Emergency Preparedness and Response to Incidents During Radioactive Material Transport

Nuclear material and radioactive material are routinely and regularly transported around the world, in all regions, using multiple modes of transport, totalling twenty million shipments per year. To protect people, property and the environment, national and international transport regulations have been developed that apply to all modes of transport, including air, maritime, road, rail, and inland waterways. Stringent measures are required in these regulations to ensure adequate safety, containment, shielding and the prevention of criticality in the event of a transport accident. Despite the extensive application of safety controls, emergencies have occurred during the transport of nuclear or radioactive material. Emergencies during transport are included in Emergency Preparedness Category IV, the baseline level of preparedness applicable to all Member States.The response to an emergency during the transport of nuclear or radioactive material involves unique hazards, considerations and response actions. The only existing safety standard that provides guidance for such emergencies is Safety Guide TS-G-1.2, Planning and Preparing for Emergency Response to Transport Accidents Involving Radioactive Material from 2002.