Design and operation based analysis and risk assessment in industrial radiography practice in India

Abstract

Radioactive sources are being used worldwide for various peaceful purposes such as power generation and medical, industrial & research applications. Industrial radiography is an important nondestructive technique to detect the presence of any flaw or cracks in the industrial pressure vessels, boilers or piping transporting hydrocarbons. These pressure vessels and boilers are subject to extreme dangers of explosion as these are operated at high pressures. Hence, to reduce the associated risks of such explosions, radiography inspections are carried out during manufacturing of these vessels and at regular periodicity during operational life of the vessel. It may be noted that during radiography testing, the physical and chemical properties of the vessels do not change. There are 554 industrial radiography institutions in India, which operate about 2700 radiography devices. Most of these radiography institutions are service providers. Industrial radiography is carried out using radioactive sources like Ir-192, Co-60, Se-75 etc. These radioactive sources continuously emit high energy gamma radiations. The ionizing gamma radiation has the capability to create mutations and damage to cells in the biological system. Therefore, potential exposure to radiation will result in biological hazards to the human body, such as skin injury and amputation of extremities. The nature of hazard depends on the quantity of exposure received and on several other parameters. In the severest case, very high exposure may cause death of the person also.