Natural resources that are extracted from the ground such as coal, oil, natural gas and other mineral ores contain various amounts of natural radioactivity. When these resources are extracted and processed, their natural state can be modified which may result in the enhancement of the natural radioactivity content originally present. Such enhancements may be observed in the residues or the waste created and/or in the products or by-products and are sometimes high enough to pose a risk to workers, members of public and the environment if they are not controlled properly. Materials of this kind are commonly referred to as Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material or NORM.
The International Basic Safety Standards (GSR Part 3) establishes requirements for industrial activities involving NORM. For the application of the IAEA Safety requirements on NORM activities, consideration needs to be given to radiation protection of workers, the public and the environment for a wide range of industrial activities on a global basis.
The IAEA has created this training package with following objectives:
o Provide an overview of natural radionuclides and NORM o Provide an overview of the industrial activities involving NORM and an indication of those that are most likely to require regulatory consideration
o Provide guidance on regulatory control (focussing on the application of a graded approach) o Examine radiation protection issues for workers and the public associated with materials containing NORM o Provide guidance on the characterisation of NORM and the assessment of exposures o Provide guidance on the management of NORM residues and the disposal options for NORM wastes, and o Provide guidance on the transport of NORM
The training material, including twelve modules, is useful to employers, licensees and registrants; designated Radiation Protection Officers; to management bodies and their specialist advisers; and to health and safety committees concerned with radiation protection of workers. It may also be used by workers and their representatives to encourage safe working practices.
Approved training packages may be copied, distributed, displayed, incorporated in customized presentations and used for non-commercial use as long as the source of the material is referenced to the IAEA approved training package.
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