ISRI Convention: Radiation in The Scrap Yard

The packed radiation session at this year’s ISRI Convention is proof that radioactive materials in the scrap stream are a source of growing concern in the recycling industry.

The session was a reality check for those who are not aware of the impact radioactive material can have in a scrap yard. Guest speakers Tom Knippel, Sadoff &Rudoy; Doug Kramer, Kramer Metals; and Ray Turner, River Metals Recycling, shared horror stories of companies that had to shut down operations for decontamination purposes and workers who have died because of exposure to this material.

The goal of the session, according to Kramer, was to help scrap operators become proactive when it comes to detecting radiation. But in order for operators to detect and isolate radioactive material they need to know what they are doing, Kramer said.

ISRI’s Radiation Task Force is putting together radiation safety flashcards to help operators detect and isolate radioactive material. These photos will be updated on a continuous basis. The task force’s mission also includes recreating the ISRI Radiation Safety Manual as well as putting together a comprehensive program.

The program is broken down into six modules:

1. Understanding what you need, including education on radiation;
2. Understanding what equipment you need to put in place;
3. Understanding what scrap processors need to do to put the program in place;
4. Training skilled people to make decisions;
5. Implementing the procedures; and
6. Following health and safety guidelines when dealing with the material.

Another part of the task force’s mission is to try to get the state and federal governments working together to come up with a uniform protocol to help scrap operators get rid of radiation without using money from their own pockets, according to Knippel.

Also present at the session was Bob Walker, Massachusetts Bureau of Radiation Control, and Paul Schmidt, Wisconsin Radiation Program. Their mission revolves around public health and safety because of radiation exposure. The will assist in the removal of the material as well as provide training and review facility plans and procedures with scrap operators in their area.

If there was one thing the presenters wanted the people in the room to walk away with it was that the only way the industry can really deal with the issue of radiation is by being proactive: They should follow the Radiation Task Force safety manual, use their flashcards and notify the authorities if radiation is detected.