Lessons Learned in Applying the IAEA General Safety

Requirements Part 3

Olga German, IAEA

Arusha, Republic of Tanzania

4 - 8 November, 2019

Inspection devices and

non-medical human imaging

Radiation safety concerns

➢ Passenger screening / human imaging

➢ Luggage screening

➢ Cargo screening

➢ Use of radiation sources

➢ Transport of radioactive material etc.

➢ Cosmic exposures

➢ Exposure of workers

➢ Exposure of public

Non-medical human imaging

Security at the border

Immigration

Age determination of asylum seekers

SecurityAnti-smuggling

Definitions

Inspection imaging device:

“An imaging device designed specifically for imaging persons

or cargo conveyances for the purpose of detecting concealed

objects on or within the human body or within cargo or a vehicle.”

The term also covers devices that use a radiation source as part of a process to

detect residues on the human body, or to identify or detect material or residues on

or with cargo, bottles, baggage, vehicles, etc.

Images produced by such devices can be a single picture, or can be real-time

video.

Types of radiation sources used in inspection devices

➢ X ray generators Inspecting a wide variety of objects, including letters, parcels, baggage, air

cargo containers and vehicles.

• Linear accelerators Inspection of cargo containers.

• X ray tube not sufficient for heavily loaded containers

➢ Gamma sources − penetrates up to 150 mm of steel

➢ Beta sources − detection of trace quantities of explosives and narcotics.

➢ Neutron sources − detection of drugs, explosives and chemical weapons. Tool for providing

additional information when used in conjunction with X ray or gamma radiation scanning.

Types of Equipment Used for Non-medical Human Imaging

➢ Category 1 non-medical human imaging procedures are performed using medical radiological

equipment, as defined in GSR Part 3 - Radiological equipment used in medical radiation

facilities to perform radiological procedures that either delivers an exposure to a person or

directly controls or influences the extent of such exposure.

➢ X ray generators - radiography X ray units, dental X ray units,

➢ CT scanners

➢ Category 2 non-medical human imaging procedures are performed using inspection imaging

devices

➢ Transmission technology - displays objects concealed on and within the body

➢ Backscatter technology - displays only objects concealed on the body (e.g. hidden in or

under clothing)

Non-medical human imaging

If Category 1 non-medical human imaging is considered to be justified:

• Specific authorization for a particular medical facility,

• Process for justification of the procedure for specific individuals,

• Training of the staff in relation to the types of procedures to be performed,

• Imaging protocols to be used for the procedures to be performed.

• The normal regulatory activities of the regulatory body with respect to medical radiation facilities performing radiological procedures for medical diagnosis will apply to Category 1 non-medical human imaging

If Category 2 non-medical human imaging is justified:

• Authorisation by registration or licensing,

• If located in busy public place (airport) verify that all operational aspects of radiation protection can be achieved in such an environment,

• Ascertain that key personnel with responsibilities for radiation protection and safety have the necessary competences,

• Design and layout of facility including any inspection zones, controlled areas and supervised areas if applicable;

• Design of inspection imaging devices and local rules and other procedures for operation.

Safety Guide (under development)

➢ Increase in the use of inspection imaging devices to detect concealed

objects in postal items, baggage and cargo or within vehicles.

➢ Workers and members of the public may be exposed to radiation

during the use of such equipment.

➢ May lead to the inadvertent exposure of people inside cargo

containers, or the exposure of drivers and passengers inside vehicles

being inspected.

Radiation Safety of X ray Generators and other Radiation

Sources Used for Inspection Purposes and for

Non-Medical Human Imaging

Main issues

THE USE OF X RAY GENERATORS AND RADIATION SOURCES FOR INSPECTION PURPOSES

Inspection devices design

Radiation Protection and Safety regulatory framework

Graded Approach

Radiation Protection and Safety Programme

Management of Disused Sealed Radioactive Sources

Investigation of Events

Emergency Preparedness and Response

THE USE OF X RAY GENERATORS FOR NON-MEDICAL HUMAN IMAGING

Types and design of equipment for Non-medical Human Imaging

Regulatory framework for Radiation Protection and Safety

Radiation Protection and Safety Programme

Investigation of Events

Justification

Non-medical human imaging procedures are normally considered to be not justified. However, there might

be exceptional circumstances

Government or regulatory body decide whether practices involving human imaging are justified, include

an assessment:

availability of non-radiological technology,

radiation detriment,

doses to workers and the public,

potential doses from accidents,

appraisal of the benefits of the proposed practice.

Government only in the specific case of human imaging for the detection of concealed objects that can be

used for criminal acts that pose a national security threat.

Government - ensure that the relevant government ministries and authorities work in a coordinated

manner, particularly with respect to justification and the conditions associated with any justified practice.

Relevant authorities are likely to include the health authority and the ministry under whose

jurisdiction the non-medical human imaging purpose falls, for example, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry

of Immigration or the Ministry of Labour.

Regulatory body to request process for justification of the procedure for specific individuals

Applicable dose limits

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE

For workers over the age of 18 years:

− An effective dose of 20 mSv per year averaged over five

consecutive years (100 mSv in 5 years), and of 50 mSv in

any single year;

Additional restrictions apply to occupational exposure

for a female worker who has notified pregnancy or is

breast-feeding (para. 3.114 of GSR Part 3 [1]).

For occupational exposure of apprentices and students

of 16 to 18 years:

− An effective dose of 6 mSv in a year;

PUBLIC EXPOSURE

− An effective dose of 1 mSv in a year;

Setting dose constraints:

• the particular imaging requirements need to be considered

(might be similar to medical)

• category 2 non-medical human imaging - public exposure

in a planned exposure situation - and hence is also subject

to the dose limits for public exposure

• dose constraints and dose limits for public exposure should

apply to persons who might be exposed to radiation while

inside a cargo container or a vehicle (public exposure in a

planned exposure situation).

Whatare your lessons learned?