Safety and Security in industrial applications of radioactive sources. Two principles, one only commitment. Walter Adrian Truppa International Conference on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources: Maintaining the Continuous Global Control of Sources throughout their Life Cycle Abu Dhabi, UAE 27-31 October 2013
COUNTRY INFORMATION Argentina is a Big Country in South América. App. ~ 41 million inhabitants. With a mainland area of ~ 2,800,400 km 2, Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world, the second largest in Latin America. Capital City: Buenos Aires. One independent Regulatory Body Nuclear Regulatory Authority.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY The NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY (NRA) was established as an autonomous body reporting to the President of Argentina by Act 24804 known as the Nuclear Activity National Act, which came into force on April 25, 1997, and is empowered to regulate and control the nuclear activity with regard to radiation and nuclear safety, physical protection and nuclear non-proliferation issues. The objective of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority is to establish, develop and enforce a regulatory system applicable to all radiological and nuclear activities carried out in Argentina.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL 387 Industrial installations under regulatory control in 2012
IMPORT / EXPORT AUTHORIZATIONS OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL IMPORT / EXPORT DURING 2012 586 import authorizations 955 export authorizations
MOBILE DEVICES CONTAINING RADIOACTIVE SOURCES This presentation refers to the criteria currently applied to mobile radioactive sources that are used in industrial applications with measurement purposes, studies of well logging and industrial radiography. The use of these devices implies to meet requirements regarding radiation safety and security according to the specific uses and/or processes involved. Industrial radiography Nuclear gauges Well logging Cementation or fracture
SAFETY / SECURITY SAFETY criteria apply the concept to put barriers between PEOPLE and SOURCE Training Procedures Shieldings Risk evaluations SECURITY criteria apply the concept to put barriers between SOURCE and PEOPLE Prevention Detection Delay Response Fences, alarms, etc.
MULTIPLE BARRIERS - DEFENCE IN DEPTH S e c u r i t y Radioactive source Shielding or container Security measures Safety measures Emergency procedures Safety
REGULATORY STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES Regulatory standards Best practices: (BP) It is important to remark that authorized users of radioactive material should include the concept of best practices (procedures, tools, process or strategy) as part of their own commitment towards safety and security based on the experience gained and lessons learned through the use of sealed sources. This will lead to more effective and efficient compliance of regulatory standards.
RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS SET BY NRA STANDARDS
SECURITY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED BY AUTHORIZED FACILITIES The following are some examples of security measures applied by authorized users to protect radioactive sources. (BP) (1) Basic analysis on physical security (2) Storage area of radioactive sources with suitable security measures to avoid unauthorized access: Locks on access or padlocks Adequate illumination CCTV Motion detection Audible alarms Perimeter fences Codified access (magnetic card or digital codes) Access to storage area only by authorized personnel (3) Locks on transport packages or containers (4) Security staff (5) Apply the principle of defence in depth (security culture)
SECURITY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED BY AUTHORIZED FACILITIES (BP)
RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS SET BY NRA STANDARDS DURING TRANSPORT Safety requirements during transport of radioactive sources: (1) Check the level of radiation of transport packages and points of occupation during transport (2) Comply with the dose constraints (3) Proper labels of the packages (4) Adequate vehicle placards (5) Procedures for radiological emergency situations. (6) Abnormal events should be informed effectively to the NRA It is also convenient to perform the risk assessment during transport in order to avoid radiological consequences, taking into account the following items: (BP) Itinerary Increase of traffic during holiday seasons Adverse weather conditions (rain, snow, wind, etc.) Maximum authorized speed according to the type of road
SECURITY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED BY AUTHORIZED USERS DURING TRANSPORT OF RADIOACTIVE SOURCES (INCLUDING BP) (1) Risk assessment during the itinerary from the authorized facility to the location where the task is going to be performed (2) To use communication systems (3) To fix and lock transport packages to the vehicle (4) Methodology for monitoring and tracking of vehicles during transport (5) To define beforehand the itinerary to be followed (6) To evaluate the tiredness of drivers before heading back to the facility or installation
RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS SET BY NRA STANDARDS DURING OPERATION (1) Verify that the staff has their individual dosimeter (2) Perform the operation of equipment containing radioactive sources correctly and safely (3) Apply ALARA concept during operation of radioactive sources (4) Check dose rate during operation using a radiation monitor (5) Demarcation of the boundary of controlled area (6) Restricted access to radiation area (7) Report any news, trouble or deviation detected during the practices
SECURITY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED BY AUTHORIZED USERS DURING OPERATION OF RADIOACTIVE SOURCES (BP) (1) To place the radioactive source/s in an isolated area within the working site, properly fenced and signaled (2) To fix the sources using chains and padlocks within the working site (3) The keys to unlock radioactive sources should be held only by the authorized person (RSO) and should not be handled by any other member of the staff (4) Radioactive sources must remain in the containers or shields with their corresponding blocking systems (5) Radiation monitoring of radioactive material should be maintained during the whole operation
INVENTORY OF SOURCES Inventory are updated by users each six month or when a change or modification authorized by NRA occurs. The declaration of the situation of device/source is an important tool, to detect unused or disused radioactive sources.
DISUSED RADIOACTIVE SOURCES During the last decade, the NRA proceeded to gradually strengthen the requirements to dispose of every disused radioactive source in the authorized repository. During inspections performed by NRA each year, inspectors look over the inventory of radioactive sources, and at that time, authorized users are granted a period during which they must define the status of each source and dispose of the ones that are not in use at the facility. The result of this regulatory action was the removal of about 600 radioactive disused sources declared and registered in RNA.
RADIATION SAFETY IN METAL RECYCLING Radioactive source under control Radioactive source without control Included in steel
CONSEQUENCES IN CASE OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF RADIOACTIVE SOURCES MEDICAL LEGAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ECONOMIC Damage to government?? Credibility?? Trust?? PSYCHOLOGICAL
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES NRA require that each authorized users in industrial applications has an emergency procedure in case of radiological incident. Objective of the emergency procedures: To regain control of the source To reduce consequences during the recovery of control To avoid the occurrence of deterministic effect, To minimize the occurrence of stochastic effect.
EVENTS REPORTED (INES) INES should be used as a communication tool. The scale can be applied to any event associated with the transport, storage and use of radioactive material and radiation sources.
MEETINGS ORGANIZED BY NRA RELATED TO RADIOACTIVE SOURCES Workshop on radiation safety in industrial radiography (April 2012) Workshop on radiation safety in metal recyclng (October 2012) Next Workshop: Radiation safety in industrial applications of radioactive material in oil industries. (November 2013)
CONCLUSIONS The implementation of regulatory standards brought in huge benefit for the regulatory control of radioactive material in industrial applications. Similarly, the commitment of authorized users of the facility staff and all those involved in the operation is essential. Accurate instruction and training of RSO, operators and personnel involved in the handling of radioactive material is an essential tool to achieve an adequate level of safety and security in industrial applications. The management of disused radioactive sources implies a way to reduce the radiological risk and the likelihood of incidents. As the result of the application of NRA standards, high commitment towards safety and security during the use of radioactive sources in industrial applications was obtained.
COMMITMENT
Av. del Libertador 8250 (C1429BNP) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA Tel.: (+54) (011) 6323-1770 Fax: (+54) (011) 6323-1771/1798 http://www.arn.gob.ar wtruppa@arn.gob.ar