Speaker
Description
Paper title: Sharing Best Practices and Challenges for the Safe and Secure Transportation of Radioactive Material in Ukraine
SYNOPSIS
SE “USIE IZOTOP” is a state enterprise that was established in 1962 and specializing in the comprehensive management of radioactive material (RM) and sources of ionizing radiation (SIR) throughout their entire life cycle (that includes the transportation and storage activities), as well as the supply of radioisotope products and equipment utilizing RM and SIR.
Among other key areas of activity, SE “USIE IZOTOP” deals with transport of Class 7 dangerous and hazardous goods (incl. high-level sources of ionizing radiation of several thousand Curie – medical Cobalt-60) for medical (radiotherapy), industrial, scientific and research applications.
SE “USIE IZOTOP” possesses all required licenses and permits from the regulatory authorities of Ukraine to have a right to transport radioactive materials and radiation sources on the territories of Ukraine, as well as internationally through the EU countries (e.g. Poland, Czech Republic).
SE “USIE IZOTOP” has its own transport fleet that includes the specialized vehicles equipped to meet the standards of the Rules for the Safe Transportation of Radioactive Materials (PBPRM-2020) and the requirements for transporting hazardous Class 7 goods. The vehicles have the sanitary passports and are equipped with the engineering and technical means of security and physical protection, including tracking and monitoring system operated by the Central Dispatcher Center.
For the transport operations, SE “USIE IZOTOP” uses specially designed transportation and packaging sets meeting the international IAEA safe transport standards.
Almost 20 years, SE “USIE IZOTOP” is an active partner (both as a contractor and a recipient) of the international technical assistance projects supported by the Government of the USA through the Department of Energy. This international cooperation includes implementation of the source removal, transportation and storage projects and assistance in capacity building of the transport infrastructure and capabilities of SE “USIE IZOTOP”.
Personnel of SE “USIE IZOTOP” on a regular basis is involved into national and international training courses, advanced training, practical exercises and technical exchanges on the RM and IRS transportation aspects.
The cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency includes participation in the subject matter conferences, meetings, training courses, as well as receiving the humanitarian assistance from the IAEA donor countries (within the RANET network) in the form of radiation protection and physical protection equipment and transport vehicles to enhance the transportation capabilities of SE “USIE IZOTOP”.
Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, SE “USIE IZOTOP” continues on a regular basis to implement activities on the RM and IRS transportation in a safe and secure manner, including near the crisis frontline regions and high-risk areas, and remains committed to the national legislation, regulatory compliance and international standards in the field of RM and SIR transportation safety and security.
Several case studies will be presented in the paper to demonstrate the successful practical implementation of the projects that included transportation of the radioactive sources to show the challenges and peculiarities of the safe and secure work under the current military and security conditions and challenges in Ukraine.
The paper will include the relevant pictures/photos of the transport infrastructure, vehicles, packaging sets, work execution areas, tracking and monitoring systems, etc. (excluding security sensitive and confidential information).
