www.nrpa.no

Web-based inspections in industrial radiography

Digital inspections in an analogue world

IAEA-TECDOC-1526 (2007)

Industrial radiography in Norway

Solution?

Hire the Flash…

Solution?

…an army of inspectors…

Solution?

…use The Internet.

Method

• Questionnaire sent to radiation protection officers (RPO) by e-mail.

• Unique link in e-mail leads RPOs to their company specific questionnaire online.

• Accompanying letter from NRPA emphasising that responding is obligatory, not voluntary.

• Questionnaire, e-mails, replies handled by EasyResearch™.

Questionnaire

• 52 questions.

• Questions grouped thematically over 8 pages.

• Multiple choice or specific format to enable automated analysis.

• All questions had to be answered to be able to complete questionnaire.

Questionnaire

• 8 possible non-compliances.(“Does there exist written instructions for RPO?”)

• 9 possible notifications.(“What year were instructions for RPO revised?”)

• 22 requests for information.(“Number of devices for gamma radiography?”)

• 13 questions regarding substitution.(“To what extent can UT replace gamma/x-ray?”)

Response timeline

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1016

-1-2

015

18-1

-201

520

-1-2

015

22-1

-201

524

-1-2

015

26-1

-201

528

-1-2

015

30-1

-201

51-

2-20

153-

2-20

155-

2-20

157-

2-20

159-

2-20

1511

-2-2

015

13-2

-201

515

-2-2

015

17-2

-201

519

-2-2

015

21-2

-201

523

-2-2

015

25-2

-201

527

-2-2

015

1-3-

2015

3-3-

2015

5-3-

2015

7-3-

2015

9-3-

2015

11-3

-201

513

-3-2

015

15-3

-201

517

-3-2

015

19-3

-201

521

-3-2

015

23-3

-201

525

-3-2

015

27-3

-201

529

-3-2

015

31-3

-201

52-

4-20

154-

4-20

156-

4-20

158-

4-20

1510

-4-2

015

12-4

-201

5

Num

ber o

f res

pons

es

Response timeline

57

6770

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Deadline 1 Deadline 2 Threat of fine

Results – overview

• 70 questionnaires completed – response rate 100 %.

• Updated information on radiography companies:– 928 radiation protection certified operators.– 255 gamma sources.– 237 x-ray sources.

Results – overview

Number of radiography operators is 10 or less for about two thirds of the companies

0

5

10

15

20

25

1-2 3-5 5-10 10-20 20-30 Over 30

Num

bero

fcom

pani

es

Number of operators

Results - overview

Number of radiation sources is five or less for about two thirds of the companies.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1 2 3-5 5-10 10-20 Over 20

Num

bero

fcom

pani

es

Number of radiation sources (gamma and/or x-ray)

Non-compliances – distribution

53

12

5

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 1 2

Num

bero

fcom

pani

es

Number of non-compliances

22 non-compliances were found at 17 companies, no company more than two.

Non-compliances – causes

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

X-ray sources not registered with the NRPA.

No written instructions for the RPO.

Gamma souces not registered with the NRPA.

Personal alarm monitor not available.

No written procedure for radiography.

No local log of gamma sources.

No written emergency procedures.

Too high dose rate outside shielded enclosure.

Number of companies

Web-based vs on-site inspections

0

1

2

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

Num

bero

fnon

-com

plia

nces

13 companies were subjected to on-site inspections in parallel to the web-based ones. More non-compliances were found on-site, unsurprisingly.

Web-based vs on-site inspections

• Company D.In questionnaire, they confirmed having written procedures, thusin compliance. On-site these procedures were found sufficientlypoor and outdated to warrant a non-compliance.

• Company F.Said in questionnaire that they were using a closed facility for radiography. On-site inspection revealed that this facility did not fulfill all conditions of a closed facility, and a non-compliance wasissued.

• Company G.Gave a number of certified operators in questionnaire. Turned outon on-site inspection that one operator did not posess an accredited certificate in radiation protection.

Self reporting vs NRPA auditing

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

X-ray sources not registered with the NRPA.

No written instructions for the RPO.

Gamma souces not registered with the NRPA.

Personal alarm monitor not available.

No written procedure for radiography.

No local log of gamma sources.

No written emergency procedures.

Too high dose rate outside shielded enclosure.

Non-compliances from online inspection Non-compliances from registry audit

Self reporting vs NRPA auditing

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Gamma X-ray

Online Registry Application

Substitution

• Question: To what extent can gamma and/or x-ray be replaced by NDT methods which improve radiation protection?

• Six possible substitutions:1. X-ray for gamma.2. Ultrasound for gamma/x-ray.3. Magnetic particle for gamma/x-ray.4. Dye penetrant for gamma/x-ray.5. Eddy current for gamma/x-ray.6. Leakage testing for gamma/x-ray.

• Long story short: Only options 1 & 2 were considered viable.

How many gamma examinationscould be performed with x-ray?

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Impossible to say.

None.

Some examinations (up to 25 %).

About half the examinations (25-75 %).

Most of the examinations (more than 75 %).

All.

Number of companies

About two thirds of the companies (64 %) believe that at least somegammaradiography can be replaced with x-ray radiography.

What prevents x-ray from replacinggamma radiography?

Main argument against x-ray radiography is acessability for relatively largeequipment, poorer image quality and expense for customer (x-ray taking longer).

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Other:

No in-house competence on the alternative.

No industrial standard for alternative.

The customers do not want alternative.

Alternative method more expensive.

Alternative method does not give desired results.

Alternative impractical.

Number of companies using argument

How many gamma/x-ray examinationscould be performed with ultrasound?

About half the companies believe that at least some gamma/x-ray radiographycan be replaced with ultrasound.

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Impossible to say.

None.

Some examinations (up to 25 %).

About half the examinations (25-75 %).

Most of the examinations (more than 75 %).

All.

Number of companies

What prevents ultrasound from replacing gamma/x-ray radiography?

The main problem with ultrasound replacing ionising radiation is that it cannotbe applied in all situations (thickness of objects).

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Other:

No in-house competence on the alternative.

Alternative method more expensive.

No industrial standard for alternative.

Alternative impractical.

The customers do not want alternative.

Alternative method does not give desired results.

Number of companies using argument

Substitution «conclusion»?

• There is potential for increasing use of x-ray to replace gamma and ultrasound to replace gamma/x-ray, and many companiesphase out gamma for their own radiation protection purposes.

• Main obstacles for substitution are accessibility (size of x-ray) and applicability (object dimensions for ultrasound).

• Economical considerations may work against substitution, as x-ray takes longer, making it more expensive for customer.

• Technology developing rapidly, can authorities find incentives to speed substitution up?

Feedback – time spent

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5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

< 1 h 1-2 h > 2 h

Num

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f com

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es

Time to complete questionnaire

Feedback - usefulness

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Very useful Somewhat useful Not useful

Num

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es

Conclusion

• Web-based inspections feasible – response rate 100 %.

• Much data gathered – quantity over quality.

• Future inspections may:– Utilise feature of «conditional questions».– Ask for attachment of documents (although currently not a feature in

EasyResearch™).

• Method may also be applicable for inspections in other areas (veterinary, dentist, control sources, etc.)