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Industry : Safety
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Safety always comes first, for all types of applications of nuclear science and technology, including industrial applications. This is done through a number of ways:
- The operator is kept away from the beam by simply shutting off the machine whenever a violation (say of entry into the space) occurs.
- There is no residual radioactivity in the tested materials. Much the same safety measures that might apply to a mechanical saw would be used on a neutron generator. However, sources are more difficult since they are continuously and strongly radioactive. They emit radioactivity all the time and, therefore, must be carried in containers, which shield the operator from the radioactivity. Interlocks are used to avoid humans entering the working area when the source is exposed. Usually the casing also has a shutter, which can be opened for the neutron stream. These shutters can be remotely operated. Sealed sources are stored in shielded containers when they are not used.
- After use, when the source has decayed some, it is also necessary to carefully dispose of the source at a licensed disposal site. However, there have been cases of accidents in both systems over the years. In Mexico, an operator entered an accelerator room before it was shut off. In Brazil and recently in Malaysia, sources were not disposed off correctly. They were stolen and treated by the thief as nice scrap metal with resulting exposure of a number of people. This is why careful regulation is important.
- Tracers are custom made for specific jobs so that their activity will last for the length of the job but be of no concern afterwards. Just as a person leaving hospital after a procedure in which radioactive isotope has been used may be slightly radioactive for the next day or so, it quickly decays -- so too no radiation is left in the environment above background levels.
- In the laboratory, under controlled conditions it is possible that some gloves, swabs, syringes, even some test plants might be treated as low-level waste for disposal.
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