Web-based inspections in industrial radiography Digital inspections in an analogue world www.nrpa.no
IAEA-TECDOC-1526 (2007)
Industrial radiography in Norway
Hire the Flash Solution?
Solution? an army of inspectors
use The Internet. Solution?
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 10 16-1-2015 18-1-2015 20-1-2015 22-1-2015 24-1-2015 26-1-2015 28-1-2015 30-1-2015 1-2-2015 3-2-2015 5-2-2015 7-2-2015 9-2-2015 11-2-2015 13-2-2015 15-2-2015 17-2-2015 19-2-2015 21-2-2015 23-2-2015 25-2-2015 27-2-2015 1-3-2015 3-3-2015 5-3-2015 7-3-2015 9-3-2015 11-3-2015 13-3-2015 15-3-2015 17-3-2015 19-3-2015 21-3-2015 23-3-2015 25-3-2015 27-3-2015 29-3-2015 31-3-2015 2-4-2015 4-4-2015 6-4-2015 8-4-2015 10-4-2015 12-4-2015 Number of responses
Response timeline 80 70 67 70 60 57 50 40 30 20 10 0 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 25 20 Number of companies 15 10 5 0 1-2 3-5 5-10 10-20 20-30 Over 30 Number of operators Number of radiography operators is 10 or less for about two thirds of the companies
Results - overview 30 25 Number of companies 20 15 10 5 0 1 2 3-5 5-10 10-20 Over 20 Number of radiation sources (gamma and/or x-ray) Number of radiation sources is five or less for about two thirds of the companies.
Non-compliances distribution 60 53 50 Number of companies 40 30 20 12 10 5 0 0 1 2 Number of non-compliances 22 non-compliances were found at 17 companies, no company more than two.
Non-compliances causes Too high dose rate outside shielded enclosure. No written emergency procedures. No local log of gamma sources. No written procedure for radiography. Personal alarm monitor not available. Gamma souces not registered with the NRPA. No written instructions for the RPO. X-ray sources not registered with the NRPA. 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Number of companies
Web-based vs on-site inspections 2 Number of non-compliances 1 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M 13 companies were subjected to on-site inspections in parallel to the webbased ones. More non-compliances were found on-site, unsurprisingly.
Web-based vs on-site inspections Company D. In questionnaire, they confirmed having written procedures, thus in compliance. On-site these procedures were found sufficiently poor 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 was issued. Company G. Gave a number of certified operators in questionnaire. Turned out on on-site inspection that one operator did not posess an accredited certificate in radiation protection.
Self reporting vs NRPA auditing Too high dose rate outside shielded enclosure. No written emergency procedures. No local log of gamma sources. No written procedure for radiography. Personal alarm monitor not available. Gamma souces not registered with the NRPA. No written instructions for the RPO. X-ray sources not registered with the NRPA. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Non-compliances from online inspection Non-compliances from registry audit
Self reporting vs NRPA auditing 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Gamma Online Registry Application X-ray
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 examinations could be performed with x-ray? All. Most of the examinations (more than 75 %). About half the examinations (25-75 %). Some examinations (up to 25 %). None. Impossible to say. 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Number of companies About two thirds of the companies (64 %) believe that at least some gammaradiography can be replaced with x-ray radiography.
What prevents x-ray from replacing gamma radiography? Alternative impractical. Alternative method does not give desired results. Alternative method more expensive. The customers do not want alternative. No industrial standard for alternative. No in-house competence on the alternative. Other: Number of companies using argument 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Main argument against x-ray radiography is acessability for relatively large equipment, poorer image quality and expense for customer (x-ray taking longer).
How many gamma/x-ray examinations could be performed with ultrasound? All. Most of the examinations (more than 75 %). About half the examinations (25-75 %). Some examinations (up to 25 %). None. Impossible to say. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Number of companies About half the companies believe that at least some gamma/x-ray radiography can be replaced with ultrasound.
What prevents ultrasound from replacing gamma/x-ray radiography? Alternative method does not give desired results. The customers do not want alternative. Alternative impractical. No industrial standard for alternative. Alternative method more expensive. No in-house competence on the alternative. Other: 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Number of companies using argument The main problem with ultrasound replacing ionising radiation is that it cannot be applied in all situations (thickness of objects).
Substitution «conclusion»? There is potential for increasing use of x-ray to replace gamma and ultrasound to replace gamma/x-ray, and many companies phase 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 50 45 40 Number of companies 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 < 1 h 1-2 h > 2 h Time to complete questionnaire
Feedback - usefulness 40 35 30 Number of companies 25 20 15 10 5 0 Very useful Somewhat useful Not useful
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.)