Radiation Safety Protection in Saudi Arabia
Legislative protection in Saudi Arabia is a complicated subject for discussion, as it is regulated by a variety of agencies in different fields. International organizations and entities actively monitor and review the country’s efforts of adopting the use of nuclear energy, and from the most recent news sources, the process of integrating nuclear facilities into the life of Saudi Arabia is moving in full force. With the backing of rapid industrial development and the individual talents of its people, the country has managed to quickly adopt a variety of practices and regulatory frameworks to use nuclear energy safely (IAEA Reviews Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear Power Infrastructure Development 2018). King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy is an agency that regulates the implementation and construction of nuclear facilities. As reviewed by the INIR part of the IAEA, Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in preparing for the implementation of nuclear facilities (Nuclear Power in Saudi Arabia). Another piece of legislation connected with radiation safety and protection is developed by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. The organization is concerned with maintaining healthcare standards in the medical and food industry. Another piece of regulation that concerns Saudi Arabia is the European Union Council Directive of 2013, which dictates some of the regulatory safety practices that countries affected must comply with. The legislation helps members of the European Union to employ safer practices of working with radiation and protecting their employees.
Regulatory Bodies for Radiation Safety
Many organizations regulate the safety and regulation of radiation safety, and most actions of governments adhere to the rules set by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The organization works based on well-developed research practices, which allow it to work in collaboration with country-specific agencies in developing unique and effective approaches. The ICRP operates in collaboration with other organizations that control radiation safety, including International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Commission on Radiation Units (ICRU), and the International Radiation Protection Association. (IRPA). These bodies all fall within a variety of requirements that benefit the growth and development of Saudi Arabia. Firstly, the regulatory efforts introduced by these organizations promote the independent growth of Saudi Arabia, as all of their efforts place the authority into the hands of the country, both in terms of regulation and in terms of implementation. Another important aspect of regulations imposed by these organizations is that they are made while taking into account the individual circumstances of each country and adapting to its particular systems and stages of development. There are a variety of standards of safety these organizations introduce, all created in an attempt to facilitate the safe and effective use of nuclear energy. The IAEA sets the standards of working with radiation and nuclear energy as the responsibility of safety, the role of government, leadership, and management for safety, justification of facilities, and optimization of protection. The first of these components states that the responsibility for enduring public safety rests on the organization responsible for using radiation/nuclear energy. The second, role of government, presupposes that government agencies should monitor and regulate radiation safety by implementing legislative frameworks. Leadership and management, on the other hand, means that organizations should be directed by strong leadership that had to be sustained for ensuring public safety. The fourth key aspect of radiation safety is called “justification of facilities”, and basically means that the benefits of a built facility should outweigh the dangers and detriments that radiation brings. The last component is named “optimization of protection”, and, self-evidently means that organizations should provide sufficient levels of protection against radiation during their work process. My organization could use these principles for the implementation of nuclear energy as a part of the production process, as they clearly outline the steps that need to be taken to make sure that a particular facility uses radioactive power responsibly, and has the optimal defense mechanisms to safeguard the safety of their employees and is overseen by the frameworks of the government.
Aspects of the 2013 Basic Safety Standards Directive
The safety standards directive can be effectively utilized to benefit the workplace, employers, and workers in establishing a safe and effective environment for work. The first beneficial standard to be implemented in my workplace would be to establish specific dose constraints for each type of staff and their line of work. This would introduce additional order and regulation to the work process and limit the potential exposure of workers. Another legislation that should be adopted in my workplace is relayed in article 10, and concerns protections for breastfeeding and pregnant people. As soon as an employer is informed that their employee is expecting a child or needs to breastfeed, conditions that will not endanger the child or affect the quality of milk produced need to be established. The third regulation that should be likely applied is connected with the identification and response to orphan sources. Workers that can be potentially exposed to the need to be educated in recognizing them and responding appropriately. The fourth article I think is relevant to implement in my setting is article 28, concerning licensing issues in relation to handling the radioactive matter. When intentionally exposing people to radioactivity or being in possession of radioactive material, sufficient licensing should be obtained. This can help to ensure the safety of any potential clients and ensure that the company has legal backing for its practices. Article 34 would be the last of the 5 I would want to see implemented and widely used in my workplace, and it entails the consultation with a radiation specialist to assist in matters concerning protection. This can aid companies in having a different and informed perspective on the protection practices in place, and ensure that the staff is able to work safely and quickly.
ICRP Documents
The ICRP, as one organization working in the field of radiation protection, has created a variety of publications that are both interesting and useful to examine. It includes articles centered on a wide array of specific subjects connected with radiation protection, in spheres of healthcare, production, and environment protection. For the purposes of this paper, three such articles of interest will be discussed. The first of these is “Radiological protection from naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in industrial processes” (Radiological protection from naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in industrial processes). The work discusses and provides recommendations on best protection methods against natural radiation, for industries that work directly with sources of danger. Improper protection can give rise to a variety of hazards, including radiation poisoning of many people and the contamination of production itself, meaning that the process has to be strictly regulated. I think it can be relevant to my work sphere and be beneficial to ensuring the safety and security of the staff while working out in the open. The next work that presents an interesting issue is “Radiological protection of people and the environment in the event of a large nuclear accident”, which talks about implementing frameworks of protection in lieu of large-scale incidents, such as the Fukushima and Chornobyl catastrophes (Radiological Protection of People and the Environment in the Event of a Large Nuclear Accident). I think it can be useful regardless of the workplace, as a measure of safety that informs individuals on the topic of radiation-connected disasters. The last article that is worth discussing concerns the protection against radiation in medical therapy, specifical treatment with radiopharmaceuticals (Radiological protection in therapy with radiopharmaceuticals). These types of medicine are used in treating various types of cancer, and to prevent additional harm and maximize benefits, a proper regulatory framework is necessary. This one is useful in understanding intentional exposure to radiation, and proper doses of radiation for some practices. The paper introduces a way to calculate proper radiation doses for medical facilities.
Reference List
“Nuclear Power in Saudi Arabia” Nuclear Power in Saudi Arabia – World Nuclear Association. Web.
“Radiological protection from naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in industrial processes”. ICRP. Web.
“Radiological protection in therapy with radiopharmaceuticals”. ICRP. Web.
“Radiological Protection of People and the Environment in the Event of a Large Nuclear Accident”. ICRP. Web.
Anon, 2018. IAEA Reviews Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear Power Infrastructure Development. IAEA. Web.