about radioactive material transport

Convention 2011 MOCA's active presence makes a difference

C argotal DECEMBER 2011 SOUTH ASIA'S LEADING CARGO MONTHLY

A DDP Publication

cargotalk.in

Rupees 50

Vol XII No. 1

Pages 60

No.1 in Circulation & Readership

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT

OF HEALTH Protecting You and Your Environment

Radiation Mobile Laboratory

Cover Story Air Cargo Handling

Myth and Reality about radioactive material transport

Tens of millions of shipments of radioactive material are made each year around the world, in fields such as medicine, industry, agriculture and electricity generation, that benefit humankind. However, airlines often find excuses for refusing such shipments, to avoid 'hassles' . Subhayu Ghosh, DG Inspector (seconded), DGCA says, a massive awareness programme has to initiate to create right perception.

Radioactive Material shall mean any material containing radionuclides where both activity concentration and total

activity in the consignment exceed the values given in the 'Regulations for Safe Transport of Radioactive Material' of IAEA. Radioactive material is used throughout the world for many applications that

benefit humankind, encompassing agriculture, industry, medicine, electric power generation and research. In almost all cases, the materials are generated in locations other than those where used and the resulting radioactive wastes are usually moved to other locations.

The transportation of the radioactive material places it outside of controlled

facilities, in the public domain and often entails movement between countries.

As the peaceful uses of radioactive material grew, the international community recognised early on that rigid and uniform standards were needed to ensure the safety of the handlers, public and environment. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was assigned the task, within

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(L-R) K Ranjan Kumar Singh, Subhayu Ghosh and Manju Saini at an awareness programme at IGI Airport, Delhi

its statutory mandate, of developing, maintaining and providing the application of safety standards for the transport of radioactive material. These standards were first issued almost 50 years ago and have since been updated periodically to account for the changing environment in which the material is transported, changes in the types of material transported, and in the modes by which they are transported (road, rail, inland waterway, sea and air).

Many millions of packages of radioactive material are shipped every year. As a result of the development of the transport safety standards by the IAEA and their application at the international level by other involved United Nations bodies, at the national level by IAEA Member States and by consignors, carriers and consignees, an enviable record of safety in the transport of radioactive material has resulted.

ACCEPTANCE OF RADIOACTIVE CONSIGNMENTS

For Import

■ Consignment should be verified with document came along with package

Consignment be released to importer or authorised agent only after verification of import NOC issued by AERB

■ Till the consignment is claimed by the consignee, it should be stored in exclusive warehouse allocated for RAM

■ If the package is not claimed by consignee within one month from date of arrival, inform AERB

For Export

■ Copy of NOC for export

■ TATA DGR'S 'shipper delaration for dangerous goods(DGD)

•

Submission of DGD be accompanied with copies of Special Forum Radioactive Material and Low Dispersive Radioactive Material

However, the IAEA and its member states recognised that the efforts to ensure safety must continue. To this end, the standards for transport safety are reviewed continually and revised as need is determined by international experts; supportive guidance material is provided, a comprehensive training programme is available from the IAEA to member states, and research is encouraged as needs dictate.

The transport of radioactive material has been subject to regulation for many decades and the IAEA, working with its member states and all relevant international governmental organisations, has played a

key role in fostering the establishment of those regulations and providing for their application. Soon after the creation of the United Nations more than 50 years ago, the international community initiated efforts to harmonise practices for the safe transport of hazardous goods, including radioactive material.

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) appointed a Committee of Experts to lead this effort and for over four decades the Committee has coordinated with the IAEA on safety standards covering the national and international carriage of

radioactive material by all modes of transport. First published in 1961, the IAEA's Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material are periodically revised to incorporate technical advances, operational experience and the latest radiation protection principles.

These Transport Regulations address all categories of radioactive material. Although recommendatory in nature, they constitute the basis for national regulations in many Member States and generally become mandatory through the legally binding instruments of the relevant modal bodies, such as the International Maritime

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