International Conference on Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources: Accomplishments and Future Endeavours (CN-295)

Safe and secure management of sealed radioactive sources at the Centre for Applied Radiation Science and Technology

23 Jun 2022, 16:00

30m

M 01( first floor M Building) (IAEA Headquarters)

Poster 10. Safety and security assessments of facilities and activities; Poster Session 3

Speaker

Ms Kgabo Seemla

Description

Radioactive sources have been in use at North-West University (NWU) for the last four decades in various applications such as in research and teaching. Uncontrolled and unsecured storage of sealed radioactive sources pose significant radiological risk to human health and the environment. The Department of Health is the national regulatory authority in South Africa on radiation issues. The South African Hazardous Substances Act, 1973 (Act No. 15 of 1973) provides for the control of Group IV hazardous substances (radioactive material not at nuclear installations or not part of the nuclear fuel cycle). The Department of Health’s Directorate of Radiation Control acts as the national competent authority in connection with the International Atomic Energy Agency's Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material. The Centre for Applies Radiation Science and Technology (CARST) at North-West University (NWU) is the only centre authorized to carry out safe management of all radioactive waste materials generated at NWU Mafikeng Campus. The centre operates a centralized radioactive waste processing and storage facility. The inventory of radioactive waste materials in storage is made up of mainly disused sealed sources.