The Spanish Protocol for radiological surveillance of metal recycling: a collaboration of government and industry.
The presence of radioactive materials in scrap metal has been detected relatively often in recent years. As a result of an accidental melting of a 137Cs source in a Spanish steel mill (Acerinox) in 1998, the national authorities, the involved private companies, and the main trade unions drafted a protocol for prevention of and responding to such events ("Spanish Protocol"). The Protocol was signed in 1999. The number of subscribing companies is 90. The Protocol is a voluntary agreement defining the radiological surveillance of scrap metal and its products and the duties and rights of the signatories. From the effective date of the Protocol to December 2004, 461 pieces of ferric scrap were detected including sources of radiation and contaminated metal. Four melting incidents have happened in different companies.
Cadierno
Juan Pedro García
JP
Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear, C./ Pedro Justo Dorado Dellmans 11, 28040 Madrid, Spain. jpgc@csn.es
Renedo
J I Serrano
JI
Lopez
E Gil
EG
D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D033161:Government Regulation; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D007221:Industry / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008669:Metallurgy / Q000592:standards; D008670:Metals; D011640:Public Policy; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000592:standards*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000592:standards*; D011850:Radioactive Waste / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012308:Risk Management / Q000592:standards; D013030:Spain; D018505:Waste Management / Q000592:standards*
D008670:Metals; D011850:Radioactive Waste