Ensuring security when using radioactive materials in a radiological facility

Abstract

The number of radioactive materials used in radiological facilities around the world requires an effective security system to protect both the facility and the environment. In these facilities, a Physical Protection System (PPS) is routinely devised and implemented to protect radioactive materials from potential adversaries. A physical protection system created for a hypothetical radiological site is thus evaluated against harmful actions posed by a possible attacker in this study. An Adversary Sequence Diagram (ASD) is created for a hypothetical oncology center in this study, and the effectiveness of physical protective systems is evaluated through the use of estimate of adversary sequence interruption (EASI) model for interruption of adversary action on a radiological facility. Risk assessment was done by performing iterations of probability of attacks on the facility to obtain risk values using python program. The risk assessment performed depicted the reduction of chances of possible attacks on the hypothetical facility after the application of improvement strategies. The chances of identifying and interrupting an adversary's actions toward the hypothetical radiological facility was increased significantly indicating that the PPS provides an improved reliable security system. The purpose of the work is to articulate security requirements for handling radioactive materials at a radiological facility.

Keywords

• Radiological facility
• Physical protection
• Accounting and control
• Sabotage
• Radioactive material