Development of an Event Severity Scale for Transport Accidents and Incidents

Abstract

Many millions of packages of radioactive materials are transported safely each year throughout the world. Most of these materials are for medical and general industrial use. Accidents and incidents do occur during transport although any consequences are normally limited by the built-in safety features of the package together with the controls required for transport, including emergency response procedures. Criteria, based on the International Nuclear Event Scale, have been developed for transport events taking account of package type, location of the event, atmospheric releases, and exposures. Some examples of past events are given. Degradation of defence in depth is found in most transport events. In order to be able to communicate the significance of a transport event it is recommended that the International Nuclear Event Scale be expanded to encompass more broadly all types of transport operations involving radioactive materials.