Developing a Secure Logistics System for Radiological Material

Moving radioactive material is recognized as one of the highest security risk activities that is routinely undertaken. The process of moving radioactive material, within or between states, is a complex process usually requiring the participation of many organizations both public and private. In addition to engaging many organizations, considerable data, some quite security sensitive, must be communicated between and amongst the organizations. There are numerous ways to enhance the security of cargo during transportation operations, but often the varied security systems, procedures, and processes do not work together with sufficient integration and communication to ensure an unbroken trail of accountability during the entire conveyance. Additionally, in a commercial setting determining which potential commercial partners provide appropriate attention to security can become an issue. Considering the movement of radioactive material from the comprehensive position of an overall logistics system can provide some insights into improving overall security of radioactive material. Security enhancements can be gained by evaluating security, particularly the ability to detect potential security breaches, from the moment material is to be placed in motion at the origin of a shipment until it comes fully to rest at the destination. This approach expands security planning and evaluation beyond just the transportation component of monitoring materials to include the packaging and warehousing of materials at the shipping point of origin, repackaging and handling at intermediate at-rest/storage locations, and handling/storage at the shipping destination. In addition to the physical dimension just mentioned, the information transfers required to plan and protect a shipment require a secure information transmission and storage system. This paper considers several security issues that must be addressed to implements a trustworthy logistics system and makes some recommendations on how practitioners can improve the security of their logistics systems. The foundations for these recommendations are formed by the basic trustworthiness evaluations employers are encouraged to perform on their employees. At the next level of evaluation security experts need to be able to evaluate the trustworthiness of organizations that may be employed to carryout aspects of a secure logistics system. Finally, the paper discusses the applications of some more global approaches to system-wide security and detection of security breaches like the application of chain-of-custody approaches that could provide end-to-end visibility of and accountability for packaged materials by seamlessly tracking all packages, and associated security information, from cradle to grave. (author)