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Overview of Orphan Source Search Training Course

Overview of Orphan Source Search Training Course. Introduction. By the end of this module students will be able to: Explain why searches for sources are made Describe the two main types of searches Discuss the benefits of inventory verification and how it may lead to further source searches

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Overview of Orphan Source Search Training Course

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  1. Overview of Orphan SourceSearch Training Course

  2. Introduction • By the end of this module students will be able to: • Explain why searches for sources are made • Describe the two main types of searches • Discuss the benefits of inventory verification and how it may lead to further source searches • List the ways that authorities may become aware of a source being missing • Discuss the factors involved in decisions to perform source searches and how to prioritize them • State when a source search becomes an emergency

  3. Overview • National strategy • Types of searches • Reasons for searches • Inventory verification • Awareness of a source missing • Search decision and prioritization factors • Emergencies • Course Outline

  4. National Strategy • As stated in the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, countries should have “national strategies for gaining or regaining control over orphan sources” • Part of any national strategy should involve searching for orphan sources

  5. National Strategy Guidance • Safety Guide No. SSG-19: • Assessing potential for orphan sources • Developing national strategy • Implementing national strategy • Administrative and physical searches for orphan sources

  6. Types of Searches • Administrative searches • Data collection and study • Physical searches • Looking with eyes and radiation detectors • Inventory verification can be regarded as a combined administrative and physical ‘search’ • Administrative searches may lead to physical searches

  7. Reasons for Searches • Develop an initial inventory or registry • Verify that a current inventory is complete and correct • Routinely ensure that all sources are known about • Look for specific lost sources • Investigate the causes of any radiation injuries

  8. Verified Inventory This is the starting point for most countries A verified inventory is the documented, visual proof of the status of each sealed radioactive source in the country If all known sources have notbeen visually sighted and inspected within the last few years an inventory verification should be conducted

  9. Possible Outcomes of Inventory Verification • One or more sources are discovered that were not on the list Action: Conduct further administrative searches and update records • One or more sources are not accounted for Action: Conduct physical searches and update records • All sources are accounted for and no extra sources are discovered Action: No further action required

  10. Awareness of a source missing • The fact that a source is missing may be discovered by: • an inventory verification or administrative search • the report of loss by a user • only part of a consignment being received • a break-in at a source storage location • abnormal monitoring results • finding an empty, labelled source container • detection of radiation-induced health effects

  11. Search Decision/Prioritization Factors • Potential hazard from unknown, uncontrolled sources • Category of a known missing source • Length of time since a known source was lost or stolen • Amount of information available • Cost of search and funds available • Availability of qualified search personnel • Instrument availability for physical searches • Local ‘risk tolerance’ of the authorities and public

  12. Emergencies • If the assessed risk of injuries is high (e.g. Category 1, 2 or 3 source), a known lost source becomes an emergency • “Arrangements shall be made to initiate a prompt search and to issue a warning to the public in the event of a dangerous source being lost or illicitly removed and possibly been in the public domain”

  13. Course Outline - Lectures • Overview of orphan source training course • Historical problems of orphan sources • Categorization and field identification of sealed radioactive sources • Current status of national strategies • Administrative searches for orphan sources

  14. Course Outline - Lectures • Radiation detection equipment overview • Physical searches for orphan sources • Radiation protection for search teams • Instrument-specific training • Actions after finding an orphan radioactive source: • Identification and recovery • Packaging and transport • Conditioning and storage

  15. Course Outline - Exercises • Categorization of radioactive sources • Administrative searches • Physical search planning • Detection equipment competencies • Practical physical search, source characterization and handling

  16. Summary • The need for orphan source searches • Inventory verification and its outcomes • Discovery that a source is orphaned • Search decisions and prioritization factors • Declaration of an emergency • Lecture and exercise outline for the course

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