Preparedness and response for a nuclear or radiological emergency. Safety requirements

This Safety Requirements publication establishes the requirements for an adequate level of preparedness and response for a nuclear or radiological emergency in any State. Their implementation is intended to minimize the consequences for people, property and the environment of any nuclear or radiological emergency. The fulfilment of these requirements will also contribute to the harmonization of arrangements in the event of a transnational emergency. These requirements are intended to be applied by authorities at the national level by means of adopting legislation, establishing regulations and assigning responsibilities. The requirements apply to all those practices and sources that have the potential for causing radiation exposure or environmental radioactive contamination warranting an emergency intervention and that are: (a) Used in a State that chooses to adopt the requirements or that requests any of the sponsoring organizations to provide for the application of the requirements. (B) Used by States with the assistance of the FAO, IAEA, ILO, PAHO, OCHA or WHO in compliance with applicable national rules and regulations. (C) Used by the IAEA or which involve the use of materials, services, equipment, facilities and non-published information made available by the IAEA or at its request or under its control or supervision. Or (d) Used under any bilateral or multilateral arrangement whereby the parties request the IAEA to provide for the application of the requirements. The requirements also apply to the off-site jurisdictions that may need to make an emergency intervention in a State that adopts the requirements. The types of practices and sources covered by these requirements include: fixed and mobile nuclear reactors. Facilities for the mining and processing of radioactive ores. Facilities for fuel reprocessing and other fuel cycle facilities. Facilities for the management of radioactive waste. The transport of radioactive material. Sources of radiation used in industrial, agricultural, medical, research and teaching applications. Facilities using radiation or radioactive material. And satellites and radiothermal generators using radiation sources or reactors. The requirements also cover emergencies arising from radiation sources of an unknown or untraceable origin. The requirements apply to actions in preparedness and response for emergencies involving hazards associated with ionizing radiation only. The requirements do not apply to preparedness or response for emergencies involving hazards associated with non-ionizing radiation such as microwave, ultraviolet or infrared radiation. The IAEA has issued Safety Fundamentals publications relating to nuclear installations and to radioactive waste management. In addition, the IAEA has issued Safety Series and Safety Standards Series publications that have established requirements relating to emergency preparedness for the safe use of radiation sources, the transport of radioactive material, legal and governmental infrastructure, the design and operation of nuclear power plants, and the design and operation of research reactors. This Safety Requirements publication incorporates, elaborates on, augments and structures all the requirements for emergency preparedness and response established in these previously issued safety standards. To this effect some requirements established in these other safety standards have been incorporated as quotations in this publication (revised text is shown in square brackets and omissions are indicated by ellipses). In other cases footnotes state where related requirements have been established. (author)