NSW hospital fined over radioactive waste

A western Sydney hospital has been fined after a cleaner accidentally put radioactive material in with general waste.

An emergency department sign

Source: AAP

The Sydney hospital where a baby died after being given the wrong gas has been fined over dumping radioactive waste in with its general rubbish.

A cleaner put two radioactive capsules containing Iodine-131, used to treat thyroid cancer patients, in the wrong bin in July, the Environmental Protection Agency said on Wednesday.

It fined Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital $1500 for allowing an untrained staff member to handle radioactive material.

The hospital told AAP the bin was removed and that the level of exposure wasn't dangerous.

It also said it had since changed the way radioactive waste was delivered and stored and given staff additional training.

A baby boy died at the hospital in July when he was accidentally given nitrous oxide instead of oxygen.

Another baby was left with brain damage after the same mix-up in June.


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Source: AAP



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