Security and Physical Protection of Radioactive Sources

Abstract

SECURITY AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION OF RADIOACTIVE SOURCES Security is defined as measures to prevent unauthorized access or damage to and loss, theft or unauthorized transfer of radioactive sources. A Physical Protection System (PPS) is the integration of people, procedures, and equipment for the protection of assets or facilities against theft, sabotage, or other malicious human attacks. It furthermore discuss about physical protection system which include Detection, Delay, Response and Security management. Detection is the discovery of an attempted or actual intrusion which could have the objective of unauthorized removal or sabotage of a radioactive source. Delay impedes an adversary’s attempt to gain unauthorized access or to remove or sabotage a radioactive source, generally through barriers or other physical means. Response encompasses the actions undertaken following detection to prevent an adversary from succeeding or to mitigate potentially severe consequences. Security management includes ensuring adequate resources (personnel and funding) for the security of sources.

Category one facilities in Nigeria are highly secured and the security was beefed up with assistance of IAEA and USDOE in the following facilities: Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Zaria, EKO Hospital Lagos, University College Hospital Ibadan and the Sheda Science and Technology Complex Abuja. Examples of the security system are cctv camera, duress button, BMS, Tamper indicating Device, Infrared Device, Glass Break Detector and siren.

The assessment of security of Categories I & II sources should be fully integrated into the NNRA authorization process and NNRA should commence quarterly national security inspection of categories I & II facilities in the country. Effort should be made to foster improved cooperation with the Nigeria Police and State Security Services by concluding a Memorandum of Understanding with NPF and DSS among others. Arrangement should be made to integrate background check for Managers and Operators of category I sources into the authorization process but taking the provisions of the country’s laws on privacy into cognizance .

Seminar presented by Adamu Abdul