Guidelines for handling of nuclear material and facility insecurity incidents in Vietnam

Guidelines for handling of nuclear material and facility insecurity incidents in Vietnam (Illustrative image)

According to Article 10 of Circular 38/2011/TT-BKHCN, Guidelines for handling of nuclear material and facility insecurity incidents in Vietnam, are as follows:

Organizations and individuals possessing nuclear material, nuclear facilities, upon discovering signs of insecurity for nuclear material or nuclear facilities in Vietnam, are responsible for:

1. Immediately notifying the nearest police agency for coordinated measures to handle the situation.
2. Reporting to the immediate superior management agency, the local Department of Science and Technology, and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority within 08 hours.
3. Coordinating with competent authorities to search for and recover the lost nuclear material.
4. Immediately after any act of sabotage of nuclear material or nuclear facility occurs, taking measures to prevent damage, protect the nuclear facility, and safeguard personnel.

Furthermore, the responsibilities of organizations and individuals with nuclear facilities are regulated as follows:

1. Implementing the provisions at Clauses 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 of Article 6 of Circular 38/2011/TT-BKHCN.

2. Ensuring the security for nuclear materials used and stored at the nuclear facility according to the corresponding requirements stipulated in Articles 6, 7, and 8 of Circular 38/2011/TT-BKHCN. Specifically, Group I nuclear materials, instead of being required to be used or stored in a special controlled area, must be used or stored in a crucial area.

3. Establishing crucial areas to meet the following requirements:

   - Implementing control measures and ensuring security similar to those for special controlled areas as stipulated in Clause 3, Article 6 of Circular 38/2011/TT-BKHCN;

- During non-operational or maintenance periods, access to the crucial area must be strictly controlled; for areas with nuclear reactors, a check must be conducted to confirm that no act of sabotage has occurred during the non-operational or maintenance period before the reactor is reactivated.

1. Ensuring that nuclear materials, systems, devices, and machinery are used and stored in crucial areas if their sabotage could directly or indirectly lead to high radiological consequences.

More details can be found in Circular 38/2011/TT-BKHCN, which comes into effect in Vietnam from February 15, 2012.

Thuy Tram

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