Safe and Secure Transport of Radioactive Materials

Title: Safe and Secure Transport of Radioactive Materials

Introduction

  • Presenter: Jayson Godoy, Science Research Specialist, Regulations and Standards Development Section

  • Event: 28th Course on Medical Use of Radioisotopes (CMR)

Objectives of the Course

  • Understand basic approaches to transport safety and security.

  • Understand the interfaces between transport safety and security.

  • Identify transport safety requirements, including information (marking, labeling, placarding, and documentation) and its application to basic radiation protection.

  • Identify transport security requirements (security levels and measures).

Safety and Security Overview

Fundamental Safety Objective

  • The fundamental safety objective is to protect:

    • People and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

Transport Safety and Security

  • Safety

    • Concern since the 1950s.

    • Regulations are technically based and continuously reviewed and revised.

  • Security

    • Emerged as a concern post-9/11.

    • More complex than safety regulations due to external threat environments.

  • Interfaces: Sometimes complementary, sometimes conflicting.

Transport Safety

Key Stakeholders

  • Nuclear Regulatory Bodies

  • Nuclear Installations (NIs), Radiation Facilities (RFs), Designers, and Manufacturers

  • Emergency Responders and Security Organizations

  • Modal Authorities (Land, Sea, Air)

  • Consignors

  • Carriers

  • Consignees

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Consignor: Responsible for packaging delivery to carriers and compliance with regulations.

  • Carrier: Responsible for performing transport and implementing security protocols.

  • Consignee: Responsible for receiving packages containing nuclear material.

  • Response Force: Responsible for protecting the shipment during transit.

  • Regulator: Ensures that shipments comply with established regulations.

Background on Classes of Dangerous Goods

Nine Classes of Dangerous Goods

  1. CLASS 1: Explosives

    • Examples include Azodicarbonamide, TNT.

  2. CLASS 2: Gases

    • Flammable, toxic, and non-flammable gases.

  3. CLASS 3: Flammable Liquids

    • Examples including gasoline, alcohol.

  4. CLASS 4: Flammable Solids

    • Materials that are flammable or become dangerous when wet.

  5. CLASS 5: Oxidizers

  6. CLASS 6: Toxic or infectious substances.

  7. CLASS 7: Radioactive Materials.

  8. CLASS 8: Corrosives.

  9. CLASS 9: Miscellaneous Dangerous Materials.

Perspective on the Transport of Dangerous Goods

  • Estimated Fraction of All Goods that are Dangerous Goods: 15%

  • Estimated Fraction of All Dangerous Goods that are Radioactive:

    • Road: 20%

    • Rail: 3%-4%

    • Air: <2%

    • Sea or Canal: <2%

Rules and Regulations on Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials in the Philippines

  • First Regulation issued on December 1, 1965.

    • Approved and promulgated to take effect on May 24, 1966.

  • Code of PNRI Regulations (CPR)

    • Contains regulations for safe transport.

    • Rev. 1 published in the Official Gazette on October 25, 2004; Rev. 2 published on March 27, 2017, adapting IAEA guidelines.

IAEA Regulatory Framework

  • IAEA Safety Standards: Protecting people and the environment.

    • General Safety Requirements No. GSR Part 1 (Rev.1).

  • Specific Safety Guides:

    • SSG-86: Radiation Protection Programmes

    • SSG-66: Package Design Safety

    • SSG-26: Regulations for Safe Transport of Radioactive Material.

How Transport Regulations Work

Key Principles

  • Containment: Ensuring radioactive contents are securely packed.

  • Prevention of Criticality: Measures to prevent nuclear chain reactions.

  • Control of External Dose Rate: Monitoring the radiation exposure level.

  • Prevention of Damage from Heat: Ensuring packaging withstands heat from contents.

Responsibilities in Transport

  • Primary responsibility for safety lies with the consignor.

  • Carrier’s actions limited to a few operational controls, such as:

    • Limiting accumulation of packages.

    • Separation from persons and other cargo.

Preparing a Radioactive Material Shipment

Key Steps

  1. Identification: Characterization of contents, activity, chemical hazards, and special considerations.

  2. Classification: Determining quantity definitions and type of materials present.

  3. Hazard Communication: Ensuring all involved parties are aware of hazards through:

    • Shipping documentation.

    • Markings, labels, and placards indicating radioactive material.

  4. Packaging: Proper packaging essential for hazard control, which may include:

    • Type A, Type B, or Type C packaging based on radiological hazard.

  5. Other Controls: Including dose rate limits, contamination limits, exclusive use criteria.

Types of Packages

  • Industrial Package: Designed for moderately hazardous materials, not accident resistant.

  • Type A Package: Designed to withstand normal transport conditions.

  • Type B(U), Type B(M), Type C: Strict testing requirements to ensure integrity during severe handling.

Determining Transport Index

Calculation of Transport Index (TI)

  1. Measure maximum radiation level in mSv/h at 1m (denoted as RL1m).

  2. Multiply RL1m value by 100 to get TI.

  3. Round to the nearest first decimal.

  4. Values below 0.05 are regarded as zero (0).

  • Formula: TI=(RL1mextinmSv/hr)imes100TI = (RL1m ext{ in mSv/hr}) imes 100

Package and Overpack Categorization

  • TI categorizations dictate how packages are labeled, marked, and what handling protocols must be followed during shipment.

Labeling and Marking Requirements

Responsibilities of the Consignor

  • Select appropriate labels and enter data correctly.

  • Apply labels to packages, overpacks, and freight containers.

  • Labels must clearly communicate safety information, including:

    • Radiation category labels.

    • Fissile material labels.

  • The minimum dimension for labeling is 100mm x 100mm.

Placarding Requirements

  • Necessary for large freight containers, tanks, and rail/road vehicles transporting radioactive materials.

Security Objectives in Transport

Purpose of Security Regulations

  • Designed to prevent unauthorized access and secure radioactive materials, minimizing the risk of theft or malicious use.

Categories of Security Measures

  • Enhanced Security Level Measures: For high-consequence materials.

  • Basic Security Level Measures: For moderate risks.

  • Prudent Management Practices: For all RAM shipments, ensuring safety through thorough management controls.

Additional Information

Current Threat Environment in Transport

  • Regulations continue evolving with commitments to various safety and security standards, following international guidelines and best practices to safeguard radioactive materials during transport.