Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2009

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No: 1006

Conference: Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2009

Title: Survey and Evaluation of the Safety Measures Applicable to the Radioactive Dangerous Goods Transportation in Slovenia

Theme: Radiation and Environment

Author(s): Thomas Breznik, Marko Gerbec, Borut Smodiš

Contact : Thomas Breznik

E-mail: thomas.breznik@ijs.si

Address: Institut "Jožef Stefan" SVPIS
1000 Ljubljana

Country: Slovenia

Due to the industrialization and constant increasing of the transportation of the hazardous materials, the related risk management gains importance. Every year about 150 radioactive materials (consumer goods excluded) are transported within, into and out of Slovenia by all modes of transport. The transport involves many types of nuclear and non-nuclear radioactive materials and radiation sources for applications in research, medicine, industry, hydrology, geology, education and nuclear power production, with quantities (activities) ranging from minor to very large.

This contribution is about the work undertaken with the purpose to establish a national radioactive material transport management system review and analysis. It presents the principal findings and conclusions of a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the potential incidental events and irregularities involving radioactive material shipments in the period from 1997 to 2007 in Slovenia. The review will provide information about the implementation (compliance) and application (performance) of the existing national and international regulatory controls and safety requirements to ensure a satisfactory level of protection and safety in transport of radioactive material in Slovenia. Safety measures of hazardous materials, i.e. radioactive materials have recently emerged as critical due to the potential immediate physical or chemical impacts of the incident on the public safety, environment or infrastructure.

Regulations for road, rail, maritime transport, and air transport have recently been revised based on the UN model regulations, and greater harmony has been achieved. Inspection data shows that there are still problems with compliance with these regulations. Therefore relevant literature and studies of risks in dangerous goods transport will be obtained and reviewed. Data and information on compliance with regulatory measures and safety-risk control measures will also be reviewed. A case study approach will be used as a part of the investigation into risks at the nodes within the transport chain. A system approach of looking at risks along the whole transport chain (safety elements according to ADR/RID and accidents dependence on them) may be the most efficient, particularly for the future decisions around allocating resources to evaluate and improve safety.

The main contribution of this presentation is therefore about survey and its results on evaluation of the safety measures applicable to the radioactive dangerous goods transportation in Slovenia. Basic aims and goals of this research are therefore:
• Support the international review and revision of the transport regulations and supporting safety guides to ensure safety in transport practice according to the ADR treaty.
• To ensure uniformity and consistency in the interpretation of the EU requirements (i.e. comprehensive safety standards, provisions, good practices and operational procedures) at all levels of transport
• Promote and strengthen the system safety in transport in line with the latest scientific and technological developments and taking account of current and projected radioactive material transport practices and procedures.
• Further development of emergency preparedness and response and to prevent illicit trafficking of radioactive material.
• Last but not least, to develop harmonized systems in order to promote transparency in the provision of information and communication between public and the media in order to improve the public perception of transport safety.

No:	1006
Conference:	Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2009
Title:	Survey and Evaluation of the Safety Measures Applicable to the Radioactive Dangerous Goods Transportation in Slovenia
Theme:	Radiation and Environment
Author(s):	Thomas Breznik, Marko Gerbec, Borut Smodiš
Contact :	Thomas Breznik
E-mail:	thomas.breznik@ijs.si
Address:	Institut "Jožef Stefan" SVPIS 1000 Ljubljana
Country:	Slovenia

Due to the industrialization and constant increasing of the transportation of the hazardous materials, the related risk management gains importance. Every year about 150 radioactive materials (consumer goods excluded) are transported within, into and out of Slovenia by all modes of transport. The transport involves many types of nuclear and non-nuclear radioactive materials and radiation sources for applications in research, medicine, industry, hydrology, geology, education and nuclear power production, with quantities (activities) ranging from minor to very large. This contribution is about the work undertaken with the purpose to establish a national radioactive material transport management system review and analysis. It presents the principal findings and conclusions of a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the potential incidental events and irregularities involving radioactive material shipments in the period from 1997 to 2007 in Slovenia. The review will provide information about the implementation (compliance) and application (performance) of the existing national and international regulatory controls and safety requirements to ensure a satisfactory level of protection and safety in transport of radioactive material in Slovenia. Safety measures of hazardous materials, i.e. radioactive materials have recently emerged as critical due to the potential immediate physical or chemical impacts of the incident on the public safety, environment or infrastructure. Regulations for road, rail, maritime transport, and air transport have recently been revised based on the UN model regulations, and greater harmony has been achieved. Inspection data shows that there are still problems with compliance with these regulations. Therefore relevant literature and studies of risks in dangerous goods transport will be obtained and reviewed. Data and information on compliance with regulatory measures and safety-risk control measures will also be reviewed. A case study approach will be used as a part of the investigation into risks at the nodes within the transport chain. A system approach of looking at risks along the whole transport chain (safety elements according to ADR/RID and accidents dependence on them) may be the most efficient, particularly for the future decisions around allocating resources to evaluate and improve safety. The main contribution of this presentation is therefore about survey and its results on evaluation of the safety measures applicable to the radioactive dangerous goods transportation in Slovenia. Basic aims and goals of this research are therefore: • Support the international review and revision of the transport regulations and supporting safety guides to ensure safety in transport practice according to the ADR treaty. • To ensure uniformity and consistency in the interpretation of the EU requirements (i.e. comprehensive safety standards, provisions, good practices and operational procedures) at all levels of transport • Promote and strengthen the system safety in transport in line with the latest scientific and technological developments and taking account of current and projected radioactive material transport practices and procedures. • Further development of emergency preparedness and response and to prevent illicit trafficking of radioactive material. • Last but not least, to develop harmonized systems in order to promote transparency in the provision of information and communication between public and the media in order to improve the public perception of transport safety.