INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY ACCIDENTS IN MALAYSIA

Dr. Abd. Nassir IbrahimIndustrial Technology Division

Malaysia Nuclear AgencyPresident

Maaysia Society for NDT

Background Absorbed dose by radiographers

Accidents in radiography Factors affecting exposure to radiographers

Proposal for improving radiation safety in industrial radiography

Content of Presentation

WHAT IAEA SAID ABOUT RADIOGRAPHERS

INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY ACCOUNTS FOR APPROXIMATELY HALF OF ALL THE REPORTED ACCIDENTS FOR THE NUCLEAR RELATED INDUSTRY IN BOTH DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES- IAEA HANDBOOK

Governed by the Atomic Energy Licensing Act, Act 304

In 2011 71 NDT Companies providing radiography services

3500-4000 NDT personnel Beneficiaries

◦ PETRONAS, TNB, MAS, AIROD, SHIPBUILDING, VESSEL AND BOILER CONSTRUCTION

NDT TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS◦ NUCLEAR MALAYSIA, SIRIM, TATI, ITC,

KISMEC4

Background of Industrial Radiography Services in Malaysia

High density radiography activity area

Location of most NDT companies

KERTEH

GEBENG

PASIR GUDANG

PENANG

GURUN

High density radiography activity area

LABUAN

BINTULU

KUCHING

MIRI

KOTAKINABALU

YEAR NO OF RADIOGRAPHERS

% TO TOTAL RADIATIONWORKERS

TOTAL ABSORBED DOSE (MAN SEIVERT)

% TOTAL ABSORBED DOSE BY ALL WORKERS

2005 753 5.91 2552.51 40.68

2006 693 5.0 3198.47 53.79

2007 745 4.76 2649.61 24.54

2008 1140 6.10 7079.29 58.27

2009 1181 5.61 7590.67 57.25

2010 1201 6.27% 5087.82 55.27

Absorbed Dose By Radiographers

Absorbed Dose compare with other Radiation Workers

Year Average dose mSv

Compare to other industrial radiation workers

Compare to medical radiation workers

2005 3.39 8 times 15.4 times

2006 4.62 42 times 16 times

2007 3.56 20 times 4 times

2008 6.21 77.7 times 13.2 times

2009 6.73 74.8 times 14 times

Cases Exceeding Operational Limit (20mSv/y)

Years Workers receiving >20mSv/y

Radiographers receiving>20mSv/y

1995 1996 1997 2010

55 20 61 54

53 19 58 39

REASONS FOR HIGH EXPOSURES

ACCIDENT 1 OCCURS ON 19TH APRIL 2005, AM Place: Kuching, Sarawak 2 RADIOGRAPHERS (20 AND 34

YEARS OLD) PERFORMING RADIOGRAPHY AT SHIPYARD

Ir-192 Source dislodge inside the pipe and only realized 5 hours later

Symptom developed: blisters, nausea and diarrohea.

Examination indicated both suffer low white blood count

20 years old guy get worst

Kuching Shipyard

Kuching

ACCIDENT 2 OCCURS ON 2nd July 1986, 4AM Place: Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan 1 26 years old RADIOGRAPHER

(PERFORMING RADIOGRAPHY OF PIPELINE)

Ir-192 Source stuck at the guide tube, direct exposure for 15 mins

Symptom developed: blisters, swell and sharp pain in bones

Received first treatment 20th July 1986

Port Dickson

MOST NOTABLE LESSONIn both cases, accidents could have been avoided if radiographers useRadiation surveymeter

Reasons for High Dose Exposure Radiographers ‘do not care’ attitude Use of high radiation energy and intensity Failure to perform monitoring prior, during

and after radiography operation Situation at the site sometime does not

allow safety measure to be adhered Failure to use collimator (as it reduces

productivity) Odd working time (at night can easily lost

focus)

Reasons for High Dose Exposure Pressure from contractors forces the

company to employ many teams at one site or cutting short safety procedures to improve production speed

Financial offer for ‘higher performer’ entice radiographers to target for quantity.

Proposal to Improve Radiation Safety in Industrial Radiography

NDT services company (Licensees) must implement continuous safety awareness program

NDT services company must develop safety culture within the company

NDT services company must adhere to procedure regardless of pressure from contractors

NDT services company must stop the practice of paying more for more quantity

Workers shall be considered as assistant radiographers for at least 3 years before recognized as a full radiographer by the authority

Proposal to Improve Radiation Safety in Industrial Radiography

Training syllabus for operators and RPO must be standardized

Made RPO as a special post (many current RPOs are also holding other post)

Minimum qualification, age and experience for RPO (industrial radiography) must be defined

Radiation safety awareness should be extended to end users and contractors

Production of a special video (the best is by IAEA) showing the effect of radiation to human bodies and made this video as a part of the training program

Thanks for Attention

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