EXPLANATORY MANUAL FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE IAEA REGULATIONS FOR THE SAFE TRANSPORT OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS SAFETY GUIDE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA, 2010
COLLECTION OF IAEA SAFETY STANDARDS No. TS-G-1.1 (Rev.1).
PROLOGUE
The Agency is authorized by its Statute to establish safety standards to protect health and minimize danger to life and property – standards that the IAEA must use in its own operations, and which a State can apply through its nuclear and radiation safety regulatory provisions. This broad set of safety standards, regularly reviewed, along with the IAEA’s assistance in their implementation, has become a key element of a global safety regime.
In the mid-1990s, a significant reorganization of the IAEA’s safety standards program began, with changes to the oversight committee’s structure and the adoption of a systematic approach to updating the entire set of standards. The new standards are of high quality and reflect the best practices used in Member States. With the assistance of the Commission on Safety Standards, the IAEA is carrying out activities to promote the worldwide acceptance and use of its safety standards.
However, safety standards can only be effective if applied correctly in practice. The IAEA’s safety services, ranging from technical safety, operational safety, and radiological safety, to transportation and waste safety, as well as regulatory and safety culture issues in organizations, assist Member States in implementing standards and evaluating their effectiveness. These safety services enable the sharing of valuable knowledge, and all Member States are encouraged to make use of them.
Regulation of nuclear and radiological safety is a national responsibility, and many Member States have decided to adopt the IAEA safety standards for incorporation into their national regulations. For Contracting Parties to various international safety conventions, IAEA standards are a coherent and reliable means of ensuring effective compliance with obligations under the conventions. Designers, manufacturers, and operators worldwide also apply the standards to enhance nuclear and radiological safety in electricity generation, medicine, industry, agriculture, research, and education.
The IAEA attaches great importance to the ongoing challenge for users and regulators alike to ensure a high level of safety in the use of nuclear materials and radiation sources worldwide. Their continued use for the benefit of humanity must be managed safely, a goal to which the IAEA’s safety standards contribute.
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