[en] This paper presents an approach to develop and implement safety culture in the uses of radiation sources in medicine, industry, agriculture, research and teaching, and makes reference to the experience gained by the industries where that culture has been developed and improved, i.e. the nuclear industry. Suggestions to assist progress toward safety culture are here described for regulators, organisations using those sources, and professional associations. Even though emphasis is given to small organisations or teams of workers, this approach may be also useful to greater organisations like industrial irradiation companies or governmental research laboratories. In each case, parties being the principal focus of the learning process toward a progressive safety culture should be identified. (author)

[en] Three devices were tested against eighteen radio-isotopes ranging in activity from 0.37 kBq (K-40) to 93.24 GBq (Pu-239) to determine their effectiveness as isotope identifiers. Two of the devices were hand-held instruments using NaI(Tl) detectors and the third one was a bench-top instrument using a mechanically-cooled Ge detector. Details of the test and the test results are presented in this paper. (author)

[en] Customs officers take part in the combat against illicit traffic od radioactive materials by means of different regulations dealing with nuclear materials, artificial radiation sources or radioactive wastes. The capability of customs officers is frequently incomplete and difficult to apply due to incompatibility of the intervention basis. In case of contaminated materials, it seems that the customs is not authorised directly and can only perform incidental control. In order to fulfil better its mission of fighting against illicit traffic of radioactive materials customs established partnership with CEA which actually includes practical and theoretical training meant to augment the capabilities of customs officers

[en] The article outlined regulations, authorities and responsibilities for licensing in China. The health departments at provincial level issue the license certificates to the units engaging in the production, use or sale of radioisotopes or apparatus equipped with radiation source or radiation-emitting apparatus, and have the duty of supervising and monitoring the security about radiation work. For the particular dangers of radiation sources, there is deficiency and shortage of the current licensing system, such as ignorance of the importance of keeping detail records about sources, poor communications among every health department, poor actions to prevent illegal and secret radiation work such as secret use and sale. We are going to improve our licensing system by hardware (computer technology) and software (management). (author)

[en] The use of radioactive sources and equipment or devices emitting ionizing radiation covers a very large field of applications (nuclear and conventional industries, medical purposes) and needs therefore the compliance with a serial of fundamental safety requirements in order to protect the personal and the public. The detention and the use of radioactive substances and machinery or devices containing radioactive sources are strictly controlled in the most industrial countries. In order to harmonize the principle of use an the respect of the essential safety requirements, an international co-operation has been established since the last two or three decades in the fields of standardization and regulation implementation. It has effectively been proved that only a comparison at an international level with all of the interested people (manufacturers, safety authorities, end users, test houses, ...) will permit the publication of a set of relevant and coherent recommendations which could be adapted later on in national or international regulations by the different member bodies or international organizations. These regulations will then lead the design, the detention, the use and the elimination of the radioactive sources in an appropriate manner. France, as well as the most important industrial countries, participates actively to this effort of harmonization of good practices, namely in the field of ISO, CEN and AFNOR standardization areas, in the following domains. (author)

[en] Use of gamma radiation sources for non-destructive testing of welds, castings and vital components in several industries in India has recorded a steep rise in the last three decades. There are over 1000 industrial gamma radiography exposure devices (IGRED) in over 400 institutions in the country. Most of these employ Co-60 and Ir-192 gamma sources. In spite of regulatory control and procedures there have been accidents with the IGREDs resulting in significant radiation exposures and in some cases, injuries to members of public and radiography personnel. This paper analyses the accidents which occurred in India during the ten year period of 1987-1997, management of such accidents, steps taken to avoid recurrence of these accidents based on the lessons learnt. (author)

[en] In this presentation it is being discussed a close relationship between the prevention of accidents involving apparatus that generates the ionizing radiation (x-ray tubes etc.) and the need to perform quality control procedures and make follow-up corrective maintenance procedures. A summary of results of quality control performance of x-ray machines in certain centers in Tanzania is tabled and measures to overcome some of the observed problems are recommended. The number of X-ray units inspected were 219, out of which 123 were working, 75 were out of order, 6 units were not yet installed and those which are working with faulty parts were 15. The performance of quality assurance for X-Ray units (57) tested showed that 36.8% didn't qualify. About 80% of these equipment are more than 15 years old. (author)

[en] Although nuclear research centers attached to universities usually do not keep large inventories of radioactive or special nuclear material, the mentioned material has still to be under strict surveillance and safeguards if applicable. One problem in such research centers is the large and frequent fluctuation of persons - mainly students, scientists or visiting guest scientists - using such materials for basic or applied research. In the present paper an overview of protective actions in such a research institute will be given and experience of more than 36 years will be presented. (author)

[en] 1. As it is shown in the name the main purpose of this Paper is to describe system of customs control over transportation of radiation sources and radioactive materials through the frontier of the Republic of Belarus, clarifying herewith influence of global situation on the creation of this system and noting technical needs of Customs Administration of Belarus in its activities aimed at strengthening the control system. 2. The Republic of Belarus has not the enterprises of atomic-industrial complex and does not produce radioactive and nuclear materials, so, control over them is largely connected with their transit through frontiers of Belarus and its territory. It is necessary to note, that the frontier of Belarus with the Ukraine, Poland and Baltic States is an external frontier of a Custom Union between Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kirghizia. On the territory of the last three states are concentrated extraction and production of radioactive and nuclear materials, part of which can be transported by the shortest way to the European countries through the territory and frontiers of the Republic of Belarus. 3. The significant part of the republic territory suffered from Chernobyl catastrophe. In a number of the polluted regions of Belarus there were created the zones of <>, the residing on them is prohibited by legislation. On those territories there were created numerous burial grounds for the conditionally radioactive and low radioactive wastes. In this connection, there is also a danger of illegal importation of various radioactive wastes from contiguous countries to these zones and burial them there. On the other hand, there are known the numerous cases of exportation of various materials, subjects, food from the polluted zones even out of Belarus. 4. Taking into account the aforesaid the Customs Administration of the Republic of Belarus as well as other public authorities, clearly recognizes the necessity of organization of an effective radiation control on customs frontiers and on the territory of Belarus, so, for these purposes there was developed the special legislation consisting of international instruments and national governmental acts. The main of them are International Program INTAR, Governmental Act of March 18, 1997 << About establishment of the interdictions and limitations on movement of things through customs border of the Republic of Belarus>>; Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the United States of America concerning liquidation of consequences of emergencies and prevention of proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction of October 22, 1992, Protocol between Customs Services of Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States on interaction in organizing the customs control over fissionable and radioactive materials of May 21, 1998, Law of the Republic of Belarus << About radiation safety of the population>> of January 5, 1998, Order of the Customs Administration of the Republic of Belarus << About the customs control over radioactive substances>> of December 23, 1997, Regulations on the control over radioactive contamination of the Republic of Belarus by Chernobyl catastrophe, and others. 5. On the basis of the named documents the Customs Administration works on organization of an effective customs control over the transportation of radiation sources and radioactive materials through the frontier of the Republic of Belarus. Actually this control covers the following tasks: ensuring radiation safety of the population of the Republic of Belarus, suppression of illegal movement of fissionable and radioactive materials through customs border, revealing of offenses of customs and other laws. It is carried out in conformity with international standards and consists of: primary radiation control, additional radiation control and detailed radiation examination

[en] Radiation detectors installed on fixed detection portals are widely used throughout the nuclear industry to prevent radioactive materials from being illegally removed from buildings or sites. These cumbersome and expensive devices detect any abnormal increase in radioactivity levels at various points along routes used by personnel or vehicles. It would therefore seem natural to use the same kind of equipment to prevent illicit trafficking of radioactive materials by installing it at strategic points. We present the parameters which influence the detection of radioactive materials, taking a plutonium-239 source as an example, and show, in our study, how difficult it is to actually detect a radioactive substance. The use of detectors used for real-time dose measurement is another interesting approach for the application. These are small, inexpensive detectors worn permanently by personnel to signal any abnormal dose rates. Although less sensitive than detection portals, they have a wider detection range than any fixed detectors, with a detection closer to the source. (author)