International Transport Safety Research

FULL JURNAL

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), periodically publishes the Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials, which serve as regulations for its own activities and as a model for regulations issued by international organizations and domestic regulatory bodies throughout the world. In order to support technical considerations for revisions to these Regulations, the IAEA may undertake “Coordinated Research Programs in which Member States and international organizations may offer to participate. Five such programs are currently active in the area of radioactive material transport safety, and the purpose and status of each of these is discussed in this paper.

INTRODUCTION
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) “Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material” form a consistent, technically robust basis for international and national regulations governing the packaging and transport of radioactive materials. Changes to the IAEA regulations occur periodically, and can be expected to be reflected in international modal requirements and national regulations. Thus, the IAEA’s Transport Regulations have direct impacts on shippers and carriers of these materials.
Since their inception in 1961, the IAEA Transport Regulations have been periodically revised to keep them technically up to date and consistent with modern transportation operations technologies. These revisions are typically based on proposals made by Member States and International Organizations. They may include changes which are based on research results. In cases where proposals for change require additional supportive information, the IAEA can undertake “Coordinated Research Programs” (CRPs) to address the relevant areas. A CRP typically involves 5-7 Member States contributing their research efforts on a defined topic and the preparation of a consolidated report of the results.
There are several CRPs which are either ongoing or have been completed but have not yet been finally published. These CRPs may result in new regulatory requirements being developed and may form the basis for proposals to change the regulations.