1. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Planning and Emergency Procedures in Radiation Processing Facilities

2. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Introduction Source of Emergency Types of Emergency Emergency Plan Emergency Organization Reporting Procedures Emergency Procedures Emergency Equipment Emergency Preparedness Accident Investigation and Reporting Contents

3. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Accidents and incidents had occurred many times in irradiation facilities in the past. Some had led to severe exposure and death of the victims. It is a fact that any accident occurs at the facilities is potential to cause fatality because of high radiation dose rates involved. It is very important for an emergency plan to be established, which allows for immediate and correct actions to be taken to mitigate the consequences and to minimize the hazard and cost involved. Introduction

4. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer A breakdown in either the control of personnel or the control of the radiation sources involved can be anticipated to lead to a radiological emergency. Loss of control of personnel usually happens when unauthorized persons manage to get access to the irradiation room when the facility is in operation. Loss of control of the radiation sources can occur as a result of unauthorized operation of the facility and inability of the licensee or RPO to keep track every single movement of the sources, which finally lead to source leakage, damage or lost, or the sources fall into the hand of unauthorized person. Sources of Emergency

5. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Conventional accidents such as fire, explosions, transport accidents and equipment failures. With gamma and electron beam facilities, the occurrence of an accident will be very much localized in nature and of limited magnitude. An accident may be confined only to the irradiation room and its immediate surrounding areas (emergency Level 1) and will not in any way spread to other areas. Sources of Emergency

6. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer For gamma irradiation facilities, possible accidents or incidents that can happen as a result of loss of control of personnel and sources are as follows:  Abnormal audible alarm  Failure of the source assembly to return to its safe storage place  The source assembly or source pencils detached and dropped in the irradiation room  Malfunction or deliberate defeat of the safety control system  Increase in radiation leakage from the irradiation room  Leakage of radioactive material from source pencils  Fire in the irradiation facilities  Transport accident  Low water level Sources of Emergency

7. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer For electron beam irradiation facilities, possible accidents or incidents that can occur as a result of loss of control of personnel and sources are as follows:  Increase in radiation leakage from the irradiation room; and  Fire in the irradiation facility. Sources of Emergency

8. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer The emergency involved can be classified into:  Level 1 where consequences are limited to a single room/plant/building. oFailure of source assembly to return to its safe storage place. oIncrease in radiation leakage from the irradiation room or leakage of the radiation source. Types of Emergency

9. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Level 2 where consequences have spread out but limited to the perimeter of the facility or premise. oConsequences caused by loss of radiation source. oFire in the irradiation room.  Levels 3 and 4, which have potential consequences extended beyond the perimeter of the facility. oThick biological shield, water pool and the presence of secondary building that houses the facility. Types of Emergency

10. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer A simple emergency plan should be established to properly manage the situation arising from accidents or incidents involving gamma and electron beam facilities. The need to have such plan is clearly stated in the Radiation Protection (Basic Safety Standard) Regulations 1988. The plan is established with aims :  to limit the exposure to as low as reasonably achievable,  to control and bring the situation back to normal immediately after an accident happened and  to gather information for the purpose of assessment and taking corrective action. Emergency Plan

11. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer The plan should be clear, specific, simple and concise but must meet all the local requirements and needs. The plan should be able to :  Address all possible accidents that can happen with gamma and electron beam facilities; and  Identify the emergency organisation involved and response action taken during the accident. Emergency Plan

12. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Emergency organisation is one of the components of the emergency plan. It is important to indicate who are the groups of people involved in the emergency response action and what are their assigned responsibilities. It also highlights line of command for any action to be taken during an emergency. The emergency organisation for gamma and electron beam irradiation facilities must be integrated into other emergency respond plans of the organisation. Emergency Organisation

13. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Facility Operator / Radiation Worker Emergency Respond Centre (Emergency Coordinator) Respond Team/Unit Outside Support Group Nuclear Malaysia / Fire Rescure Dept. / Police / Hospital / Supplier / Manufacturer Workshift/Supervisor Fire Squard First Aid RPO/RPS Emergency Organisation

14. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer All accidents and incidents must be reported for mitigating actions to be taken without undue delay. Reporting procedures must be made according to the hierarchy given in the emergency organisation. The Facility Operator/a radiation worker who discovers an accident or incident must immediately take action to control the accident/incident site and report the accident/incident to his/her Work/Shift Supervisor. Upon receiving notification, the Work/Shift Supervisor shall immediately come to the site and take preliminary actions to control the exposure and assess the situation. Reporting Procedures

15. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer The Work/Shift Supervisor shall then inform the RPO/RPS to take further action. The RPO/RPS shall verify adequacy of the control measures provided and classify the emergency into Level 1 or 2. The RPO/RPS together with Work/Shift Supervisor and the Facility Operator shall take action to mitigate accident of Level 1 and Level 2. In case of Level 2 accident, if it is beyond the capability of the RPO/RPS to handle, he/she shall inform the Emergency Coordinator, who in turn shall seek assistance from external support groups including the supplier/manufacturer. The RPO/RPS shall work together and supervise personnel from any external support group involved in the emergency mitigation. Reporting Procedures

16. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer The RPO/RPS shall inform the AELB by phone of the occurrence of the accident/incident within 24 hours and shall submit a written full accident report within 30 days from the date of occurrence. The Emergency Coordinator is responsible for communication with the media and the public. The list of persons involved in emergency organization and their telephone numbers should be displayed in a prominent location adjacent to the control panel in the irradiation facility. Reporting Procedures

17. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Abnormal audible alarm:  If any unexplained audible alarm sounds, the Facility Operator should: oImmediately shut down the facility by returning the source(s) to its safe storage place: and oInform the Work/Shift Supervisor and the RPO. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

18. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Abnormal audible alarm (cont.):  The RPO/RPS shall: oTogether with the Work/Shift Supervisor and the Facility Operator, monitor the surrounding areas with a survey meter to determine the cause of the alarm. If the cause can be immediately ascertained and controlled, first control the cause and then reset the alarm system and record the incident. oDetermine the actions to be taken based on a review of the monitoring systems, survey meter’s readings and machine status if the cause cannot be immediately ascertained and controlled. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

19. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Abnormal audible alarm (cont.):  The RPO/RPS shall (cont.): oTake further actions, if necessary, which include evacuation of affected personnel, erection of new additional barriers and temporary shielding. Further actions can be taken based on limiting estimated radiation doses to radiation workers to 30 mSv and other employees to 5 mSv during the course of the emergency. oContact the supplier/manufacturer if necessary for additional advice. oNotify the incident to the AELB. oPrepare a detailed report of the incident to be submitted to the AELB. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

20. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Failure of the source assembly to return to its safe storage place:  For any malfunction in the irradiation room, personnel safety is maintained if the source can be lowered into its safe storage place by normal means or if personnel can be prevented from entering the irradiation room.  When the source assembly gets stuck, the Facility Operator shall: oImmediately inform the Work/Shift Supervisor and the RPO. oEnsure that there is no attempt to enter the irradiation room. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

21. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Upon notification, the RPO/RPS shall: oTogether with the Facility Operator and the Work/Shift Supervisor, confirm that the source assembly really cannot be returned to its storage place. oFor Category II and IV, it can be done by taking the following actions: –Check SOURCE UP and SOURCE DOWN light for proper operation at the control console. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

22. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Upon notification, the RPO/RPS shall (cont.): oFor Category II and IV, it can be done by taking the following actions: –Check all safety interlock responses to determine what fault really causes the machine to shutdown, if any. –Dump the air in the source pass by pressing the red emergency button on the control console. –Press the monitor test button on the control console (if the monitor alarms sound then the source(s) is exposed). –Go to the roof of the irradiation room and check the “source down switch” on the source hoist for proper operation. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

23. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Upon notification, the RPO/RPS shall (cont.): oFor Category II and IV, it can be done by taking the following actions: –Check radiation levels at known hot spots to see if the levels are different from the last survey. –Check source cable for slack, if any. This is done by pulling the slack cable by retracting the cylinder by hand and make sure the cable is in sleeves and pulleys where it belongs. –Measurement length of piston outside of cylinder body and multiply by six to obtain position of source assembly in the irradiation chamber. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

24. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Upon notification, the RPO/RPS shall (cont.): oFor Category II and IV, it can be done by taking the following actions (cont.): –Notify the supplier/manufacturer for further advice and actions to be taken. –Notify the incident to the AELB. –Declare that emergency situation is over and the situation is back to normal. –Prepare a detailed report of the incident to be submitted to the AELB. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

25. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer The source assembly or source pencils detached and dropped in the irradiation room:  This abnormal occurrence can happen with Category II and IV facilities.  This occurrence can be confirmed by high radiation indication after the source assembly is returned to its safe storage place.  When this happened, the Facility Operator shall: oImmediately inform the Work/Shift Supervisor and the RPO. oEnsure that there is no attempt to enter the irradiation room. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

26. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer The source assembly or source pencils detached and dropped in the irradiation room (cont.):  Upon notification, the RPO/RPS shall: oConfirm the presence of the source(s) in the irradiation room by looking at the CCTV and indication of all the radiation monitors. oPlan a means of retrieving the source(s). In the event of difficulty retrieving the source(s), report details to the Emergency Coordinator and inform supplier/manufacturer for special advice and further actions to be taken. oTake actions based on advice of the supplier/manufacturer. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

27. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer The source assembly or source pencils detached and dropped in the irradiation room (cont.):  Upon notification, the RPO/RPS shall (cont.): oNotify forthwith the AELB. oCarry out a leakage test on the source if the source(s) is to be used again. oDeclare that emergency situation is over and the situation is back to normal. oPrepare a detailed report of the incident to be submitted to the AELB. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

28. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Malfunction or deliberate defeat of the safety control system:  In the event of malfunction or deliberate defeat of the safety control system, the Facility Operator shall: oShut down the facility by returning the source(s) to its safe storage place. oInform the Work/Shift Supervisor and the RPO. oEnsure that there is no attempt to enter the irradiation room.  The Work/Shift Supervisor shall : oInspect the malfunctioned or defeated part of the system. oTake action to repair, replace or improve to avoid similar incidents from happening again. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

29. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Malfunction or deliberate defeat of the safety control system (cont.):  The RPO/RPS shall: oInvestigate to ensure that no one has received radiation overexposure during the incident. If somebody has received or suspected to have received radiation overexposure, make special request to process his/her dosimeter and send him/her for medical examination. oNotify forthwith the AELB. oPrepare a detailed report of the incident to be submitted to the AELB. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

30. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Increase in radiation leakage from the irradiation room:  In the event of radiation leakage from the irradiation room is found to be higher than normal, the Facility Operator shall : oShut down the facility; and oInform the Work/Shift Supervisor and the RPO. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

31. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Increase in radiation leakage from the irradiation room (cont.):  Upon notification, the RPO/RPS shall: oTogether with the Work/Shift Supervisor and the Facility Operator, monitor the surrounding areas with a survey meter to determine the cause of the abnormal radiation level. oTogether with the Work/Shift Supervisor, take action to overcome the problem and carry out a leakage test. oNotify the AELB forthwith. oDeclare that emergency situation is over and the situation is back to normal. oPrepare a detailed report of the incident to be submitted to the AELB. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

32. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Leakage of radioactive material from source pencils:  In the event of any indication of contamination by any of the monitors or from routine leak tests, it has to be assumed that the sealed source(s) is leaked.  The Facility Operator shall: oShut down the facility; oRestrict entrance; and oQuarantine all products in the suspected area.  Inform the Work/Shift Supervisor and the RPO. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

33. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Leakage of radioactive material from source pencils (cont.):  Upon notification, the RPO/RPS shall: oNotify the AELB that an incident is suspected to have occurred and safety measures are being implemented. oCarry out the following safety measures. oInform the emergency coordinator and request an immediate test for leakage of radioactive material(s). oContact the supplier/manufacturer of the incident and ask for specific advice. oAssist a technical support group dispatched by the supplier/manufacturer in carrying out the corrective work. oDeclare that emergency situation is over and the situation is back to normal. oPrepare a detailed report of the incident to be submitted to the AELB. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

34. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Leakage of radioactive material from source pencils (cont.):  Safety measures to be carried out by RPO/RPS: oAll windows must be closed; fans, water filtration plant and air conditioners must be shut off; and everyone must leave the facility. oAll doors should be closed and locked. oAll personnel who may have been contaminated should be thoroughly tested for contamination and immediate steps taken to remove any radioactive contamination. oEntrance to the facility (or contaminated area) should be prohibited except to authorized personnel requiring access in the performance of their special duties. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

35. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Leakage of radioactive material from source pencils (cont.):  Safety measures to be carried out by RPO/RPS: oUnder no circumstances should any unauthorized or untrained persons attempt to examine or clean up any spilled of radioactive material. oFans or ventilating apparatus should not be used in an attempt to disperse the radioactive material or its decay products. Such a maneuver will only encourage spread of the radioactive contamination throughout the area. oIf contamination is found on the outside of the irradiation room, erect a temporary physical barrier and place radiation warning signs. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

36. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Fire in irradiation facilities:  In case of fire occurs outside the irradiation room, it should not have an immediate effect on the facility itself due to the structural design of the facility’s building and massive thickness of the concrete shielding. Smoke detector and fire alarm will be activated.  The Facility Operator shall: oShut down the irradiation facility and activate the closest fire alarm actuator. oImmediately vacate the area of any personnel. oSwitch off ventilation system and electricity supply to the facility. oFight the fire using any readily available fire fighting equipment. Request the assistance of in-house fire fighting team. oInform Work/Shift Supervisor and RPO/RPS for further action. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

37. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Fire in irradiation facilities (cont.):  In cases where fire occurs inside the irradiation room, it will activate fire alarm system.  The ventilation system will be shutdown in order to avoid fire propagation through the air supply.  Temperature probe will cause the irradiator to shut down and the source to return to its safe position. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

38. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Fire in irradiation facilities (cont.):  In case of fire inside the irradiation room, the Facility Operator should: oPush STOP button on the control console and activate the closest fire alarm actuator. Make sure that the source has reached the bottom of pool before leaving the area; oImmediately vacate the area of any personnel; oConfirm that the ventilation fan has been automatically turned off. If not, push STOP button of the fan control box; and oInform the Work/Shift Supervisor and the RPO. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

39. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Fire in irradiation facilities (cont.):  The RPO/RPS should: oClassify the emergency into Level 1 or Level 2. oIn case of Level 2, inform the Emergency Coordinator and request for assistance from outside support groups especially Fire Department. oErect barriers around the site and prevent access to them and restrict the movement of persons who have entered them. oWork together and supervise the Fire Department and other personnel involved especially if it is necessary for Fire Department personnel to enter the irradiation room. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

40. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Fire in irradiation facilities (cont.):  The RPO/RPS should: oThe RPO shall assess the situation carefully before entering the irradiation room and under no circumstances that these external support personnel should enter the irradiation room without the presence of RPO. It is imperative that these support personnel be preceded, while entering the irradiation room by RPO who will be carrying radiation detection equipment. oNotify forthwith the AELB and the supplier. oDeclare that emergency situation is over and the situation is back to normal. oPrepare a detailed report of the accident to be submitted to the AELB. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

41. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Transport accident:  Transportation of gamma radiation sources is normally done according to Radiation Protection (Transport) Regulations 1989.  There will be a transport document prepared by the consignor that would normally accompany transport packages, which highlight, among others, immediate response actions to be taken during an emergency. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

42. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Transport accident (cont.):  In the event of a vehicle carrying gamma radiation sources involved in an accident, the driver should take immediate action according to instructions given in the transport document.  The driver should: oPut up a physical barrier and warning signs around the accident site. oImmediately inform the RPO/RPS and provide all the necessary information to him/her. oTake further action based on advice of RPO/RPS. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

43. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Transport accident (cont.):  The RPO/RPS should: oAdvise the driver on further course of actions to be taken in case of emergency Level 1. oIn case of emergency Level 2, inform the Emergency Coordinator and request for an assistance from outside support groups nearest to the accident site. oTogether with the driver, supervise the outside support personnel involved. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

44. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Transport accident (cont.):  The RPO/RPS should: oNotify forthwith the AELB and the consignor; oDeclare that emergency situation is over and the situation is back to normal; and oPrepare a detailed report of the incident to be submitted to the AELB. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

45. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Low water level:  If the low water level alarm turns on, the Facility Operator shall immediately shut down the facility by returning the source(s) to its safe storage place.  Inform the Work/Shift Supervisor and the RPO. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

46. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer  Low water level (cont.):  The RPO/RPS shall supervise the following procedures: oOn PLC, verify all the inputs from the float switch (very high, high, low, very low). oVerify if make-up valve at the pump is open. If not, open it. oWater can also be supplied through the deionizer and chiller pipes. oAs a last resort, the sprinkler system could be used taking the inlet water from the main supply instead of from the pool.  If it appears that the problem is due to a crack in the pool, the RPO/RPS shall call the supplier and notify the AELB. Emergency Procedures (Response Action)

47. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Protective devices and radiation measuring equipment are very important in dealing with accident or incident involving radiation sources. The equipment to be made available for an emergency should be of the right number and type. For electron beam facilities, the equipment required may consist of:  At least one survey meter for measuring radiation;  Two units of personnel dosimeter; and  Radiation protection devices. Emergency Equipment

48. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer For gamma irradiation facilities, the equipment required may consist of:  At least one survey meter of dual function to measure both radiation and contamination with suitable energy range;  Two units of direct reading, medium range personnel dosimeters to be assigned to personnel directly involved in emergency operation, decontamination kits; and  A simple analytical equipment for sample analysis. Emergency Equipment

49. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Other emergency equipment required may include the following:  Personal protective equipment (PPE)  Ropes, shielding material and warning signs  First aid and other medical emergency equipment  Fire fighting equipment  Rescue equipment (ropes, stretchers, jaws of life, hammers, axes, etc.)  Supporting documents Emergency Equipment

50. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer All emergency equipment must be able to be used under those conditions where electricity, water and telephone may be disrupted. The equipment and devices reserved for emergency should not be used for routine work. Emergency Equipment

51. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer An established emergency plan and procedures with adequate back up of emergency equipment alone cannot guarantee a successful implementation of the necessary actions during an emergency. The emergency plan should always be in the state of readiness and ready to be utilised whenever they are needed. The emergency plan should be made known to all workers and be regularly tested (exercised) based on certain relevant scenarios. Emergency exercise need to be carried out to identify:  Any shortcomings with personnel involved, equipment.  The plan and procedures besides.  To familiarize those involved with their responsibilities, the plan, procedures and the equipment. Emergency Preparedness

52. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer To always update and review the plan and its procedures and make the necessary changes accordingly. In updating the plan, feedbacks from assessment of the exercise should be taken into account. The equipment reserved for emergency should be regularly checked, tested and calibrated. The equipment which is reserved for emergency, should not be used for routine radiological survey. Emergency Preparedness

53. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Personnel involved in the plan need to be given appropriate allocation for them to undergo a relevant training program. The training program must cover:  Basic radiation protection principles;  Radiation instruments and measurements;  Emergency organisation and responsibilities; and  Emergency procedures. Emergency Preparedness

54. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer All accidents and incidents that happen at the gamma or electron beam facilities must be investigated and reported to the relevant authorities. Accident investigation must be a planned activity. Among activities that need to be done before investigation begins includes:  Having a policy requiring all accidents to be reported and investigated;  Identifying and training the investigators;  Assembling the tools for investigation;  Deciding on who is/are supposed to read the report; and implement the recommendations made. Accident Investigation and Reporting

55. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Activities that must be done during investigation would include acquisition of all information that would explain the causes of the accidents. Accident investigation must focus on the root and secondary causes of the emergency. The licensee is responsible for notifying the AELB of any radiological accident at the place of work by telephone within 24 hours. The licensee must arrange for the accident to be investigated and a full accident investigation report must be submitted to the AELB within 30 days after the accident. Accident Investigation and Reporting

56. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer The report should contain:  Particulars of the licensee, day, date and place of the accident/incident.  The WHO, WHERE, WHEN, WHAT, HOW, and WHY of the accident.  State of the gamma radiation source involved its activity and physical form. Accident Investigation and Reporting

57. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer The report should contain:  Results of dose evaluation of individual involved and how the exposure is received (if applicable).  Corrective actions taken and will be carried out to prevent recurrence.  Preventive actions taken and will be carried to prevent the potential occurrence.  Any other information deem necessary. Accident Investigation and Reporting

58. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Summary

59. National Committee for the Certification of Radiation Protection Officer Thank You Thank You for your attention