IAEAInternational Atomic Energy Agency

Industrial Radiography

Emergency Preparedness

Day 5 – Lecture 8

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Objectives

• Consider the need for emergency planning and preparedness in industrial radiography

• Be aware of basic aim of an emergency plan

• Identify the key elements of an emergency plan

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Contents

• Likely events• Emergency equipment• Emergency plans• Accident reports

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Emergency Planning and Preparedness

• Assessment of the hazards• Acquisition of emergency equipment• Development of written procedures• Training

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Likely events : Gamma

• Radiographer failure to retract source (failure to monitor)

• Source stuck out• Source disconnection• Exposure device stuck in “exposed”

condition• Theft of exposure device• Malfunction or defeat of control system• Contamination due to damaged source

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Likely events : X-Ray

• Failure of automatic timer• Device energised accidentally• Radiographer failure to terminate

exposure (failure to monitor)• Damaged, faulty or defeated safety

systems• Physical damage affecting shielding

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Emergency Equipment

• Radiation monitor• PPE (overalls, footwear)• Personal alarm and dosemeter• shielding material (bags of lead

shot)

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Emergency Equipment

• Remote handling tongs• Shielded container• Hand tools ( wrench, pliers,

croppers)• First aid kit• Radiation warning labels & signs• Barriers/ropes

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Emergency Equipment

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Written Procedures (Emergency plan)

• Available to relevant persons• Concise instructions• Specify immediate action• Identify responsible persons

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Example Emergency Plan :

Unshielded gamma source

1. Action by radiographer• Recognise abnormal situation• Move away from exposed source• Remain calm

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Example Emergency Plan

• Measure radiation dose rates• Confirm extent of controlled area• Prevent access into area and

supervise• Inform RPO

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Example Emergency Plan

2. Action by RPO• Plan a course of action based on

emergency procedures• Rehearse • Implement course of action

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Action by RPO

If necessary :• Evacuate area• Seek technical assistance• Notify Regulatory Authority• Prepare in incident report• Arrange for dose assessment• Repair/replace equipment

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Training

• Personnel should be trained to deal with identified situations

• Drills and exercises should be conducted

• Useful feedback from exercises

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Accident Notification and Report

Includes:• Description of accident• Methods used to render the source

safe• Dose Assessments • Cause of the accident• Corrective actions

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Summary

• Planning for emergencies• likely events• preventions

• Action to take during an emergency• equipment• Role of RPO

• Action to take after an emergency• notifications• reports