ATOMIC TECHNOLOGIES PTE

LTD

RADIATION SAFETY
A brief
introduction

EQUIPMENTS / SETUPS

X- Ray
Equipment
and
Accessories

Gamma Ray
Equipment
and
Accessories

X-Ray and Gamma Rays produce the same affect when

interact with matter (material, Human etc) except they are
from different origin.
Gamma rays are penetration power depends on type of
Isotope and curies where as X-rays depends on Kilo
Voltage (KV) and Milli-ampere (ma) used

Brief History on X-ray &

Gamma Ray

X-RAY
Discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm
Conrad Roentgen, while
working with Cathode Ray
Tube in Laboratory.

Gamma Ray
Discovered in 1896 by Henri
Becquerel, while working with
Uranium Compound.
Ex : Cobalt 60, Iridium 192
etc.,

INTRODUCTION TO
RADIOGRAPHY

Radiography is an important tool in nondestructive evaluation offering a

number of
advantages over other NDE methods.

BUT one of its disadvantages is the HEALTH RISK associated with the
radiation.

CONNECT
DISCONNECT
CABLE
IN CABLE
WIND OUT

COLLIMATOR

FILM

MAIN BEAM

TYPES OF RADIATION

PARTICULATE
RADIATION
Alpha Particles
Beta Particles

ELECTROMAGNETIC
RADIATION

Radio Waves
Micro waves
Infrared Waves
Ultraviolet Rays
Gamma Radiation
X-Radiation

PENETRATION CAPABILITY
OF
/ X-Ray

MATERIAL PENETRATING POWER

ISOTOPE (SOURCE) IN THE

CAMERA (PROJECTOR)

RADIATION ENERGY AND

INTENSITY

Activity of Isotope:

This is defined as rate of decay and this is known by no of curies Isotope possess
i.e. 10 Curies, 20 Curies, etc. Irrespective of whichever Isotope is considered (i.e.
IR192 or CO60, the rate of decay is same if both Isotopes have same curie.

Energy and Intensity of Radioactive Isotope:

Energy tells us the penetration power of Isotope, the Higher the energy more is
the penetration of radiation
Intensity tells us the amount of radiation emitted
Example: consider an analogy of bullets are fired from a gun, the speed of bullet
corresponds to Energy and how many bullets fired corresponds to intensity

For Example consider the following

For 1 curie each of IR192 and Cobalt-60 respective energy level of 0.4 MeV & 1.17
MeV is emitted

Energy of IR192 is almost 1.5 times lower than CO60

From a radiation safety point of view, this difference in intensity is important

because the Co-60 has more material penetrating power and, therefore, is more
dangerous and requires more shielding.

PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION
CRP REQUIREMENT

PERSON PERFORMING RADIOGRAPHY

SHALL POSSES R1 LICENCE ISSUED BY CRP SINGAPORE

FOR LICENCE THE PERSONNEL SHALL SATISFY MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND AN

EXAMINATION ON RADIATION SAFETY REGULATIONS CONDUCTED BY CRP

COMPANY WHO USE RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPE

HANDLE, USE & TRANSPORT RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS

SHALL POSSESS L4 FOR RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES AND L5 FOR X-RAY EMITTIMG

EQUIPMENTS.

SHALL POSSESS L6 LICENCE

THERE ARE OTHER LICENCE NEEDS BUT THOSE ARE EITHER FOR
MANUFACTURING OR SUPPLIER WHO DO IMPORT AND EXPORT, WHICH IS NOT
GIVEN ABOVE

RESPONSIBILITIES OF L6
(License to use, handle & transport radioactive
material)

Ensure that all the radiation employees working

under his supervision shall comply with
regulations of Radiation Protection Act.
Shall be responsible for the radiation safety in any
work he is licensed to do.
All radiation work shall be performed under his
supervision
Where a licensee is aware or suspects of any fault
Immediately investigate and if necessary shutdown
the eqpt and send for repair / replacement.
Inform all individuals who may have been affected
that they might have been exposed to radiation
higher than that from a faultless eqpt.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF R1
(RADIATION WORKER)

Shall comply with the radiation safety procedures

prepared and approved by licensee (L6).
The procedure includes but not limited to
barricade, protection of themselves and nonradiation personnel's, coordinate with site
coordinators, report licensee in nay emergency,
wear PMD (personnel monitoring devices.
Provide all details and cooperate with all
relevant parties when emergency situation
arised during his work

FIELD RADIOGRAPHY
CRP REQUIREMENT

Boundary of field sites shall not exceed 25Sv

(2.5mR) per hour.
Continuous and competent supervision of
boundary shall be done.
Boundary shall be posted adequately with clear
and legible warning notices DANGER-RADIATION
etc
Adequate warning to every individual in the
vicinity and in the boundary shall be given before
exposure.

STORAGE OF
RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES
CRP REQUIREMENT

Radiation Level for container

Average radiation level at 5cm from surface of each container
does not exceed 40Sv/hr and max. radiation level does not exceed 200
Sv/hr.
Average radiation level at 1m from center of each source does
not exceed 4Sv/hr and max. radiation level does not exceed 20 Sv/hr.

When NOT IN USE, source shall be stored in an enclosure

In a location under jurisdiction of a responsible user and not in
residential areas or areas frequented by people.
Made of fire proof material
Exclusively for storing radioactive sources
Shall be kept under lock and key to avoid any unauthorized
usage
Shall be provided with radiation warning symbol & a tag of
name, address and contact number of responsible user & an
alternative

TRANSPORT OF
RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES
CRP REQUIREMENT

The vehicle shall be conspicuously marked with

radiation warning signs.
The source container shall be marked with
radiation warning symbol; the nature and amount
of radioactive source along with name/ address of
company shall be displayed.
The source container shall be properly secured
interior to the vehicle or locked in a steel box.
Only radiation worker shall travel in vehicle
carrying radioactive source.
Emergency eqpts and written procedure shall be
available to all personnel travelling with source.
Average radiation level at 5cm from the surface
shall not exceed 40Sv per hour and max radiation
level shall not exceed 200Sv per hour.

RADIATION DOSE LIMITS

CRP REQUIREMENTS
RADIATION WORKER

INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF
PUBLIC

Lens of the eye

150mSv (15R) per
year

Lens of the eye

15mSv (1.5 R) per
year

Skin

Skin

500mSv(50R)/year

50mSv(5 R)/year

Hands and Feet

500mSv(50R)/Ye
ar

Total Effective Whole

Body
20mSv (2R) per year

Total Effective Whole

Body
1mSv (100 mR) per
year

CONTROLLING EXPOSURE TO
EXPOSURE - TDS

Dose = Dose Rate x

Time

Inverse Square Law HALF VALUE LAYER(HVL)

I1 D1 = I2 D2

Ir192
Concrete : 44.5 mm
Steel : 12.7mm
Lead : 4.8mm
Tungsten : 3.3mm

EFFECTS OF RADIATION
EXPOSURE

Injuries to superficial tissues

General effects on the body, particularly on
blood & blood forming organs. Ex : Anaemia,
leukemia
Induction of malignant tumors
Other detrimental effects like Cataract,
Impaired fertility & Reduction of life span.
Genetic effects
Biological effects

BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Biological effects caused by different type of

radiation may be similar
Amount of radiation required to effect the tissue is
small
Except for very infrequent tissue mutations, the
radiation is always detrimental to tissues/ cells.
For short period exposure, the biological effects
follow a sequential pattern.
Acute effects : Appear within minutes, days, weeks
Long Term effects : Appear over years, decades,
generation

For protracted type exposure, biological effects are

simultaneous

DETERMINANTS OF
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Total amount of radiation absorbed

Type of radiation
Rate of absorption
Area Exposed
Relative sensitivity of tissue

EXPOSURE SYMPTOMS
Dosages are in Roentgen Equivalent Man (Rem)
0-25 No injury evident. First detectable blood change@5

Rem
25-50 Definite blood change at 25 rem. No serious
injury.
50-100 Some injury possible.
100-200 Injury and possible disability.
200-400 Injury and disability likely, death possible.
400-500 Median Lethal Dose . 50% of exposures are
fatal.
500-1,000 Up to 100% of exposures are fatal.
1,000-over 100% likely fatal.

RADIATION ACCIDENTS

Date: 1981
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Type of event: accidental exposure to industrial
source
Description:
An iridium-192 industrial source became
detached and lodged in its delivery tube,
resulting in radiation burns on the finger tips to
two individuals.
Consequences: 2 injuries.

RADIATION ACCIDENTS

Date: 19 March 1984

Location: Casablanca (Mohammedia), Morocco
Type of event: lost radiography source
Description:
A 16.3-curie iridium-192 industrial radiography source
was lost and taken home by a laborer. The laborer had
laid the source on a table in the family bedroom, and it
was in the house for possibly a few weeks. Exposure to
radiation caused the deaths of 8 family members,
including 4 children and their parents within a few days
of each other, about 45 days after exposure. Three other
people received significant exposures. Diagnosis of
radiation exposure was only made 80 days after initial
exposure.
Consequences: 8 fatalities, 3 injuries.

RADIATION ACCIDENTS

Date: 29 July 1981

Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Type of event: intentional self-exposure to
industrial radiography source
Description:
An unemployed radiographer incurred a selfinflicted radiation injury from an iridium-192
industrial radiography source, resulting in
death. The individual, Douglas Crofut, had
stolen the source in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Consequences: 1 fatality.

PREVENTION OF
RADIATION ACCIDENTS

Never be complacent with radiation safety

Conduct radiation survey before, during and after the each
radiography exposure
Check equipments & accessories to be sure damage free.
(visual inspection and go no-go check)
Reminding each other Each team mate shall remind each
other on compliance to the above 2 tasks
Do site survey before starting radiography to ensure no other
person except radiographic crew is present.
Do constant supervision of radiation level at barricade area.
While transporting radiation source never leave the vehicle
with radiation source unattended or never enter public
places
Keep radiation safety procedure in vehicle for easy reference
when emergency is struck.
Know who to call in emergency

PREVENTION OF RADIATION
ACCIDENTS ..(cont)

Do not allow any unauthorized person to carry or even get

closer to radiation source.
Last but not least those who use services should have quick
check on radiography crew and their equipment and
accessories before and after completion of radiography
(especially the survey meter working condition, presence of
source in the container and cable condition). This prevents
most important cause of accident i.e. Complacency!!!!!

COMMON CAUSES OF RADIATION ACCIDENT

Statistics show that most of the accidents happened in industrial
radiography are due to complacency of radiation worker. For example:

Forgot to do radiation survey after the radiography job is completed may lead to over exposure of not only radiography
crew but also other trade people who starts work after radiography.

Second most important reason is inquisitive attitude of radiography

person. For example: like to see how the actual source is or to show it to others..
Third important reason is unaware of what source is.

For example: the source

fallen from projector while radiography is found by non-radiographer and keeps in his possession out of
mere unawareness.

PREVENTION OF RADIATION
ACCIDENTS ..(cont)
Go no-go gauge
Used to
check
connecti
ng cable

These are exactly how

sources are
manufactured and look
like,

If you see
anywhere.
DONOT PICK
OR TOUCH
CALL
EMERGENCY

The End
Lets all of us do our best in everything we dobut very
best when it comes to safety