Radiation Safety in Industrial Radiography

IAEA Safety Guide SSG-11

John Wheatley

Head, Technical Assistance & Information Management Unit

Division of Radiation, Transport & Waste Safety

j.wheatley@iaea.org

HIERARCHY OF IAEA SAFETY STANDARDS

Fundamentals Underlying principles (aimed at politicians and regulatory bodies)

Requirements

Specific obligations and responsibilities (“shall”)

Guides

Recommendations to help implement requirements (“should”)

Safety Reports & TECDOCS provide supplementary information

IAEA RADIATION SAFETY STANDARDS

IAEA Safety Standards are not legally binding on Member States but may be adopted by them, at their own discretion

IAEA Safety Standards are binding on IAEA in relation to its own operations and to operations assisted by the IAEA; and

Member States receiving IAEA assistance are obliged to apply IAEA Safety Standards

Basis for the Safety GuideText based on international standards (IAEA, IEC, ISO etc) & prepared by experts from:• Regulatory Bodies• Industrial radiography operating organization• Manufacturer of radioactive sources• National advisory body for radiation

protection + IAEA Secretariat (NSRW, IEC & Nuclear Applications)

Approved by IAEA’s Radiation Safety Standards Advisory Committee; (RASSC) Transport Safety

Standards Committee (TRANSSC) & Commission on Safety Standards (CSS) in 2010

Scope and objectiveTo provide guidance on the safe use of radiation sources in

industrial radiography for non-destructive testing• in shielded facilities and during site radiography

operations, and• using x ray and gamma equipment

Target audienceRegulators and operating organizations involved in industrial radiography

Radiation Safety in Industrial Radiography

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES3. SAFETY ASSESMENT 4. RADIATION PROTECTION PROGRAMME 5. TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS 6. INDIVIDUAL MONITORING OF WORKERS7. WORKPLACE MONITORING 8. CONTROL OF RADIOACTIVE SOURCES 9. SAFETY OF INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY SOURCES AND EXPOSURE

DEVICES 10. RADIOGRAPHY IN SHIELDED ENCLOSURES 11. SITE RADIOGRAPHY 12. TRANSPORT OF RADIOACTIVE SOURCES 13. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

ANNEX I EXAMPLE SAFETY ASSESSMENTANNEX II OVERVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY SOURCES/EQUIPMENTANNEX III CATEGORIZATION OF RADIOACTIVE SOURCESANNEX IV EXAMPLES OF ACCIDENTS

• Operating Organization has the main responsibility for radiation safety and regulatory compliance

• Radiation Protection Officer ‘RPO’ should be appointed• an employee of the operating organization• responsible for advising on regulatory requirements; and• overseeing implementation of Radiation Protection Programme

• Radiographers are responsible for• working safely (follow procedures to ensure regulatory

compliance);• restricting exposures to themselves, other workers and public

Duties and responsibilities

Should be in writing and agreed to by all relevant parties

• Qualified experts (can be external consultant/TSO)• duties vary e.g: advising on shielding, individual monitoring, safety

systems

• Itinerant radiographers• responsibilities depend on national regulations• need to share dose information with operating organization

• The Client (requests site radiography)• provide sufficient time and safe working environment for

radiography work• Provide co-ordination where multiple contractors carry out

radiography

Duties and responsibilities

• Safety assessment• For each type of source determine steps to restrict exposure of

people from routine activities and accidents• Provides the main basis for deciding on protection measures• Example included as Annex to safety guide

• Radiation protection programme (RPP)• covers operating organization’s management structure,

policies, responsibilities, procedures and organizational arrangements

Safety Assessment & Radiation Protection Programme

• Radiographers (& assistants) must be adequately trained/qualified in radiation protection and safety of sources

• Practical training needed (e.g.: source recovery)

• Refresher training important

Training & Qualifications

• Radiographers should wear personal dosimeter and personal alarm

• Direct reading dosimeters very useful and their use is encouraged

Individual Monitoring

• Survey meters:• should be made available to radiographers• should be tested and suitable for type of radiation• should survive daily use and environmental conditions

Survey Meters

• Keep up-to-date inventory of sources • Lockable source store• Follow Code of Conduct and Import/Export guidance

Control of sources

• Use shielded facility where possible• Safety systems should be automatic and fail-safe for X ray,

and the same for gamma where possible• Use lowest activity source available• Always use a survey meter – before, during and after

radiography

Safe use of sources

• Safety information available in appropriate ‘local’ language

Safe use of sources

סכנה קרינה איזור

מבוקר להתרחק

DangerControlled Radiation

AreaKeep Out

nguy hiêm Kiêm soát bức xạ

trong khu vực giư không cho vô

• Sources/exposure device/ancillary equipment must be compatible with each other (and meet relevant ISO standard)

• Routine inspection and maintenance essential

• Draw up plans in advance• Train and then rehearse periodically• Ensure emergency equipment is available and maintained

Emergency preparedness

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

Ideal world

Real world