Protecting non-destructive inspectors from exposure to radiation

KOSHA sign MOU with KANDT on preventing accidents of non-destructive inspectors through improving legislations and system, and providing technological materials

11^th September

KOSHA steps up its efforts to prevent accidents of non-destructive testing workers who inspect cracks of ships and steel products using radiation.

KOSHA’s president Hun-ki Baek signed MOU with president Son of KANDT(Korea Association for Non-Destructive Testing) on preventing non-destructive inspectors’ accidents at Best western Hotel Gu-ro on 11^th September.

This MOU serves as an opportunity to find ways of preventing hazards of non-destruction inspection after the exposure to excessive radiation killed 2 inspectors last year and 1 inspector this year in Ulsan, one of Korea’s industrial cities located in southern peninsula.

According to the white paper of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, the number of non-destructive inspectors is around 5,000 among which more and more inspectors are exposed to over 20mSV of radiation which is the maximum level set by the Nuclear Safety Act.

* The sievert (symbol: Sv) is the International System of Units (SI) derived unit of equivalent radiation dose, effective dose, and committed dose. Quantities that are measured in sieverts are designed to represent the biological effects to the human body.

<No. of workers exposed to over 20mSv of radiation year-on-year>

With the MOU signed, KOSHA and KANDT focus on activities as below:

▶ finding ways to improve legislations and system to prevent accidents occur while non-destructing testing

▶ conducting research on non-destructive technologies

▶ investigating causes of radiation exposure cases

▶ jointly developing and distributing technological materials

Along with these, KOSHA supports the non-destructive companies to strengthen OSH activities through helping them set up a self-inspecting OSH management system. In addition, ordering companies would be encouraged to implement OSH activities for the safe work of inspectors.

The KANDT was founded in 1996 to develop and manage technologies on non-destructive tests under which 43 non-destructive member companies are registered.

An expert from KOSHA said “Non-destructive inspectors are easily exposed to radiation considering the nature of works. That’s why companies in that sector have to get the workers have medical check-ups and provide strict prevention measures.” adding that workers also have to understand the hazard of the exposure to radiation and stick to the safety prevention policies.

End.