Control of radioactive substances, incidents and emergencies

Question 1

How are sources (Open & Sealed) catergorised?

Answer 1

Determined by the A/D value based on IAEA categorisation methodology in their Safety Guide.

Question 2

What does the A and D stand for in the A/D value?

Answer 2

A = Source Activity
D = Activity at which the source becomes dangerous

Question 3

How is the catergory defined for multiple source holding?

Answer 3

Overall source/store/premises holding category is determined by ADDING A/D values for each source.

Question 4

Define all the numbered source categories

Cat1, Cat2, Cat3&4 and Cat5

Answer 4

Cat1: most dangerous e.g. medical teletherapy, gamma knife
Cat2: industrial radiography sources, high/medium dose rate brachytherapy
Cat3&4: density moisture gauges, low dose rate brachytherapy
Cat5: Any practice with A/D < 0.01 (excluding source categories 1-4); includes some HASS

Question 5

What are the different Security Levels?

Answer 5

Security levels A-D which are dependant on source category.

Question 6

What is Security Level D?

Answer 6

Minimum security where duties are imposed by IRR17 & EPR2016. Excludes HASS sources.

Question 7

What are the additional security measures required for security Levels A-C (HASS sources)?

Answer 7

Security culture, awareness of the threat and need to Deter, Detect, Delay, Respond
* Site security plan
* Extendibility of security measures dependent upon the terrorist threat level
* Information security plan
* Personnel background checks
* Specified number of physical security measures (delay source access)
* Timely detection of unauthorised access by monitored intruder alarm
* Timely police response to alarm
* Mobile sources in use require close personal supervision & possibly appropriate communication links

Question 8

What is the purpose of the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 (REPPIR)?

Answer 8

To establish a framework of emergency preparedness measures ensuring employees and the public are properly informed and prepared for radiation emergencies.

Question 9

What is considered a “radiation emergency” under REPPIR?

Answer 9

A non-routine event likely to result in a member of the public receiving an effective dose of >/= 1 mSv during the year immediately following the emergency.

Question 10

Who oversees compliance with REPPIR?

Answer 10

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

Question 11

What regulatory frameworks relate to REPPIR2019?

Answer 11

IRR17:
* Reg. 8 (radiation risk assessment in emergency response)
* Reg. 22 (dose assessment) & Reg. 24 (dose recording)
* Reg. 25 (dosimetry for accidents (or emergencies) and medical surveillance).

Civil Contingencies Act (CCA):
* The CCA provides the overarching framework for civil emergency preparedness and response.
* REPPIR emergency arrangements must dovetail with other arrangements made under the CCA.

Question 12

What are the Legal Duties under REPPIR2019?

Answer 12

Operators: of premises where work with ionising radiation is carried out e.g. licensed nuclear sites (compliance with the Nuclear Installations Act will meet REPPIR
requirements), hospitals, universities, ports, airports, factories
Transporters: of RAS through a public place (but not those using standard forms of transport such as road (CDG2009), rail, inland waterway, sea, air, or through a pipeline) e.g. movement via pipelines.
All local authorities: not just those that have REPPIR operators within their boundaries
Employers: of people who intervene in a radiation emergency,
such as the emergency services e.g. police, ambulance etc.
Operators/LAs/Employers: to co-operate (Regs. 13-15)

Question 13

Where does REPPIR not apply for radioactive sources?

Answer 13

• RAS activity concentration ** < 100Bq/g **;
• Non-dispersible sources (certificate not expired);
• RAS conforming to the specifications for #special form RAM (certificate not expired); and
• RAS in Type B and C packages;
• Excludes RAM Transport except for Reg.22

Question 14

What is an emergency exposure?

Answer 14

One which may exceed the dose limits in IRR17 (i.e.
20 mSv) during intervention in a radiation emergency and are incurred by emergency workers, who act to bring help to endangered people, prevent exposure of a large number of people, and prevent harm to the environment or save valuable property, plant or goods. These employees are usually operator employees or emergency service personnel required to intervene/respond.

Question 15

What are reference levels?

Answer 15

Operator’s & LA’s emergency plans must record
reference levels for persons or groups of persons that may be affected by the radiation emergency (e.g. the public) and/ or for those persons with specific roles in responding to a radiation emergency.

Question 16

What is NEPLG?

Answer 16

The Nuclear Emergency Planning Liaison Group brings together organisations involved in off-site nuclear emergency planning

Question 17

What is the NAIR scheme?

What is the purpose of the NAIR scheme?

Answer 17

National Arrangements for Incidents involving Radioactivity

Purpose: to protect the public from hazards arising from the use and transport of radioactive materials and in situations where no formal contingency plans exist. NOT expected to deal with terrorist incidents.

Question 18

Who is the co-ordinating organisationfor NAIR?

Answer 18

• UKHSA-RCE (UK Health Security Agency - Radiation Chemicals and Environmental Hazards)

Question 19

What is are likely NAIR Stage 1 incidents?

Answer 19

Transport incidents: where normal arrangements fail/are delayed and there is a perceived immediate danger to the public
Lost sources: e.g. industrial radiography sources not in their shielding (although industrial radiographers should be trained to deal with this
contingency)
Damaged sources: e.g. soil density/moisture probes run over by road rollers (although an emergency plan should be in place)
Empty Radioactive Packaging/Radiation Trefoil Signs: Note - there are regulations regarding obscuring, removal & misuse of “Radiation” warning signs
Terrorist Incidents: BEFORE terrorist activity is suspected

Question 20

What is EPRR?

Answer 20

Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR):
defined as a series of statutory responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004). This requires NHS-funded organisations to maintain a robust capability (not capacity) to plan for, and respond to, incidents or emergencies that could impact on health or services to patients.

Question 21

What is HART?

Answer 21

Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) forms part of the health response in support of the national capabilities programme led by the Home Office:

• HART - triage and stabilise casualties
• FRS – “rescue” casualties

Question 22

What is RMU?

Answer 22

Radiation Monitoring Units

Question 23

Define Transport Index and explain how this is used to determine the category of a package
containing radioactive materials

Answer 23

Transport Index defined as: maximum radiation dose rate (mSv/h) at a distance of 1 metre from
surface of package x 100.
Transport Index is used together with maximum external surface dose rate of package to
determine category of a Type A package.

Question 24

What is the transport index and maximum surface dose rate of a category I White package?

Answer 24

Transport Index: 0
Maximum surface dose rate: < 0.005 mSv/h

Question 25

What is the transport index and maximum surface dose rate of a category II Yellow package?

Answer 25

Transport Index: 0-1
Maximum surface dose rate: 0.005-0.5 mSv/h

Question 26

What is the transport index and maximum surface dose rate of a category III Yellow package?

Answer 26

Transport Index: 1-10
Maximum surface dose rate: 0.5-2 mSv/h

Question 27

What is the transport index and maximum surface dose rate of a category III Yellow * package?

Answer 27

Transport Index: >10
Maximum surface dose rate: 2-10 mSv/h

Question 28

Describe the basic principles of Best Available Technique (BAT) with regard to management of
radioactive materials

8 Principles

Answer 28

• Minimise the activity of radioactive materials kept/used on premises.
• Minimise period over which radioactive waste is accumulated.
• Minimise activity of radioactive waste that will require to be disposed on or form the premises.
• Ensure that premises are constructed, maintained and used so that not readily contaminated and any contamination can be easily removed.
• Prevent loss of any radioactive material/waste and access to radioactive material/waste by unauthorised person(s).
• Minimise activity of gaseous and aqueous radioactive waste discharged to the environment.
• Minimise volume of radioactive waste disposed of by transfer to other premises.
• Dispose of radioactive waste so as to minimise the radiological effects on the environment and members of the public

Question 29

What details would you expect to be included in an EPR permit for a nuclear medicine department, e.g. what scope and types of work should be included and what details would you
expect to see?

9 Main details

Answer 29

• Permitted work activities
• Description of activities such as storage and use of radioactive materials as an open source
• Accumulation of radioactive waste and disposal of radioactive waste
• Also types of work using ionising radiations permitted such as production of radioactive products medical diagnosis and treatment and transport
• Permitted radionuclides to be stored on site including maximum activity limits
• Radioactive waste accumulation limits; activity limit, volume limit, accumulation period, VLLW
• Waste disposal routes (atmosphere, drain, incineration)
• Annual/monthly, daily activity limits
• Transfer to alternate permitted site for incineration with named radionuclides

Question 30

State 4 control measures designed to restrict unauthorised access to open sources held under a
“Publicly Available” permit

Answer 30

• Keep sources either under continuous supervision or in a suitable container in a suitable store
• Hazard warning signage
• Security measures e.g. locks
• Information, instruction & training to staff groups to support security

Question 31

State 3 actions “Publicly Available” permit conditions require the operator to do if there are reasonable grounds to presume that radioactive material has been lost or stolen?

Answer 31

• Inform the Police & EA
• Recover the sources as far as is reasonably practicable
• Report the circumstances in writing to the EA ASAP

Question 32

Give examples of when a radioactive source is exempt from REPPIR

Answer 32

• RAS activity concentration <100Bq/g;
• Non-dispersible sources (certificate not expired);
• RAS conforming to the specifications for special form RAM (certificate not expired)
• RAS in Type B and C packages

Question 33

Under REPPIR to which group do emergency exposures apply?

Answer 33

Emergency workers (usually operator employees or emergency service personnel required to intervene/respond)

Question 34

For a nuclear power operator the Hazard Evaluation required under REPPIR will show that there is potential for a radiation emergency. For this scenario state the responsibilities imposed on the associated Local Authority and briefly outline associated likely considerations/actions.

Answer 34

Preparing an off-site emergency plan for the operator’s premises.

The plan must include:
- Critical phase & longer term recovery
- Identification of a Detailed Emergency Planning Zone (DEPZ)
- ‘Reference Levels’ for emergency exposures

Consideration must be given to:
- The need to practice the off-site contingency plan

Arrangements to provide information to the public in a radiation emergency.

Relevant information/advice/actions likely to be required for this scenario:
- Information (nature of the hazard)
- Prior information within the DEPZ,
- Information during an emergency, advice (stay indoors, close windows & doors
- Listen to the news for further advice, when to take pre-distributed stable iodine tablets), actions (pre-
distribution of stable iodine tablets