1. Radiation Safety in Industrial Radiography
IAEA Safety Guide SSG-11
John Wheatley
Head, Technical Assistance & Information Management Unit
Division of Radiation, Transport & Waste Safety

2. HIERARCHY OF IAEA SAFETY STANDARDS
Fundamentals
Underlying principles (aimed at politicians and regulatory bodies)
Specific obligations and responsibilities (“shall”)
Requirements
Recommendations to help implement requirements (“should”)
Guides
Safety Reports & TECDOCS provide supplementary information

3. IAEA RADIATION SAFETY STANDARDS
IAEA Safety Standards are not legally binding on Member States but may be adopted by them, at their own discretion
however...
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

4. Why an IAEA Safety Guide on Industrial Radiography?
Industrial radiography is essential in modern society
Testing airframes
Testing
airbags
…but radiological accidents have happened!
Testing bridges
Peru 1999

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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 I EXAMPLE SAFETY ASSESSMENT
ANNEX II OVERVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY SOURCES/EQUIPMENT
ANNEX III CATEGORIZATION OF RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
ANNEX IV EXAMPLES OF ACCIDENTS

8. 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

9. 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

10. Safety Assessment & Radiation Protection Programme
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

11. 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

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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. סכנה איזור קרינה מבוקר להתרחק
Safe use of sources
Safety information available in appropriate ‘local’ language
nguy hiểm Kiểm soát bức xạ trong khu vực giử 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

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

18. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
Ideal world
Real world