Radiographic operations and safety in the Nigerian petroleum industry.

Abstract

This work reports on a radiation safety study of the use of radioactive sources and radiation-producing machines for radiographic purposes in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry. It is a part of a wider study on the level of safety in the use of radiation in the country-a study that covered the manufacturing and petroleum industries. The survey assessment is based on minimum requirements for radiological safety, on a scale of 0-100, to protect personnel, the public, and the environment from artificial radiation sources. The survey result shows that the level of safety in the use of radiation-emitting machines for radiographic purposes is scored at 52, while it is 66 in the use of radioisotopes. Consequently, the level of safety in radiographic practices in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry is about 60% of the ideal.