Radioactive Transportation, Clarity and Consensus: IBC Conference, 5–6 October 2006, London, UK

Abstract

Radioactive materials are transported extensively, both nationally and internationally, to serve a wide range of industries from power generation to industrial measurement, sterilisation, and medical diagnosis and treatment. Effective transport is vital to the health of the industry because the specialised nature of the production processes and applications results in widely dispersed facilities and markets, and the natural decay process of radioactive materials often requires that they be delivered to their points of use with minimum delay. The hazards associated with radioactive materials and their transport have been recognised since the earliest days, and these have been accommodated in the regulation and practice of transport, with the result that the safety record in the transport of radioactive materials is enviable. Yet the transport of radioactive materials still gives rise to unease and misconception, among both the public and those involved in and associated with the transport industry, to the extent that it is often difficult for consignors to procure shipping facilities for radioactive goods, and delays and obstructions are common. The issues involved in the transport of radioactive materials are many and varied: (i) the fragmentation and commercialisation of the nuclear industry has increased the number of consignors and broadened the control base. The increased profit motive places greater strains on the safety culture in the industry (ii) perceptions of risk, and fears for the effects of transporting radioactive materials on other business opportunities, have led to shipment denials (iii) an awareness of the effects of carbon dioxide emissions on the environment has both contributed to the revival of interest in nuclear power generation and called into question the need for transport in all fields of activity (iv) the decommissioning of old and redundant facilities has brought a wider range of radioactive materials into transport including exceptional consignments of radioactive waste materials, sometimes requiring special treatment (v) the development of the international regulatory framework to encompass the global range of consignments of both radioactive material and other dangerous goods has led to greater complexity and increased scope for variations in interpretation and implementation (vi) the need for security in the recent climate of risk from terrorist attack and other malevolent activities has increased the regulatory and operational burden on consignors and shippers. Security entails many of the precautions required for safety but there are some perceived incompatibilities. It was to address these issues that the two day conference on ‘Radioactive transportation, clarity and consensus’, was convened in London on 5–6 October 2006 by IBC Global Conferences (www.nuclearevents. com/radtrans). Following a keynote presentation giving perspectives on issues and challenges, the field was addressed through invited papers presented in 4 sessions covering transport safety and security, the developments and challenges ahead, the requisites for regulatory harmony, and consensus and acceptance.