Planning of Protective action zone (PAZ) for nuclear facilities in Vietnam

Specifically, according to Article 23 of Circular No. 19/2012/TT-BKHCN of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, the organizations and individuals that do radiological works and organizations that respond to nuclear and radiation accidents shall:

- Take actions to protect and respond to nuclear and radiation accidents immediately when the exposure to radiation happens. The dose rates for deciding the urgent protection in nuclear and radiation accidents are provided in Annex II enclosed with this Circular.

- Assess the efficiency of the actions taken, and appropriately regulate them.

- Compare the residual doses to the reference level (20 – 100 mSv) to give a protection priority to the group of people of whom residual doses exceed the reference level.

- The nuclear facilities must set up a Protective action zone (PAZ), an urgent protective action-planning zone (UPZ) based on the dose rates prescribed in Annex II enclosed with this Circular.

Besides, Article 24 of Circular No. 19/2012/TT-BKHCN also stipulates that the organizations and individuals that export, import, produce, sell, and recycle metal scrap and steel must:

- Monitor and detect the radioactive substances, radioactively contaminated items and radioactive sources mixed in metal scrap and semi-finished steel products.

- Send written daily reports to the State management agency in charge of radiation and nuclear safety when detecting the radioactive substances, radioactively contaminated items and radioactive sources mixed in metal scrap and semi-finished steel products.

- Immediately take the following measures:

+ Return the consignment that is radioactively contaminated or contains uncontrollable radioactive sources to the exporting country;

+ Collect, store, and preserve the radioactively contaminated goods in accordance with the regulations on managing radioactive waste;

+ Take technical and administrative measures to limit people passing the area that have radioactively contaminated goods.

View more details at the Circular No. 19/2012/TT-BKHCN of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, effective from December 23, 2012.

Le Vy

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