ACTIONS PLAN #1. DETECTION OF RADIATION SOURCE DURING CUSTOMS INSPECTION OF THE OBJECT

When performing customs inspection of different objects radiation control process has the following peculiarities:

• Availability of the stationary control systems (fixed-installed radiation monitors) that the objects subjected to customs inspections must go through


• Putting the objects containing the legally transported radiation sources as well as people who passed medical treatment or diagnostics with medical isotopes through the customs inspection


• Possible content of natural radionuclides (NORM) in the objects crossing the customs borders


• Limited time for making a decision by the customs inspector whether to arrest or pass the object

Actions of the customs inspector (CI) are caused by the following:

• Alarm of the fixed-installed monitor or hand-held instrument


• Suspicions about possible presence of radiation sources in the object


• Mistakes or inaccurate information declared in the shipping documents for the object containing the radionuclides

In the event of alarm of the fixed-installed monitor or hand-held POLISMART instrument, the customs inspector determines what channel (gamma or neutron) alarms. After that the persons accompanying the object are questioned, the shipping documents are checked to find out whether the object contains radioactive or nuclear materials. In case the presence of such materials is confirmed, the customs inspector must estimate the extent of radiation risk. All further actions of the customs inspector are performed with the POLISMART PRD & Identifier or hand-held multipurpose identifier.

1. If the person is arrested, he must present the document confirming that he has passed medical treatment or diagnostics with radiopharmaceutical medication. Nevertheless, the customs inspector must locate and identify the source using the POLISMART PRD & IDENTIFIER or hand-held multipurpose identifier. In case the location of ionizing radiation source and its isotopic composition confirm that radiopharmaceutical medication was used, the customs inspector let the person pass. All actions taken by the inspector are sent from the instrument to the DSS including the personal information of the person, medical office where he passed treatment or diagnostics.

2. If the vehicle is arrested and the shipping documents declare about the presence of radioactive or nuclear materials in cargo, the customs inspector:

• Measures dose equivalent rate of gamma or neutron radiation by the instrument


• Check whether the radiation characteristics declared in the shipping documents are accurate


• In case the radiation characteristics measured with the instrument correspond to the declared ones, the customs inspector may let the vehicle pass

All actions taken by the customs inspector according to the instructions displayed in the LCD of the instrument during radiation control process, results of measurement, information of the vehicle and cargo are automatically transmitted to DSS and they are available for the experts and the Heads of departments of customs service.

3. If in the event of alarm of the fixed-installed monitor the presence of radioactive or nuclear materials is not confirmed with the shipping documents, the inspector must check that the alarm was not false by making the vehicle to go through the controlled area again or by using the instrument in locating mode to make sure that the radioactive or nuclear materials are present in the object. If the monitor alarms for the second time or the readings of the hand-held instrument show that the radioactive or nuclear materials are present, the customs inspector must:

• Determine the channel where alarm occurred (gamma or neutron);
  
• Estimate the radiation risk according to the instruction displayed in the LCD of the instrument


• If the DER value on the surface of the object is less than 1 uSv/h, so depending on results of identification of radioactive or nuclear materials performed with the instrument, the decision whether to arrest or pass the object is made

4. If the DER on the surface of the object exceeds 1uSv/h the object is to be arrested and moved to a separate parking lot. People are evacuated from the area where the radiation level exceeds 1uSv/h and the specialists of Customs Radiation Control Department (CRCD) are called for:

• The CRCD officer performs locating and primary identification of radiation sources using the instrument


• If necessary the object is subjected to deep radiation investigation

All procedures of radiation control process after alarm of the fixed-installed monitor are performed by the customs inspector or by the CRCD officer using the POLISMART instrument. In first turn the instrument together with the DSS make it possible to solve one of the major issues of the customs radiation control - alarm of the fixed-installed radiation monitors caused by the “innocent sources”, natural radionuclides, radiopharmaceutical medications, etc. From the other hand, the instrument as a communication means with the DSS system automatically files not only the results of measurement but also records all actions of the inspector and save the information of all events of radioactive or nuclear materials trafficking across the borders thus making it possible to control and account all radioactive sources appearing in the territory of the country or crossing its border. If necessary the customs inspector or the CRCD officer may get the expert support online. In case the customs inspector or the CRCD officer are unable to make a decision whether to arrest or pass the object by themselves, the information is processed by the experts and the Heads of the departments of customs according to the regulations.