FedEx blames human error, scans over stray iridium

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Wednesday June 30, 3:19 pm Eastern Time

FedEx blames human error, scans over stray iridium

LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - Express courier Federal Express (NYSE:FDX 
- news) said on Wednesday it had concluded human error and 
insufficient package scanning procedures were responsible for a 
shipment of radioactive material going missing for 10 days in April. 

The 90 kg iridium shipment en route from Boston to Mexico was 
eventually found in the dangerous goods area in FedEx' facility at 
London's Stansted airport in the UK on April 26.  

``There was human error and there was a problem with the tracking,'' 
Clifford Morley, company spokesman for Europe, Middle East and Africa 
told Reuters.  

He said that FedEx was now ``improving its scanning appliance 
techniques'' as a result of the internal inquiry into the incident.

``We're not perfect. The thing about incidents like this is that we 
can look into it, take the appropriate measures and make 
improvements,'' he added.  

The package was later delivered safely to its original destination in 
Mexico.

It was packed in a lead casing and was correctly labelled, FexEx 
said.

Iridium is used in checking oil pipeline welding.

Sandy Perle
E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net 
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205

"The object of opening the mind, as of opening 
the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
              - G. K. Chesterton -
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