It has to be one of the best jobs in Australia. As part of his environmental responsibilities, every few months Tom Loosz is paid to go to Potter Point near Cronulla Beach and catch fish. But instead of gutting, scaling, and eating them, Tom takes the fish to a lab where they are ‘served’ on a petri dish to a gamma spectrometer.
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| Tom Loosz catches fish at Potter Point to test if they have any radioactivity using gamma spectrometer. |
Tom is a Laboratory Manager for ANSTO, and it is his job to monitor ANSTO’s environmental impacts. Effluent from the Sutherland Shire including ANSTO is treated and discharged at Potter Point.
Tom’s job is to go there, collect black fish, barnacles and algae and test for any radioactivity.
Of course, it’s not all fun and games. When he’s not fishing, Tom is out conducting regular air, soil and water sampling and analysis at Lucas Heights and the surrounding suburbs.
“Effectively what I do is go out and prove again and again that ANSTO’s operations are safe for my colleagues, the local community and the environment,” Mr Loosz said.
“We operate Australia’s only nuclear reactor. While the research and medical supplies we deliver are invaluable, our number one priority is to make sure we operate safely.”
Tom has been working for ANSTO for around 30 years, and is part of a team of five people who help the organisation comply with strict environmental compliance and reporting responsibilities.
That includes:
- Air monitoring: In 2010/11 ANSTO emissions reached just 0.2 per cent of the public dose limit set by the Australian Radiation Protection And Nuclear Safety Agency;
- Wastewater sampling: demonstrating continuous compliance with Sydney Water requirements; and
- Ground and surface water analysis: showing that ANSTO operations pose no danger to local rivers or the ocean.
Hef Griffiths is ANSTO’s Manager of Safety, Environment and Radiological Assurance, and works to make sure operations are safe.
“ANSTO operates in a safe manner that is consistent with national and international standards, and we strive to continually improve our environmental performance,” Mr Griffiths said.
“Our regular monitoring and evaluation of ANSTO impacts is designed to make sure our operations are safe and stay safe.”
Published: 29/03/2012