Input Data for Quantifying Risks Associated with the Transport of Radioactive Material

FOREWORD The worldwide production and use of radioactive material (RAM) and radiation sources in various facets of modern life (energy production, industry, medicine, science, and technology) involves, inevitably, their transport in the public domain and therefore the hazards and the risks associated with RAM transport. In 1959 the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) charged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with the task of establishing recommendations on the transport of radioactive material. More specifically, the IAEA is authorized, under Article III.A.6 of its Statute: " to establish or adopt… standards of safety for protection of health and minimization of danger to life and property… and to provide for the application of these standards… services, equipment, facilities, and information made available by the Agency or at its request or under its control or supervision. " The assessment and the analysis of the risks associated with the transport of radioactive material have always been in the focus of the IAEA. At the beginning of the 1990s, a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on " The Probabilistic Safety Techniques Related to the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material " was established. Within that CRP, a computerized package named INTERTRAN2 was developed for risk assessment on transport of RAM. At the eleventh meeting of the IAEA Standing Advisory Group for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials in 1995, to cover the maintenance of the software and review data collection issues, it was decided to start a new CRP which was called " Development of Relevant Accident Data for Quantifying Risks Associated with the Transport of Radioactive Material ". This TECDOC represents the final outcome of the work done for this CRP by ten countries, which was coordinated by the IAEA in a number of meetings which were spread over five years. A list of contributors to the CRP, including drafting and review of this report can be found at the end of this TECDOC. The IAEA wishes to acknowledge the efforts of all those who took part in this CRP. The IAEA officer responsible for this publication was X. Bernard-Bruls of the Division of Radiation and Waste Safety. The use of particular designations of countries or territories does not imply any judgement by the publisher, the IAEA, as to the legal status of such countries or territories, of their authorities and institutions or of the delimitation of their boundaries. The mention of names of …