Closure and Decommissioning
Closure of a facility refers to the sale, transfer or ceasing of operations for a facility that holds a registration with the Radiological Council. For a registration to be discharged from regulatory control notification needs to be provided to Council advising the facility has either been sold or transferred to another party, or has permanently closed. With this advice, notification needs to be provided confirming if the radiation sources that are associated with the registration have been sold, transferred or disposed.
Decommissioning of Facilities
A close out report for the facility will need to be provided to ensure any radiological hazards present have been removed and managed appropriately for future users. As a minimum, the close out report will need to detail the following information –
- Confirmation that all radiation sources and radiation warning lights and signs have been removed.
- A radiological survey of the facility will need to be conducted where radioactive sources have been handled, processed, manufactured or stored, unless otherwise advised by the Radiological Council. A report of the survey needs to be provided to the Council detailing if any contamination has been found and how it will be managed or removed.
Changes to Registered Assets
For the sale or transfer including of the radiation sources previously registered at the facility, an amendment form will need to be completed by both parties. The amendment form is also used to provided notification if a radiation source has been decommissioned and/or disposed.
Amendment forms can be downloaded as follows –
Irradiating apparatus and/ or electronic products >> RX Amendment [⭳ PDF]
Sealed radioactive substances >> RS Sealed Amendment [⭳ PDF]
Unsealed radioactive substances >> RS Unsealed Amendment [⭳ PDF]
Decommissioning and final disposal of any irradiating apparatus or electronic product must be carried out by a qualified person in accordance with the methods below –
- X-ray Equipment
Either burn out the filament or eliminate the vacuum inside x-ray tube (break the glass envelope). - Lasers
Sever the power supply cord and remove the critical optical components and the amplifying medium.
- Transilluminators
Sever the power supply cord and destroy (break) the UV lights.
For the destruction of the above mentioned equipment it is recommended that only persons with a relevant qualification (e.g. electrician) should destroy the equipment.
This will satisfy the Radiation Safety Act only; other relevant state and local government requirements must also be considered. In all cases, the person disposing of the equipment must take into account the presence of other hazardous materials. Equipment that has not been appropriately disabled and handled as above must not be left for verge collections.
Notification will need to be provided to Council via completion of an Amendment form [⭳ PDF] once the equipment has been decommissioned or disposed.
The instructions for the selected method of disposal of radioactive substances, addressed below for sealed and unsealed substances, must be identified in the facility's radiation management plan. Should you require information regarding the appropriate method of disposal of a sealed or unsealed radioactive substance, please contact us.
Sealed Radioactive Sources
Facilities must have determined the disposal pathway for their radioactive sources prior to source acquisition. Sealed radioactive sources may only be disposed by means approved by the Radiological Council. This may include approval of methods of routine disposal, return of the radioactive substance to the manufacturer or supplier, or under the authority of a disposal permit granted by Council.
Sources that are no longer legally radioactive, because they are below the activity level specified in Schedule V of the Radiation Safety (General) Regulations 1983, do not need to be dealt with a radioactive waste and may be disposed once radioactive labelling has been removed or obscured.
Unsealed Radioactive Substances
Unsealed radioactive substances may only be disposed of in accordance with the environmental discharge limits specified in Regulation 31 of the Radiation Safety (General) Regulations 1983.
The Radiological Council will need to be provided with notification if a facility will be entering into a period of temporary closure or into care and maintenance. If any radiation sources remain at the facility during this period of closure, a plan will need to submitted to the Council demonstrating how the registrant will manage the ongoing radiation safety and security requirements. The following information will need to be provided on the plan –
- A full inventory of the radiation sources at the facility including their location.
- Provisions for security to the facility, including details of the person(s) responsible for the radiation sources.
- Emergency procedures in the event of an incident during the closure.
- Ongoing regular photographic evidence may be required showing where and how radiation sources have been stored and the measures that are being taken to ensure the security of the radiation sources.
Should you require any advice regarding this matter please contact us.