The Transport Safety Programme

Abstract

The transport safety programme is one of the smaller technical sub-programmes in the Radiation Safety Section of the Division of Nuclear Safety, in terms of both regular budget and professional staff allocations. The overall aim of the programme is to promote the safe movement of radioactive material worldwide. The specific objectives are the development, review and maintenance of the Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material, Safety Series No 6, and its supporting documents Safety Series Nos 7, 37 and 80 and the assistance to Member States and International Organizations in the proper implementation of the Regulations. The degree of implementation of the Regulations is high, as was confirmed by a recent survey in the Member States. A preliminary overview of the results which will be published shortly as an IAEA-TECDOC will be presented. The survey clearly showed that more assistance to Member States in the implementation of the Regulations is required. It is envisaged that resources be made available to strengthen this part of the programme. One of the important issues that emerged during the ongoing Review/Revision process is the transport of Low-Specific Activity (LSA) material and Surface Contaminated Objects (SCO). Many of the radioactive waste materials fall in one of these categories. The subject has gained substance because it is expected that in the next decade radioactive waste could become available in so far unprecedented quantities and volumes due to decontamination and decommissioning of nuclear facilities.