Radiation Safety in Industrial Radiography IAEA Safety Guide

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) Specific obligations and responsibilities (“shall”) Requirements Guides Safety Reports & TECDOCS provide supplementary information Recommendations to help implement requirements (“should”)

IAEA RADIATION SAFETY STANDARDS Ø IAEA Safety Standards are not legally binding on Member States but may be adopted by them, at their own discretion Ø IAEA Safety Standards are binding on IAEA in relation to its own operations and to operations assisted by the IAEA; and Ø Member States receiving IAEA assistance are obliged to apply IAEA Safety Standards

Basis for the Safety Guide Text 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

Radiation Safety in Industrial Radiography Scope and objective To 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 audience Regulators and operating organizations involved in industrial radiography

CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 3. SAFETY ASSESMENT 4. RADIATION PROTECTION PROGRAMME 5. TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS 6. INDIVIDUAL MONITORING OF WORKERS 7. 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 III ANNEX IV EXAMPLE SAFETY ASSESSMENT OVERVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY SOURCES/EQUIPMENT CATEGORIZATION OF RADIOACTIVE SOURCES EXAMPLES OF ACCIDENTS

Duties and responsibilities Should be in writing and agreed to by all relevant parties • 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 • 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

Safety Assessment & Radiation Protection Programme • 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

Training & Qualifications • Radiographers (& assistants) must be adequately trained/qualified in radiation protection and safety of sources • Practical training needed (e. g. : source recovery) • Refresher training important

Individual Monitoring • Radiographers should wear personal dosimeter and personal alarm • Direct reading dosimeters very useful and their use is encouraged

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

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

Safe use 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 nguy hiê m Kiểm soát bức xạ trong khu vực giư không cho vô סכנה איזור קרינה מבוקר להתרחק Danger Controlled Radiation Area Keep Out • Sources/exposure device/ancillary equipment must be compatible with each other (and meet relevant ISO standard) • Routine inspection and maintenance essential

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

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