The implementation of radiation protection programme requirements in the transport of nuclear fuel cycle materials

The IAEA requires organisations involved in transport of radioactive material to implement a Radiation Protection Programme (RPP) to control radiation dose exposure to both workers and the public from transport operations. For nuclear fuel cycle materials, radiation protection is dealt with prior to shipment by using a package design to control exposures to workers and the public. Dose assessment and evaluation is a key issue for RPPs. The extent of control measures in the RPP should relate to the magnitude and likelihood of radiation exposure. The World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI) therefore made an assessment of the likely doses to workers in the transport chain, for the various modes of transport and for the main nuclear materials. Analysis of the data on dose up-take during the various modes of transport of nuclear fuel cycle materials indicates that it is very unlikely that any group of workers, or any member of the public, will receive annual doses in excess of 1mSv and the transport of nuclear fuel cycle materials should therefore fall into the lowest category, for which no workplace or individual dose monitoring is required. (author)