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OSHA Information on Radiological Events / Nuclear Terrorism
Radiological dispersal devices (RDD),
also known as "dirty bombs," consist of radioactive material
combined with conventional explosives. They are designed to use explosive
force to disperse the radioactive material over a large area, such as
multiple city-blocks. Around the world, there are many sources of radioactive
material that are not secure or not accounted for. Rogue nations and/or
terrorist groups can obtain these materials for dirty bombs. These explosive
weapons may initially kill a few people in the immediate area of the blast
but are used primarily to produce psychological rather than physical harm
by inducing panic and terror in the target population. Their use would
also result in costly cleanup for decontamination. The following links
provide information on the threat and consequences of the use of RDDs.
Related Safety and Health Topics
What are Dirty Bombs and How are they Hazardous?
- Fact
Sheet on Dirty Bombs. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
(2002, July), 2 pages. Includes the following subsections: Background,
Impact of a Dirty Bomb, Sources of Nuclear Material, Control of Nuclear
Material, Increased Security of Nuclear Material, Response to a Dirty
Bomb, and Federal Role.
- Facts
about "Dirty Bombs" for Industrial Hygienists. AIHA
(2002, July 15), 1 page. The AIHA Ionizing Radiation Committee has
prepared this simple fact sheet with reference information for its
members and others.
- Radiation
Studies: Dirty Bombs. CDC, National Center for Environmental
Health (2002, December 23), 3 pages. Provides basic information about
dirty bombs.
- "Dirty
Bombs" Much More Likely to Create Fear than Cause Cancer: Radiation
Effects from Such Devices Likely to Be too Low to Calculate, Health
Physicist Says. American Institute of Physics (2002, March 12),
2 pages. Discusses likelihood and severity of radiation-related health
effects following a "dirty bomb" incident.
How will Workers in the Surrounding Area be Protected?
- Guidance
for Responding to Radiological and Nuclear Incidents. U.S. Department
of State, 4 pages. This fact sheet provides guidance on what to do
in the event of three types of nuclear/radiological events: dispersal
of radioactive materials by a radiation dispersal device (RDD); detonation
of a nuclear weapon; and an accidental/intentional nuclear power plant
release.
- Disaster
Preparedness for Radiology Professionals: Response to Radiological
Terrorism. American College of Radiology (ACR)
(2002, September 23), 111 KB PDF, 43 pages. This primer is provided
as a quick reference in the event of a radiation disaster. It summarizes
current information on preparing for a radiation emergency, handling
contaminated persons, dose assessment and radiation exposure health
effects. It also includes information on radiological findings related
to agents of biological and chemical terrorism.
How will First Responders be Protected?
- Management
of Terrorist Events Involving Radioactive Material. National Council
on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Report No. 138, abstract.
(2002), 1 page. Provides guidance to "first responders"
and "emergency medicine personnel" that would be involved
in the management of terrorist events involving radioactive material.
Press
release.
- Example Safety and Health Plans
- Survey instrumentation and personal
monitoring
- PPE
- Decontamination
- Medical Surveillance
How will Health-Care Workers be Protected?
- Medical
Management of Radiological Casualties Handbook. Military Medical
Operations Office, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (1999,
December), 604 KB PDF, 152 pages. This handbook is a supplement to
the Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation Course, offered by the Department
of Defense for training health-care professionals in the management
of uncontrolled ionizing radiation exposure.
- Initial
Management of Irradiated or Radioactively Contaminated Personnel.
Department of the Navy, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (1998, December).
Provides direction to the Medical Department, civilian medical personnel
of the naval services and Navy and Marine Corps commands for the initial
exposure assessment, management, and treatment of individuals who
are irradiated or externally or internally radioactively contaminated.
- Disaster
Preparedness for Radiation Accidents: Patient treatment and management
for acute radiation syndromes. Baylor College of Medicine, 3 pages. Contains
tables with brief recommendations for treatment of patients who have
experienced radiation exposure.
How will Clean-up Workers be Protected?
What Organizations and Authorities are involved in RDD Response?
What Can be Done to Secure Radioactive Materials?
- Summary
of Report on Protection Against Nuclear Terrorism. IAEA (2001,
November 30), 2 pages. Report on the state of security in various
nuclear facilities. Indicates that in many cases there is a need for
improved protection and control. Press
release.
- Guarding
Nuclear Reactors and Materials from Terrorists and Thieves. IAEA
(2001, November 2), 40 KB PDF, 14 pages. This paper promotes more
stringent physical protection standards for nuclear materials.
- Reducing
the Threat of Nuclear Theft and Sabotage. IAEA, 84 KB PDF, 18
pages. This paper recommends a range of specific steps to upgrade
security at individual facilities and strengthen national and international
standards.
- Ten
Principles for Nuclear and Radiological Materials Security. U.S. Department of Energy
(2002, November 14), 10 pages. Remarks of Secretary of Energy Spencer
Abraham to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace International
Non-proliferation Conference.
- Inadequate
Control of World's Radioactive Sources. International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) (2002, June 25), 2 pages. Discusses the availability
of the radioactive materials needed to build a "dirty bomb"
and the lack of control and monitoring programs for known radioactive
sources. Full
press release.
- U.S.,
Russia Agree to Protect "Dirty Bomb" Materials. U.S. Department of State
(2002, May 9), 3 pages. Excerpt from a news conference on meetings
between U.S. Energy Secretary and Russian Atomic Energy Minister.
- State
and Federal Action is Needed for Better Control of Orphan Sources.
Health Physics Society (HPS) (2002, April), 110 KB PDF, 2 pages. This
HPS Position Statement provides recommendations regarding orphan sources-radioactive
sources that have escaped institutional control, such as, sources
that have been lost, stolen, or abandoned.
- Background
Information on "State and Federal Action is Needed for Better
Control of Orphan Sources." Health Physics Society (HPS)
(2002, April), 193 KB PDF, 6 pages.
- Professional
Society of Radiation Specialists Supports Radioactive Source Legislation.
HPS (2002), 96 KB PDF, 2 pages. Presents the HPS position on proposed
radioactive source legislation.
- Reducing
the Nuclear Threat in the 21st Century. IAEA (2001, October 29),
42 KB PDF, 8 pages. Discusses possible nuclear threats and measures
to prevent them.
Compliance
- OSHA Standards
- 1910.120,
Hazardous waste operations and emergency response. This HAZWOPER
standard contains requirements relating to ionizing radiation at
hazardous waste sites.
- 1910.1096,
Ionizing radiation (general industry).
- 1926.65,
Hazardous waste operations and emergency response. This HAZWOPER
standard for the construction industry; also contains requirements
relating to ionizing radiation at hazardous waste sites.
- OSHA Directives
- Review Commission
and Administrative Law Judge Decisions
The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) is an
independent federal agency created to decide contests of citations
or penalties resulting from OSHA inspections of American work places.
To locate decisions related to this topic, search for keywords at
the OSHRC site.
- Standard Interpretations
and Compliance Letters
- Definition
of an airborne radioactivity area (1992, October 6), 3 pages.
- Application
of 1910.120 to cleanup of nuclear and hazardous waste (1990,
April 4), 3 pages.
- Clarification
of the jurisdiction's of OSHA and the NRC in nuclear power plants
(1987, January 8), 2 pages.
- OSHA/NRC
Interface Activities and Related Information (1985, January
15), 4 pages.
- Review
of permissible radiation exposure levels (1984, November 5),
2 pages.
- Respirator
air quality standards do not apply where the NRC has jurisdiction
(1979, March 6), 2 pages.
- Federal
Register- Ionizing Radiation Standard; Extension of the OMB's Approval
of the information-Collection (Paperwork) Requirements (2001,
May 2), 2 pages.
More
- Dirty
Bombs Questions and Answers. Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
(2002, July), 6 pages. Answers many common questions regarding dirty
bombs.
- Calculating
the New Global Nuclear Terrorism Threat. International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) (2001, November 1), 5 pages. Discusses the potential
for nuclear terrorism in various forms.
- What
if the Terrorists Go Nuclear? Center for Defense Information (CDI)
(2001, October 1), 7 pages. Threat scenarios regarding nuclear weapons
and the various countries involved.
- Radiological
Dispersal Devices: Assessing the Transnational Threat. National Defense University (1998, March), 5
pages. This paper examines this threat and differentiates the physical
from the psychological—and therefore political—impact on a targeted
population.
- Dirty
Bombs: Response to a Threat. Federation of American Scientists
(FAS) (2002, April), 8 pages. Provides background, case studies, and
recommendations regarding dirty bombs.
- IAEA
Action Plan to combat nuclear terrorism. International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA). Introduces the IAEA action plan designed to
upgrade worldwide protection against acts of terrorism involving nuclear
and other radioactive materials. This page also includes links to
other related information.
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