SAFE AND SECURE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE SEALED SOURCES

The International Source Suppliers and Producers Association (ISSPA) is comprised of most of the world’s major manufacturers of sealed sources. The mission of ISSPA is to ensure that the beneficial use of radioactive sources continues to be regarded by the public, the media, legislators, and regulators as a safe, secure, viable technology for medical, industrial, and research applications. Radioactive sources are used globally for a wide range of beneficial applications in health care, in industrial exploration and development, as well as in basic scientific research and discovery. In the health care industry, applications include sterilization of medical products, radiation therapy for cancer treatment, nuclear medicine and food irradiation. Other applications, such as oil exploration and industrial radiography make extensive use of radioactive sources. This presentation will elaborate on the extent to which sources are used in some of these applications. The safe and secure use of radioactive sources in these sectors requires collaboration amongst all key stakeholders that affect the various operational aspects of the supply chain. The list of key stakeholders includes suppliers and producers, users, carriers, and regulators. They are involved during the useful operational life of radioactive sealed sources as well as the appropriate disposition of them at the end of their useful life. How can safety and security be enhanced during the source life cycle? What measures are suppliers and producers taking to enhance security during source transportation? What are some of the operational impacts that need to be considered when implementing safety and security measures? What is needed to ensure that sources are and can be managed effectively at the end of their useful life? What is the role of key stakeholders in this process? In particular, how important is availability of appropriate infrastructure in providing options to users and suppliers for safe and secure source management? These are topics that will also be covered in the presentation.