STUK supervises radiation practices
The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) supervises the safety of the use of ionising radiation and other radiation practices. The supervision consists of inspections of the radiation facility and other regulatory control methods, such as supervision inqueries, and more. The supervision ensures that the practice is carried out in a safe and acceptable manner and in compliance with the radiation legislation and safety licence conditions.
Principles
The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority’s (STUK) task is to inspect and observe a practice referred to in the Radiation Act and circumstances that may result in harmful exposure to radiation. The purpose of this is to ensure that the use of radiation sources and other instruments, equipment and supplies affecting radiation safety is appropriate and safe. At the same time, the supervision ensures that the radiation sources and accessories are in good condition and meet the applicable in-service requirements.
If there are deficiencies in the practice, the inspector may obligate the undertaking to remedy their practice to such a state that it is safe and meets the requirements laid down in the Radiation Act. If the practice fails to accord with the Radiation Act or may cause a obvious health detriment, STUK may order the practice to be discontinued or restricted. In cases that are urgent in terms of safety, the inspector may order the practice to be discontinued or restricted.
STUK also monitors the transport of radioactive materials. Transport of high-activity sealed sources requires a safety licence, so the supervision is similar to that of other operations requiring a safety licence. The transport of other radioactive materials than high-activity sealed sources is supervised in accordance with the Act on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. The supervision of these materials is often carried out as part of other inspections.
Inspection programme
STUK draws up an inspection programme concerning the inspections of practices subject to a safety licence. The supervision under the inspection programme ensures that the radiation practice is sufficiently safe in relation to the risks related to it. The inspection programme is also used to supervise that the radiation practice complies with the conditions laid down in the provisions of the Radiation Act and in the safety licences.
The inspection programme includes regular inspections and inspections based on case-specific considerations announced and not announced in advance. The inspection programme may also include inspections based on surveillance questionnaires and information and data received from the operator which do not include a visit to the location in which the practice is carried out.
Inspections of the radiation facility
STUK directs its supervision on the basis of risks. This means that inspections are targeted at sites where the practice might cause serious or extensive harmful effects from radiation. Inspections are also targeted to sites and operations from which necessary information is difficult to obtain by other means. Correspondingly, less inspections are directed to practices with lower risks. However, the aim is to conduct the inspections in such a way that all practices are inspected comprehensively enough.
Safety assessments serve as one of the inputs for assessing the need for an inspection. In some cases, a licencee may be sent a survey to assess the need for an inspection. These surveys can also substitute an inspection.
Separate commissioning inspections of equipment and practices are carried out if deemed necessary during the processing of the safety licence application. Inspections like these are carried out before the commissioning of the equipment or the commencement of the practice. In some situations, the inspection can be carried out soon after the equipment is put into operation or the commencement of the practice as a so-called first inspection.
In addition to the situations above, STUK carries out inspections based on case-by-case consideration. This can be done, for example, when an inspection is necessary due to a radiation safety deviation. Inspections are also carried out as repeat inspections at STUK’s discretion. A repeat inspection may be carried out if the previous inspection has revealed shortcomings whose correction must be verified.
Inspections are also carried out without prior notice in certain situations. An unannounced inspection may be carried out if it is likely that no other method would give a true picture of the practice or if STUK suspects that the practice does not comply with the safety licence. The inspection may also be carried out without prior notice if the operator does not have the required safety licence for the practice.
Inspections related to granting or changing a safety licence and discontinuing operations are subject to a fee. The fee is in accordance with the decree of public charges issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Other on-site inspections carried out by STUK are included in the annual regulatory charges.
Supervision reports
STUK publishes supervision reports that are based on the data collected through supervision surveys and other supervision activities. The reports contain up-to-date information on the results of the supervision and which sectors the supervision will target next.
Operators using sealed sources
In 2023, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) will supervise especially those sealed source operators that have not been inspected at all. The goal is to ensure that the use of radiation by such operators corresponds to the information on radiation practices submitted in connection with the application for a safety licence. The control findings will be compiled and the results will be published.
In addition, STUK will send a control survey to operators who have sealed sources which have been in use for 40 years. According to the Radiation Act, such sealed sources must be decommissioned no later than 15 December 2023, so the control survey will be used to clarify the operators' plans concerning the timetable for the decommissioning of old sealed sources.
STUK will also send a control survey to operators who are using sealed sources of an unknown age and who have not submitted a certificate indicating the age of the sealed source to STUK. The control survey will be used to clarify the age of the sealed sources used by the operators and, if necessary, the plans concerning the timetable for the decommissioning of old sealed sources.
Operators using equipment that generate radiation electrically
In 2023, STUK will particularly supervise operators whose radiation practices have never been inspected and who use XRF equipment. The goal is to ensure that the use of radiation by such operators corresponds to the information on radiation practices submitted in connection with the application for a safety licence. The safety licences of the inspected operators have been granted after 2017. The control findings will be compiled and the results will be reported.
Operators using unsealed sources
In 2023, STUK will focus supervision on large unsealed source operators. In addition to this, the use of unsealed sources in universities will be monitored. The aim is to inspect the use of unsealed sources in a couple of universities during 2023. The control findings will be compiled and the results will be published.
Doses from scanners in use at airports
Helsinki Airport has acquired CT scanners for security screening. When compared to the previous equipment, they cause a high reading in the dosemeter if it is subjected to scanning. This has caused problems as the dose from scanning cannot be distinguished from the other dose measured by the meter intended for measuring occupational exposure. This also causes problems with the maintenance of the dose register.
STUK carries out measurements on airport scanners in order to determine the amount of dose they cause. The measurement results will be compiled and published. When travelling, radiation workers often forget the dosemeter in their hand luggage, and not everyone carrying out security checks knows that dosemeters should not be scanned. The results of the survey are also used for educational purposes.
Mapping of the individual dose monitoring status of category B radiation workers
STUK aims to establish how many category B radiation workers who are not subject to individual dose monitoring are in Finland and whose duties and the amount of radiation exposure are therefore not known to STUK.
The work involves mapping, for example, the number of category B radiation workers of the safety licence holders, their duties, the dose monitoring methods used, the radiation doses caused by the work and other matters necessary for creating a situational picture. On the basis of the received situational picture, the need for providing operators with instructions on how the individual monitoring of category B radiation workers should be arranged is considered. If it is deemed that instructions are required, STUK will prepare the instructions and send them to the operators who need them on the basis of the results of the survey.
Safety culture
The Radiation Act requires that parties responsible for radiation practices develop and maintain a good safety culture. STUK will carry out a survey for the Radiation Safety Officers appointed in the safety licences for the use of radiation in industry and research. The survey examines the safety-orientation of operators and their perceptions of safety culture and safety management pursuant to the Radiation Act. A situational picture is formed on the basis of the survey, which will be used for the implementation of possible further measures and development proposals in supervision and communications.