Inspection Of Radiation Sources And Regulatory Enforcement

This Safety Report provides practical guidance on establishing the procedures to facilitate regulatory compliance on the use of radiation sources. It provides examples of processes to be followed, and the use of standard assessment plans for carrying out inspections. It contains examples of inspection procedures and checklists for the use of radiation sources in diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, industrial radiography, research and industrial irradiators, gauges containing radioactive sources and well logging sources.

This publication has been developed to assist IAEA Member States in establishing and maintaining regulatory control through notification, authorization, inspection and enforcement in relation to facilities and activities with radiation sources, in order to achieve the fundamental safety and security objectives. The publication addresses the implementation of the requirements for safety and security in a harmonized way, taking into account differences in the requirements as well as differences in States' regulatory infrastructures. For example, in some States the same regulatory body is responsible for the control of safety and security, while in others, safety and security are controlled by separate regulatory bodies. A harmonized approach for notification, authorization, inspection and enforcement is intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of regulatory control through concurrent inspection for safety and security.

This publication is the new edition of the International Basic Safety Standards. The edition is co-sponsored by seven other international organizations European Commission (EC/Euratom), FAO, ILO, OECD/NEA, PAHO, UNEP and WHO. It replaces the interim edition that was published in November 2011 and the previous edition of the International Basic Safety Standards which was published in 1996. It has been extensively revised and updated to take account of the latest finding of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and the latest recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The publication details the requirements for the protection of people and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation and for the safety of radiation sources. All circumstances of radiation exposure are considered.

This Safety Guide provides recommendations on meeting the requirements of IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 1 (Rev. 1), Governmental, Legal and Regulatory Framework for Safety, on the regulatory body's core functions and associated regulatory processes. This guidance is particularly important for regulatory bodies having responsibilities covering a range of facilities and activities that give rise to radiation risks and the important organizational interfaces between various regulatory authorities, which require effective coordination and cooperation. It promotes a consistent approach to regulation and specifically addresses the release of facilities and activities from regulatory control including sites, buildings, equipment and material. The publication is intended to be used mainly by regulatory bodies but will also be useful for governments that are developing a regulatory framework for safety. It will also assist authorized parties and others dealing with radiation sources in understanding regulatory procedures, processes and expectations.

Does radiation medicine need more regulation or simply better-coordinated regulation? This book addresses this and other questions of critical importance to public health and safety. The issues involved are high on the nation's agenda: the impact of radiation on public safety, the balance between federal and state authority, and the cost-benefit ratio of regulation. Although incidents of misadministration are rare, a case in Pennsylvania resulting in the death of a patient and the inadvertent exposure of others to a high dose of radiation drew attention to issues concerning the regulation of ionizing radiation in medicine and the need to examine current regulatory practices. Written at the request from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Radiation in Medicine reviews the regulation of ionizing radiation in medicine, focusing on the NRC's Medical Use Program, which governs the use of reactor-generated byproduct materials. The committee recommends immediate action on enforcement and provides longer term proposals for reform of the regulatory system. The volume covers Sources of radiation and their use in medicine. Levels of risk to patients, workers, and the public. Current roles of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, other federal agencies, and states. Criticisms from the regulated community. The committee explores alternative regulatory structures for radiation medicine and explains the rationale for the option it recommends in this volume. Based on extensive research, input from the regulated community, and the collaborative efforts of experts from a range of disciplines, Radiation in Medicine will be an important resource for federal and state policymakers and regulators, health professionals involved in radiation treatment, developers and producers of radiation equipment, insurance providers, and concerned laypersons.

This revision provides guidance to States and their competent authorities on how to establish or improve, implement, maintain and sustain the elements of the nuclear security regime related to radioactive material, associated facilities and activities, with particular emphasis on the development of regulatory requirements. The publication applies to the security of radioactive material in use or in storage, as well as associated facilities and associated activities, and assists Member States in their regimes against unauthorized removal of the radioactive material or sabotage performed with the intent to cause harmful radiological consequences.