More than 100 participants from 70 Member States attended the 23-26 April 2018 annual meeting of the Working Group on Radioactive Source Security. Topics on the agenda included security system design and security culture.
Radioactive sources are widely used to enhance industrial productivity, to better preserve foods and to diagnose and treat patients. However, the radioactive characteristics that make the sources useful also make them a cause for concern, as their possible theft or sabotage could cause harm.
Jason Tierney, Head of the IAEA Nuclear Security Divisions’ Section for Programme Development and International Cooperation, told meeting participants at the opening: “The IAEA supports continued dialogue on the security of radioactive sources throughout their life cycle, and promotes research and development in this field.”
Meeting participant Maria Teresa Salabit, Science Research Specialist at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute in the Philippines, said consultations with stakeholders was “one of the good practices for improving the implementation of security inspection programmes as well as in developing a new regulation related to the security of radioactive material.”
The diversity of participants allowed for a fruitful exchange of information and best practices.
“By working together and learning what is happening in other countries with similar programmes but with different experiences, participants had a chance to harmonise approaches to nuclear security,” said Meeting Chair Muzna Assi, Technical Advisor in the Director’s Office in the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission. “The meeting also contributed to enhancing the nuclear security infrastructure nationally, regionallyand globally.”
