CRITERIA FOR A TRANSPORT EVENT SCALE

Events involving the transport of radioactive material may occur in public areas and frequently receive signjficant media and public attention. The International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) is widely used for nuclear emergencies but it is mainly associated with events at fixed installations: transport for the nuclear industry has however always been within its scope. Transport operations and systems have been considered in order to develop criteria appropriate to the levels on the International Nuclear Event Scale. The proposed criteria for the scale have been discussed with some competent authorities and international organisations. Improvements have been made and the criteria continue to be developed to facilitate broad acceptance. Examples of past transport events are being used to test the application of the scale. It is preferable to expand INES to fully encompass transport.