Responsibilities of institutions and individuals when using and storing nuclear material of category I in Vietnam

Responsibilities of institutions and individuals when using and storing nuclear material of category I in Vietnam (Illustrative image)

Article 6 of Circular 38/2011/TT-BKHCN stipulates the responsibilities of organizations and individuals when using and storing nuclear materials of Group I in Vietnam as follows:

1. To establish a restricted area and apply measures to control and restrict access to this area.

2. To establish a protected area satisfying the following requirements:

- Lying within the restricted area;

- Having a physical barrier surrounding this area and devices lo detect and alert unauthorized access: the physical barrier and unauthorized access-detecting and -alerting devices must be designed to ensure enough lime for the security force to weigh up alert reasons and promptly respond to unauthorized access;

- Having a limited number of points of entry at which unauthorized access-detecting and -alerting devices are installed;

- Minimizing the number of persons authorized to access this area who must bear ID cards: persons authorized to access this area without an escort must be staff members of the facility who have no previous convictions and criminal records, are not being examined for penal liability, have good ethical quality and permits granted by the head of the facility: other persons, when entering this area, must be escorted and have permits granted by the head of the facility, clearly indicating the persons permitted lo enter, the escorts and time of entry and exit:

- Taking measures to check persons, vehicles and objects entering and leaving the area to detect and prevent unauthorized access, bringing of prohibited objects into or unauthorized bringing of nuclear material out of the area.

3. To establish a special-control area in Vietnam satisfying the following requirements:

- Lying within the protected area:

- Applying measures to constantly supervise persons present in this area:

- Permitting no personal vehicles to enter the area;

- Putting up a physical barrier at an appropriate distance to prevent road motor vehicles and waterway motor vessels from approaching the facility to sabotage it;

-/ Having a process of recording and storing information on all persons who have entered the area and all those who have used and managed keys, pass cards or the computer system controlling access to the area; information must be recorded in a monitoring book and preserved for at least 5 years:

- Applying security assurance measures specified at Points b, c. d and e, Clause 2 of this Article.

4. To use and store nuclear material in solidly designed chambers which are located in the special-control area, locked at all times and furnished with unauthorized access alert system; when nuclear material is temporarily placed in an unmanned working area and outside this chamber, necessary measures must be taken to assure security.

5. To elaborate and implement internal regulations on management of the keys of nuclear material use and storage chambers, and to assure:

- Regular change of lock combinations;

- Change of locks, keys or lock combinations upon delecting any sign of insecurity.

6. To apply necessary security assurance measures when moving nuclear material within the protected area or between protected areas.

7. To make nuclear material management files containing information on the storing place, form, physical state, composition and volume of nuclear material, and nuclear material use and storage logs.

8. To organize a security force which is on guard around the clock and patrols the protected area, promptly responds to or prevents unauthorized access: security guards must have a trustworthy personal background and be provided with knowledge about radiation safety, trained and properly equipped to perform their duties.

9. To set up a central alert station to supervise and evaluate alerts and communicate with the security force, response force and head of the facility. The central alert station must satisfy the following requirements:

- Being located within the protected area and designed to stay operational even in case of attacks;

- Having staff members on constant guard;

- Assuring that information transmitted to the station is stored and protected;

- Having measures to restrict and control access to the station.

10. To assure in all circumstances the uninterrupted transmission of data from all unauthorized access-detecting and –alerting devices to the central alert station and the communication of information between the station and the security force, response force or head of the facility.

11. To equip a system of two-way communication between the central alert station and the security force or response force to maintain the communication in all circumstances.

To assure that electricity is supplied uninterruptedly for alert devices and the central alert station and not affected by illegal interventions and acts of sabotage.

To elaborate and implement the process of regularly checking the operation of unauthorized access-detecting and -alerting devices, the communication system and other protection systems.

To elaborate and implement internal regulations on the preservation of confidentiality of information relating to the security of nuclear material. The computer system used for security and safely assurance and control of nuclear-material must be protected against all acts of sabotage, including network hackings.

To disseminate and update knowledge, information and regulations on security assurance for nuclear material to all staff members working in the restricted area.

16. To work out plans on response to insecurity circumstances, assuring the cooperation between the facility and response forces from the outside; to train staff members of the facility in taking actions to respond to insecurity incidents; to organize the maneuver of response plans once a year to assess the effectiveness of security assurance measures.

17. To coordinate with competent agencies in creating conditions for response forces from the outside to clearly understand the facility and the place of nuclear material, and have knowledge on protection against radiation.

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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