Actions After Finding
an Orphan Radioactive Source
2 - Transport
IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency
Introduction
• By the end of this module students will be
able to:
• Outline the actions to be taken once an orphan
source is found including:
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Controlling access for radiological safety
Identifying and characterizing the source
Packaging and transporting the source
Conditioning the source for storage or disposition
Storing the source safely and securely
IAEA
Overview
• Initial actions
• Orphan source identification and
characterization
• Packaging and transport
• Conditioning
• Safe and secure storage
IAEA
Next Actions
• Once the initial actions have been
completed, the device/source will usually
need to be:
• Packaged for transport
• Transported to a safe and secure location
• Perhaps conditioned
• Stored in a safe and secure manner until a final
decision regarding its disposition can be made
IAEA
Packaging and Transport
• Sources should be packaged and
transported in accordance with the
applicable regulations
• Most countries follow the IAEA
transport regulations in SSR-6
(superseding TS-R-1)
• Transport regulations are complex get expert help if possible
• If not, use the Schedules in SSG-33
(superseding TS-G-1.6)
IAEA
Schedules
• Schedules for UN numbers are in SSG-33
• Summarize regulatory requirements
applicable to specific types of shipments
• To avoid repetition, common regulatory
provisions are separated out
• For most orphan source shipments:
• UN2915 (Type A, non-special form),
• UN2916 (Type B(U), non-fissile) and
• UN2917 (Type B(M), non-fissile)
IAEA
Packaging and Transport
• Public health and safety are the priority, so if
they are at immediate risk and it is not
possible to fully comply with the regulations,
use good radiation safety practice to move
the source to a safe and secure location
• See Georgia RTG source
recovery video for example
IAEA
Packaging and Transport
• Rather than attempt to teach the IAEA
transport regulations, this module will show
how to find the right Schedule and use it,
making some reasonable assumptions
• Assumptions include:
• No air transport
• No fissile material
• Significant quantities of radioactivity
• Sealed sources, no dispersed radioactivity
• Only this source(s) on vehicle
IAEA
Form
• The radioactivity, radionuclide and form
largely determine the transport requirements
• The first two should be known by now
• For a source to be regarded as “special
form” requires a valid certificate
• Most orphan sources are unlikely to have
one, hence it is assumed that they will be
“other than special form”
IAEA
A2 Value
• For the radionuclide of the source look up
the A2 value in Table 2 of SSR-6
• If the orphan source radioactivity is less than
this value, it will be a Type A shipment with a
UN identification number of 2915 and this
schedule in SSG-33 will be used
• If it is greater, it will be a Type B shipment
and will use the schedule for either:
• UN2916, or UN2917 depending on package
IAEA
Some A2 Values
Nuclide
A2 Value
TBq
Ci
Pu-238
1 x 10-3
2.7 x 10-2
Pu-239
1 x 10-3
2.7 x 10-2
Am-241
1 x 10-3
2.7 x 10-2
Cf-252
3 x 10-3
8.1 x 10-2
Co-60
4 x 10-1
10.8
Sr-90
3 x 10-1
8.1
Cs-137
6 x 10-1
16.2
Ir-192
6 x 10-1
16.2
Ra-226
3 x 10-3
8.1 x 10-2
Cm-244
2 x 10-3
5.4 x 10-2
IAEA
Packaging/Transport Overview
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Select a proper packaging
Package the source as specified
Measure dose rates on the package
Label and mark the package accordingly
Ensure contamination is within limits
Load the package on vehicle and placard it
Ensure dose rates on vehicle are within limits
Complete transport documents
IAEA
Type A (Activity ≤ A2)
• Proper shipping name:
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• UN2915 RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
• TYPE A PACKAGE
• non-special form
• non-fissile or fissile-excepted
Use schedule for UN2915
Needs a Type A package
Type A packages have been designed for
normal conditions of transport
Source packaged to package design specs
IAEA
Type A Packaging Examples
IAEA
Type B (Activity > A2)
• Needs an available Type B package
• Can be Type B(U) or Type B(M)
• If Type B(U), proper shipping name:
• UN2916 RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL, TYPE B(U)
PACKAGE, non-fissile or fissile-excepted
• Use schedule for UN2916
• If Type B(M), proper shipping name:
• UN2917 RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL, TYPE
B(M) PACKAGE, non-fissile or fissile-excepted
IAEA
Type B (Activity > A2)
• Type B packages
have been designed
for accident conditions
of transport
• Source must be
packaged according to
specifications in the
package approval
certificate
IAEA
Examples of Type B Packages
IAEA
Labelling on Package
• Measure dose rates on the
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surface and at 1 metre from
the surface of the package
Transport index is a number = 1 metre value
in mSv/h times 100
Dose rates determine the label needed
Need two labels, on opposite sides
Labels need to be filled in with:
• Radioisotope, activity and transport index
IAEA
Labels
Category
Maximum
radiation level Transport
on external
Index
surface
I-White
< 0.005 mSv/h
0 (< 0.05)
II-YELLOW
> 0.005 mSv/h
< 0.5 mSv/h
>0
<1
III-YELLOW
>0.5 mSv/h
< 2 mSv/h
>1
< 10
III-YELLOW
> 2mSv/h
< 10 mSv/h
>10
(transported as exclusive use)
IAEA
Marking on Package
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Consignor or consignee, or both
Permissible gross mass if > 50kg
Proper shipping name
Type A, Type B(U) or Type B(M) as approp.
Other identification marks in accordance
with applicable schedule (UN2915, UN 2916
or UN2917)
IAEA
Contamination Limits
• Measure non-fixed contamination
(removable) on the package by swipe and
contamination detector probe
• Ensure it is less than:
• 4 Bq/cm2 for beta/gamma emitters and low
toxicity alpha emitters (§508 SSR-6 former 227
TS-R-1)
• 0.4 Bq/cm2 for all other alpha emitters
• Averaged over 300 cm2
IAEA
Loading and Placarding
• Most found source shipments will be
exclusive use shipments (with a single
consignor and all loading/unloading carried
out under the direction of the consignor)
• Load and secure the package in or on the
vehicle
• Measure dose rates and ensure
that they are within the limits
• Placard the vehicle on the
sides and rear
IAEA
Maximum Radiation Levels for Exclusive Use
• 2 mSv/h on any surface of the package, or if
enclosed and secured, 10 mSv/h
• 2 mSv/h on any outer surface of the vehicle,
or for an open vehicle:
• 2 mSv/h on any point on the vertical planes
projected from the outer edges of the vehicle
• 0.1 mSv/h at any point 2 m from the vertical
planes represented by the outer lateral
surfaces of the vehicle (or outer edge planes
for an open vehicle)
IAEA
Exclusive Use – Closed Vehicle
IAEA
Transport Documents - Consignment
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Name and address of consignor and consignee
Proper shipping name, Class 7, UN Number
Name of radionuclide(s)
Physical and chemical form
Maximum activity (Bq)
Category of label (I-WHITE, II-YELLOW, or IIIYELLOW)
Transport index
Any identification marks for package approval
EXCLUSIVE USE SHIPMENT
Consignor’s declaration, signed and dated
IAEA
Transport Documents - Carrier
• Actions to be taken by the carrier
• Supplementary requirements for loading,
stowage, carriage, handling and unloading
• Restrictions on mode of transport, routing
• Emergency arrangements
IAEA
Example of Transport Document
IAEA
Loading Teletherapy Head for Transport
IAEA
Teletherapy Head Ready for Transport
IAEA
Transport Security Considerations
• Sources are potentially
vulnerable in transport,
between the location
where the source is found
and storage
• Security guidance
incorporates the concept
of defence in depth and
uses a graded approach
IAEA
Transport Security Levels
• Enhanced security for:
• Category 1 & 2 sources in the Code of Conduct
• Sources >3000 A2
• Basic security for all other found orphan
sources
• IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 9 has the
details
IAEA
Basic Security Considerations
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General security provisions
Basic security awareness training
Personnel identity verification
Security verification of conveyances
Written instructions
Exchange of security related information
Trustworthiness determination
IAEA
Enhanced Security Considerations
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Basic security level plus:
Identification of carriers and consignors
Security plans
Tracking devices
Communications from the conveyance
Additional provisions for road, rail and inland
waterway
IAEA
Summary
• Radiological safety is the first priority on
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finding an orphan source
Then comes identification and
characterization of the source
Followed by packaging and transporting it to
a better location safely and securely
Sometimes the source might need
conditioning
Finally, it needs to be stored safely and
securely
IAEA