G.I. 150.003 Ionizing Radiation Protection PDF
G.I. 150.003 Ionizing Radiation Protection PDF
G.I. 150.003 Ionizing Radiation Protection PDF
SCOPE:
This instruction establishes minimum requirements for compliance with and implementation of the regulations
of the Government of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco's Loss Prevention Policy applicable to radiation safety:
CONTENT:
1. GENERAL POLICY STATEMENT
2. DEFINITIONS
3. RESPONSIBILITIES
3.1 Radiation Protection Committee (RPC)
3.2 Medical Services / Occupational Medicine
3.3 Loss Prevention Department (LPD)
3.4 Labs R&D/Environmental Chemistry
3.5 Fire Protection Department
3.6 Inspection Department
3.7 Environmental Protection Department (EPD)
3.8 Users of Ionizing Radiation
4. DOSE LIMITS
5. ACCIDENT/INCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND REPORTING
6. REFERENCES
1.1 No practice or a source within a practice should be authorized unless it produces sufficient
benefit to offset the potential radiation harm.
1.2 The normal radiation exposure of individuals resulting from an authorized practice or a
combination of authorized practices shall be restricted so that no applicable dose limit is
exceeded (as described in Section 4). Dose limits shall not apply to therapeutic or diagnostic
medical exposures from authorized practices.
1.3 Protection and safety shall be optimized in order that the number of individuals exposed to
radiation and the likelihood of incurring exposures are all kept as low as reasonably achievable
(ALARA).
2.0 DEFINITIONS:
2.1 Absorbed Dose: Average amount of energy imparted by radiation per unit mass of matter in
units of Gray (Gy) where 1 Gy =1 Joule/kg.
2.2 Dose limit: The value of the effective dose or the equivalent dose to individuals from controlled
practices that shall not be exceeded.
2.3 Effective Dose: The summation of tissue equivalent doses, each multiplied by a tissue
weighting factor (W T) in units of sievert (Sv).
2.4 Equivalent Dose: The average absorbed dose by a tissue or organ multiplied by a radiation
weighting factor (W R) and summed over different types of radiation (in mixed radiation fields).
The unit of equivalent dose is the sievert (Sv).
2.5 Exposure: The act or condition of being subject to irradiation which could be either external
exposure (irradiation by sources outside the human body) or internal exposure (irradiation by
sources inside the human body).
2.6 Extremity: Hand, elbow, arm below the elbow, foot, knee, or leg below the knee.
2.7 Intake: The process of taking radionuclides into the body by inhalation, ingestion or through
the skin.
2.8 Ionizing Radiation: Any type of radiation capable of removing an electron from the atom with
which it interacts directly such as gamma rays, x-rays, alpha particles, and beta particles, or
indirectly such as neutrons.
2.9 KACST: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, which is the government regulatory
agency responsible for supervising and controlling all matters related to sources of ionizing
radiation and its use in Saudi Arabia.
2.10 NORM: Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials, which includes any nuclide that is
radioactive in its natural physical state (i.e., not man-made).
2.11 Occupationally Exposed Worker: An employee whose job involves routine use of sources of
ionizing radiation and who has a reasonable chance of being exposed to effective dose equal to
or higher than 2 milli-sievert accumulated over one year due to his job responsibilities.
2.12 Practice: Any human activity that introduces additional sources of exposure or exposure
pathways or extends exposure to additional people or modifies the network of exposure
pathways from existing sources so as to increase the exposure or the likelihood of exposure of
people or the number of people exposed.
2.13 Principle Party: Any entity holding license(s) for certain practices or sources which bear all
responsibilities related to radiation safety for all licensed practices and sources under normal
and abnormal situations.
2.14 Public Exposure: Exposure incurred by members of the public from authorized sources and
practices and from intervention situations, excluding any occupational or medical exposure and
the normal local natural background.
2.16 Radiation Survey: An evaluation of the production, use, release, disposal or presence of
radiation sources to determine potential radiation hazards. It may include tests, physical
examinations, measurements of radiation levels, or observance of associated work practices.
2.17 Recording Level: Value for dose equivalent or intake of a radioactive nuclides above which a
result should be retained which is one tenth the fraction of the annual limit corresponding to the
monitoring interval (0.17 mSv for a monthly dose reporting period).
2.18 Skin equivalent dose: The average equivalent dose over one square cm of the most highly
irradiated area of the skin.
2.19 Supplement: An addendum to GI 150.003 approved by the RPC, which contains radiation
safety procedures or guidelines for a specific practice or application.
2.20 User: Any person, organization, department or contractor who uses radioactive material or
radiation producing equipment in areas controlled by Saudi Aramco.
3.0 RESPONSIBILITIES:
3.1 RADIATION PROTECTION COMMITTEE (RPC)
3.1.1 Membership
• Manager - Environmental Protection Department (Chairman)
• Manager - Inspection Department (Vice Chairman)
• Radiation Protection Advisor - Engineering Services
• Sr. Occupational Medicine Specialist - Medical Services
The RPC Chairman shall appoint an advisor to the committee. The RPC advisor shall
report to the RPC Chairman. The RPC advisor should have a graduate level education,
preferably a Ph.D. degree, intensive training and adequate experience in the field of
radiation protection.
3.1.4.1 Provide technical advice to the RPC and Saudi Aramco departments on matters
related to radiation safety throughout Saudi Aramco including the selection of
radiation safety equipment and instrumentation.
3.1.4.2 Supervise and coordinate efforts to prepare, develop and review Saudi Aramco
3.4.1 Provide annual analyses for leak tests of all devices that contain depleted uranium
shielding.
3.4.2 Provide semi-annual analyses necessary for leak testing of sealed radioactive sources
owned by Saudi Aramco (such as in radiography, nuclear gauges, flow meters, etc.).
3.4.3 Conduct radioactivity measurements on air, water, scale, sludge and waste samples,
maintain records of analysis results and alert the RPC of any abnormal levels of
radioactivity in the analyzed samples.
3.4.4 Provide technical support to EPD in monitoring levels of radioactivity in the
environment.
3.5.1 Develop procedures for, and respond to, incidents involving radioactive materials which
can not be handled by users and require intervention by Fire Protection Department.
3.5.2 Ensure that an adequate number of the department employees are trained on handling and
controlling incidents involving radioactive materials (such as fire and spillage).
3.5.3 Coordinate with existing industrial mutual aid associations to handle radiation incidents
through existing agreements.
3.6.1 Prepare and issue permits to use and handle radiation sources and radiation producing
equipment by industrial radiographers. Inspection Department shall conduct random and
unannounced performance assessments of individuals holding such permits.
3.6.2 Prepare and issue permits for all locations of permanent and temporary storage of
radioactive materials used for industrial radiography.
3.6.3 Inspect, at regular intervals not exceeding 6 months, all locations and facilities used for
the temporary storage of radioactive sources used for industrial radiography on Saudi
Aramco controlled or supervised areas.
3.6.4 Ensure the compliance of contractors performing industrial radiography on Saudi
Aramco property with the company's radiation protection procedures, and interface
between those contractors and the RPC.
3.8.16.1 Enforce Saudi Aramco radiation safety procedures and ensure their imple-
mentation within his department /division.
3.8.16.2 Maintain monthly personal dose records of occupational workers in his de-
partment/division.
3.8.16.3 Alert radiation workers approaching or exceeding radiation dose limits,
identify causes, suggest corrective measures, and report findings to the RPC
and the management of his department.
3.8.16.4 Handle documentation and procedures related to the import and export of ra-
dioactive sources and keep inventory records of radioactive sources within
his department / division.
3.8.16.5 Ensure that transportation, storage, replacement, and disposal of radioactive
sources within his department are done according to Saudi Aramco radiation
safety procedures.
3.8.16.6 Ensure that radiation monitoring and survey equipment are calibrated peri-
odically as required by regulations and ensure that only adequately function-
ing equipment are used.
3.8.16.7 Ensure the timely delivery of wipe tests to Labs R&D for required leak test-
ing of sealed sources and devices utilizing depleted uranium shielding.
3.8.16.8 Ensure that all required radiation surveys are performed adequately and
maintain records of survey results.
3.8.16.9 Audit and supervise radiation-related activities performed by contractors for
his department and ensure contractors adherence to Saudi Aramco's radiation
safety procedures.
3.8.16.10 Alert, promptly, his management and the RPC of any violations of Saudi
Aramco radiation protection regulations and procedures.
3.8.16.11 Notify, promptly, his direct management, LPD and the RPC of any accident/
incident involving radiation sources.
3.8.16.12 Participate and handle emergency situations that involve sources of radiation
or accidentalexposures in his department. In situations that cannot be imme-
diately handled by the RPO or exceeds available resources, the RPO may
seek additional assistance.
3.8.16.13 Participate in investigating incidents, accidents or any abnormal situations
involving radiation as required by his department and the RPC (in accor-
dance with section 5).
3.8.16.14 Participate, under RPC guidance, in emergency situations in other Saudi
Aramco departments whenever necessary.
The radiation exposure of any occupational worker shall be controlled so that the following
limits are not exceeded:
4.1.1 Whole body: An effective dose of 20 mSv per year averaged over five consecutive years
with the additional provision that the effective dose in any single year does not exceed
50 mSv.
4.1.2 Lens of the eye: An equivalent dose of 150 mSv per year.
4.1.3 Skin and extremities: An equivalent dose of 500 mSv per year.
4.2.1 Whole body: The effective dose for members of the general public shall not exceed 1
mSv in a year.
4.2.2 Lens of the eye: An equivalent dose of 15 mSv in a year.
4.2.3 Skin and extremities: An equivalent dose of 50 mSv in a year.
Male and female occupational workers are subject to the same dose limits. However, when a
female occupational worker is declared pregnant her working conditions may be modified so
that the equivalent dose to the surface of the abdomen (lower trunk) does not exceed 2 mSv and
the effective dose to the embryo-fetus during the remaining period of pregnancy does not exceed
1 mSv.
For apprentices 16 to 18 years of age who are training for employment involving exposure to
radiation and for students age 16 to 18 who are required to use sources in the course of their
studies, the occupational exposure shall be so controlled that the following limits are not
exceeded:
5.2 The user RPO shall prepare a preliminary report and submit it to the RPC Chairman and LPD
within 48 hours of the incident/accident.
5.3 Following investigation and review of data, the user RPO shall prepare a final report, including
corrective actions and preventive measures against reoccurrence, to be submitted to the RPC
Chairman and LPD Manager.
5.4 At the discretion of LPD Manager and/or the RPC Chairman, additional personnel may be
assigned to independently investigate, assess findings, and approve the RPO's final report.
6.0 REFERENCES:
6.1 KACST Radiation Protection Regulations, 1997.
6.3 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safety series No. 115, 1996.
6.4 US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10 Energy, Chapter 1 Part 20 - Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
6.5 US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29 Labor, Chapter 17 - Occupational Safety & Health
Standards: 1910.96 Ionizing Radiation.
6.6 US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Chapter 1 Part 34 - Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
1997.
RECOMMENDED:
CONCURRED:
APPROVED: