Barcodes reduce exposure to radiation
October 1st 2005

The use of long-range laser scanning equipment has greatly reduced the time taken and the potential exposure to radiation during stocktakes of drums of waste material undertaken by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).

Until recently, the manual stocktake was carried out by two people – one to check the other – going though the store and taking note of the identifier before reconciling the information with a stock print out. Typically this would take two weeks.

i2 Mobile Solutions were contacted and it was decided that if drum identifiers could be put on to barcode labels, these could be scanned from a distance and the information electronically logged.

A symbol portable data terminal with long range laser is used, with the barcode labels being produced on a Zebra printer.

The new system allows the operators to scan 20 drums in 30 seconds. Both stocktakers are further away from the drums, reducing exposure to radiation.

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