onto the truck floor.
"It could be just the smallest crack that opened that lid possibly and emitted the radioactivity out of it," D.J. Corcoran of the Knoxville Fire Department told WVLT.
Not so, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. Officials there telling WVLT that the radioactive levels were within normal limits and that those yellow containers were not compromised in any way. I tried to lift one of the containers, which weigh 200 pounds and feel like solid steel.
"You saw back there evidence of that, it's pretty hard for that capsule to come out on that source and shield and it's almost impossible. I can't imagine any way shape or form that would ever happen," Schwartz said.
In 60-years, Burthold can't recall any time when one of its shielding containers failed, which should be comforting to the public. It is for Burthold's employees.
"I have no trouble working in this industry at all absolutely none and it's important also to understand that the public shouldn't be afraid of this stuff either."
