Use of Risk Assessment in Onsite Radioactive Material Transfers

Although the regulations governing packaging and transportation are requirements-based, there is a solid case to be made for using a risk-based approach to demonstrate safetyequivalence for onsite applications. The degree of risk acceptance implicit in the regulations can be calculated, and the risk results for a given situation can be compared against that number. If the risk from hypothetical onsite accidents is less than the degree of risk accepted by the Department of Transportation for offsite shipments, then the case for safety-equivalence has been made. The viability of such an approach is being demonstrated at the Savannah River Site.