It is estimated that there are several million shipments of radioactive material annually worldwide, of which only 2–4% consisted of heavy loads of highly radioactive material, including nuclear fuel. Show
About half or more of these shipments were estimated to carry radioactive material of relatively low activity, including relatively short-lived medical isotopes, which need to be carried at high speed to ensure that they arrive at the destination in a useful state. Under the Radiation Act 2005, it is an offence for a person to conduct a radiation practice unless that person holds a management licence that allows the conduct of that radiation practice. The definition of a radiation practice includes, among other things, 'transporting radioactive material'. Standards for the safe transport of radioactive materialInternational standardsThe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has developed, during the past 40 years, the Regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material. Australian standardsRegulating radiation transportation in Australia has, for many years, been based on the previously mentioned international regulations. In Australia, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) have published the Code for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (2014) (the Transport Code (2014)). The Transport Code (2014) incorporates the International Atomic Energy Agency Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material 2012 Edition. The Transport Code is updated periodically to encompass the latest international regulations. Regulation of radioactive material transport in VictoriaVictoria's approach to the regulation of the transport of radioactive material is to:
Radioactive material consignors' main responsibilitiesAs a minimum, the consignor is responsible for ensuring that the consignment of radioactive material is properly packaged, labelled, certified and documented. This consigning is a critical part of the transport process. The certification and documentation includes the supply of documentation to the carrier, sometimes known as a 'consignor's declaration' or the 'Road/Rail/Marine Consignor's Declaration for Dangerous Goods – Class 7 Radioactive Material'. To prepare for a shipment, the consignor must first establish a number of factors. These factors define, among other things, the required transport packaging standard that must be met:
Certain materials may be approved under the international regulations as 'special-form radioactive material' if they meet test criteria, to limit exposures by encapsulation or making the radioactive material indispersible. A common example of this is found in smoke alarms. Radioactive material transport packaging standardsThere are three basic requirements for the safe transport of radioactive material: The IAEA Regulations provide for a graduated approach where the standards of packaging increase based predominantly on the type of radionuclide and the amount of the radionuclide. The four main types of packaging are:
Where small amounts are to be transported, it is usually done in excepted packages (so called because they are excepted from all but the most basic requirements). Excepted packages are typically used for, for example, test samples and some medical isotopes. Type A packages are limited by the quantity of materials and are required to maintain their integrity under normal conditions of transport. Large quantities of material must be carried in Type B (U) or Type B (M) packages, which are capable of withstanding accident conditions. The actual design of the individual package defines how much material can be transported. Type C packages are designed for air transport of larger quantities of material. Radioactive material transport – quality assurance requirementsThe IAEA Regulations require a number of quality-assurance measures that include pre-shipment checks, contamination controls, stowage standards, marking, labelling and placarding. This is for all Type A, Type B and Type C packages. As an example, each package is required to be labelled with the:
Freight containers and vehicles carrying radioactive material must carry placards to indicate the class of material being carried. Where material of a single UN number is being carried, this has to be shown. Note that some sealed sources are classified as a high consequence sealed source. There are additional requirements in these circumstances. Radioactive material transport – more informationIf you require clarification about the transport of radioactive material or require more information about this matter, please contact the department. What type of container is required for transporting small quantities of radioactive materials?Type A Packagingis used to transport small quantities of radioactive material with higher concentrations of radioactivity than those shipped in industrial packagings.
What is UN 2910 used for?(Note: 2910 means Radioactive material, excepted package-limited quantity of material.)
Which placard is used for packages with low radiation levels?The package will always have a Yellow-III label regardless of radiation level. HRCQ shipments by highway will require the standard placard on a white square background with a black border as shown at left.
How many hazard labels are required to be affixed to a package containing radioactive material?Each overpack containing radioactive material shall bear at least two labels on opposite sides of the outside of the overpack. In addition, each package, overpack and freight container containing fissile material, other than fissile material excepted under 6.4.
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