Radioactive sources are considered to be ‘orphans’ if ever they are lost, abandoned, misplaced stolen or transferred without proper authorization. Orphan sources pose a risk to the public and the environment, which must be addressed by national nuclear regulators and operators, as well as by police, emergency responders and public health officials. To strengthen the ability of local authorities to locate and recover orphan sources, the IAEA recently held a training course in Bridgetown, Barbados. The course equipped relevant actors with both the theoretical knowledge and hands-on training necessary to perform orphan source searches in a safe and comprehensive manner. The course covered elements of search and recovery from the perspective of both regulators and operators. Participants learned to handle recovered sources correctly, and to use radiation detection equipment.
Sealed radioactive sources are extensively used in medical, research, agricultural and industrial activities. If used safely and securely, these radioactive sources do not pose any threat to people or to the environment. However, radioactive sources can sometimes be lost, stolen or may otherwise fall outside of regulatory control, allowing them to fall into the hands of unlicensed and untrained parties, or even in scrap metal recycling plants, leading to accidental contamination. If the sources fall into the hands of those with malicious intent, they may also present a security threat.
Through its technical cooperation (TC) programme[1], the IAEA strives to minimize the risk posed by sources which fall outside of regulatory controls by increasing worldwide awareness of orphan sources and by providing hands-on training to strengthen the capacities of both regulators and operators to manage them safely and securely.
