Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman Radiological Protection from...
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Transcript of Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman Radiological Protection from...
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Radiological Protection from Naturally Occurring
Radioactive MaterialsDr. Mohammad Said Al-Masri & Dr. Riad
ShweikaniDepartment of Protection and SafetyAtomic Energy Commission of Syria
Damascus, P. O. Box 6091E-mail: [email protected]
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
•Radiation Sources in Oil & Gas Industry (Overview)
•Origin of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) in
Oil and Gas Industry•Where we can see NORM.
Radiation Sources in Oil and Gas Industry
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
•Sealed Sources Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
Gauges Well Loggings
•Open Sources Radioactive Tracers
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials
Radiation Sources in Oil and Gas Industry
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
-rays
(60Co, 137Cs, …)
X-rays
Non-Destructive
Testing
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Radiation Sources in Oil and Gas Industry
Sealed Sources – Gauges
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Radiation Sources in Oil and Gas Industry
Open Sources
•Radioactive Tracers
•Naturally Occurring
Radioactive Materials
(NORM)
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Origins of (TE)NORM
in the Oil and Gas
Industry
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Manual Cleaning
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Production Water
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Reported Activity Concentration Range
in E&P Waste Streams
Nat. Occ.Radionuc.
(NOR)
ProductionWater
Scale & Sludge
Hard medium soft
Bq/L Bq/g Bq/g Bq/g
238U 0.0003-0.1 0.001-0.5 0.001-0.5 0.005-0.01226Ra 0.002-1,200 0.1-15,000 0.8-400 0.05-800222Rn210Pb 0.05-190 0.02-75 0.05-2,000 0.1-1,300210Po 0.02-1.5 0.004-160232Th 0.0003-0.001 0.001-0.002 0.001-0.01 0.002-0.01228Ra 0.3-180 0.05-2,800 0.05-300 0.5-50224Ra 0.5 - 40
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Reported External Radiation Levels at Oil/Gas Production
FacilitiesFacility Radiation level
µSv/hr
Crude Oil Processing/Treating1.down hole tubing, safety valves (internal)2.well heads, production manifolds3.production lines4.separator scale (external/internal)5.water outlets
< 3000.1 - 2.50.3 - 4
< 15/2000.2 - 0.5
NGL Processing1.filters2.NGL pumps3.LPG storage tanks4.NGL/LPG shipping pumps, reflux pumps, elbows, flanges
< 90< 200< 60
0.1 - 2.8
Associated/Natural Gas Processing/Treating1.down hole tubing2.piping, filters, storage tanks, reflux lines3.sludge pits, brine disposal/injection wells, brine storage tanks
0.1 - 2.2< 80< 50
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Risks Arising from
Radiation Exposure
And
What can we Do?
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Radiation at Workplaces Radiation is invisible, tasteless, and
odorless, and, as a result, is commonly overlooked as a potential hazard at workplaces.
Therefore, workplaces need to determine whether a radiation problem exists and,
If it does, take appropriate safety precautions to prevent or limit workers exposure to radiation.
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Ionizing: removes electrons from atoms Particulate (alphas and betas) Waves (gamma and X-rays)
Non-ionizing (electromagnetic): can't remove electrons from atoms
infrared, visible, microwaves, radar, radio waves, lasers
Types of radiation
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Background Radiation
We all receive background radiation whether we are occupationally exposed or not
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Why is radon a problem?
Radon is an inert gas and is not poisonous. However it is a problem because:
it is radioactive it cannot be seen, heard or felt it is all around us
Radon is the second most significant cause of lung cancer (after smoking).
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
NORM and Radon
NORM may produce the radioactive gas radon Usually this is only significant problem in
workplaces with poor ventilation.
Radon entering poorly ventilated buildings or underground areas such as caves and mines may reach potentially dangerous concentrations.
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Regulation Related to Radiation Exposures at
workplaces
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
NORM Exposure Criteria
The basic principle is that: The same radiation exposure criteria, applied
to any other radiation activities, should be applied to workers exposed to NORM
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
International Regulations
The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has established fundamental radiation protection
principles and recommendations. (ICRP Publication 60).
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has established The International Basic Safety
Standards for Protection Against Ionising Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation sources (BSS)
Primary ResponsibilityPrimary Responsibility for Radiation for Radiation SafetySafety rests on rests on licensees and licensees and employersemployers of occupationally exposed of occupationally exposed workersworkers
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Licensees and employers shall:
establish radiation safety objectives; develop, implement and document a
radiation safety program; ensure compliance with the requirements
set out in the legislation and the regulations.
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Principles of radiation Protection
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
The General Goal of Radiation Protection
1- Justification: positive net benefit.2- Optimization:
be kept as low as reasonably achievable (The ALARA principle)
3- Dose Limitation: dose limits or control of risk
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Dose limitation
Dose limits: are aimed at ensuring that no individual is
exposed to radiation risks that are judged to be unacceptable;
differ depending on whether the exposure is to workers or to members of the public;
do not apply to medical exposure where the issue is the intended result in terms of diagnosis or treatment.
Recommended exposure limits are set by ICRP and IAEA to be:
Occupational exposure quidlines are 100 mSv in 5 years (average, 20 mSv per year) with a limit of 50 mSv in any single year.
General public the standard is 1 mSv per year.
(Natural background radiation is approximately 3 mSv/year.)
Regulatory Status
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Comparison of Risks of (Working) Life (fatalities per million per year)
Exempt level (10 Sv) 0.5Clothing & Footwear 3.3Timber & Furniture 10Textiles 36Accidents at Work (US) 50Public limit (1 mSv/a) 50Metal Manufacture 59Accidents at Home (US) 100Natural Background (2.7 mSv/a)
135Construction 200Road Accidents (US) 200Coal Mining 250Radiation worker limit (20 mSv/a) 1,000Deep Sea Fishing 2,000Smoker (1 p/d) 5,000
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
• Radiation is potentially harmful to us and the type and extent of the radiation damage depends on two things:
• where the radiation hits
• the size of the dose and how fast it is delivered.
Radiation Risks From NORM
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
a large amount of dose is received over a short period of time.
Also referred to as a short-term exposure.
repeated exposure to low doses of radiation.
Radiation Risks From NORM
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
100 mSv Observable damage to cells
250 mSv Measurable changes to the blood
1 Sv will kill nobody
2 Sv may kill 5% of the people exposed
9 Sv will kill about 95% to 100% of those exposed
10 Sv will kill about 99% to 100% of those exposed
When can an acute injury occur?
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Can NORM cause these injuries?
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Types of Radiation Exposure and
Radiation protection Techniques
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
What are the hazards ?
External exposure
Internal exposure Spread of contamination
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
External Radiation Exposure
From Sealed and unsealed Sources
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Internal Radiation Exposure
Radionuclides can enter the body in four ways
inhalation
wounds absorption
ingestion103-5
Open Sources
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Reduction of External Dose
Minimize the time spent near the radiation source
Maximize the distance away from the source Make use of available shielding
Minimize the quantity of radioactive material handled
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Internal Radiation
Small quantities of radioactive material can give an appreciable dose inside the body
Protection involves preventing radioactive material from entering the body.
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Reduction of Internal Dose
Minimize and control contamination
Use proper protective clothing
Do not eat, drink or smoke in contamination areas
Check yourself for contamination prior to leaving a potentially contaminated area
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Management and Workers Responsibilities
toward Radiation Protection and Safety
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Management responsibilities
Licensees and employers have primary responsibility for the protection of workers and must ensure that:- dose limits are not exceeded and safety is optimised; workers, other than those who are ”occupationally
exposed”, are protected as if they were members of the public;
workers are informed of their obligations and responsibilities for their own protection and that of others;
safety related reports from workers shall be recorded and appropriate remedial action be taken by the licensee or employer.
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Extra salary or other benefits are not to be used as substitutes for proper protection and safety.
Female worker are instructed to notify the employer of pregnancy.
Employers shall adapt working conditions as may be necessary for the protection of embryo or foetus.
Pregnancy is not a reason to exclude a female worker from work.
Conditions of Service
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
The “legal person” (licensee / employer) shall provide:- information to workers on perceived
health risks including information to female workers on radiation and pregnancy;
information, instructions and training on emergency procedures.
Local Rules and Supervision
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Personal Protective Equipment and Monitoring
• Adequate and appropriate protective equipment shall be made available where necessary
arrange for the assessment of occupational exposures;
be alert to potential exposures and contamination.
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
The health surveillance of radiation workers:- is defined as “medical supervision intended to
ensure the initial and continuous fitness of workers for their intended task.” ;
is based on general principles of occupational health;
should be designed to assess the initial and continuing fitness of workers for their intended tasks.
Health Surveillance
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Records of worker exposure
Records are to: include the nature of work and the periods of
employment; include doses, intakes received under normal work
conditions; include doses, intakes in emergency intervention or
accidents;
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Responsibilities of Workers
Workers shall be directed to: follow applicable rules and procedures for protection
and safety; appropriately use the monitoring devices, protective
equipment and protective clothing provided by the employer / licensee;
co-operate with the employer with respect to protection and safety and the operation of radiological health surveillance and dose assessment programs;
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
Responsibilities of Workers
Workers shall be directed to: accept information, instruction and training
concerning protection and safety; report to the employer, RPO or licensee any
observed circumstances that could adversely affect compliance with regulations or safety.
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman
SummaryAny exposure to ionizing radiation may be potentially
harmful to health.
Everyone is subjected to a significant background exposure,
Even doses from occupational practices smaller than background are unjustified if there is no associated benefit, or if they can be readily avoided.
Why take risks
if they can be easily avoided?
Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman