1. INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY ACCIDENTS IN MALAYSIA
Dr. Abd. Nassir Ibrahim
Industrial Technology Division
Malaysia Nuclear Agency
President
Maaysia Society for NDT

2. Content of Presentation
Background
Absorbed dose by radiographers
Accidents in radiography
Factors affecting exposure to radiographers
Proposal for improving radiation safety in industrial radiography

3. 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

4. Background of Industrial Radiography Services in Malaysia
Governed by the Atomic Energy Licensing Act, Act 304
In NDT Companies providing radiography services
NDT personnel
Beneficiaries
PETRONAS, TNB, MAS, AIROD, SHIPBUILDING, VESSEL AND BOILER CONSTRUCTION
NDT TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR MALAYSIA, SIRIM, TATI, ITC, KISMEC

5. GURUN
High density radiography activity area
KERTEH
PENANG
GEBENG
Location of most NDT companies
PASIR GUDANG

6. High density radiography activity area
KOTA
KINABALU
MIRI
LABUAN
BINTULU
KUCHING

7. Absorbed Dose By Radiographers
YEAR
NO OF RADIOGRAPHERS
% TO TOTAL RADIATIONWORKERS
TOTAL ABSORBED DOSE (MAN SEIVERT)
% TOTAL ABSORBED DOSE BY ALL WORKERS
2005
753
5.91
40.68
2006
693
5.0
53.79
2007
745
4.76
24.54
2008
1140
6.10
58.27
2009
1181
5.61
57.25
2010
1201
6.27%
55.27

8. 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

9. Cases Exceeding Operational Limit (20mSv/y)

10. REASONS FOR HIGH EXPOSURES

11. 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

12. ACCIDENT 2 OCCURS ON 2nd July 1986, 4AM
Port Dickson
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

13. MOST NOTABLE LESSON
In both cases, accidents could have been avoided if radiographers use
Radiation surveymeter

14. 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)

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. Thanks for Attention

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