Radioactive material transport tutorial

Question 1

What needs to be determined before transporting a package?

Answer 1

• Radionuclide.
• Total activity.
• Surface dose rate.
• Transport index (dose rate at 1 m/10).

Question 2

What is the difference between the A1 and A2 numbers?

Answer 2

• A1: Non-dispersible solid.
• A2: Liquid and everything else (relevant for nuclear medicine).

Question 3

What does the transport index help determine?

Answer 3

Package category.

Question 4

What tests do type A packages undergo?

Answer 4

• Water spray for one hour to simulate rainfall.
• Free drop test onto flat, hard surface.
• Stacking with at least 5x package weight.
• Penetration test by dropping bar vertically onto package.

Question 5

When does an emergency plan need to be in place? What does this relate to?

Answer 5

• When dose may exceed 1 mSv.
• Dose limit for member of the public.

Question 6

What action may be taken undertaken if the driver carrying a type A package crashed?

Answer 6

Contact:
- Driver: Assess damage to van and instruct driver to follow emergency plan.
- RPS/RPA: May require a site visit in more serious accidents.
- Police: If crash incident is serious or contamination/leak is suspected.
- Ambulance: If persons are injured.
Reporting/action plan:
- ONR incident report.
- Review risk assessment.