Non-ionising Radiation and the ADF

NON-IONISING RADIATION
AND THE ADF
Presented by:
Defence Radiation Safety and Assurance (DRSA)
Logistics Assurance Branch
Joint Logistics Command
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
DRSA
• Defence Radiation Safety and Assurance
– Joint Logistics Command
– Radiation Hazard Management
– Compliance and Assurance
• DRSA is mandated to:
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administer technical control over corporate radiation safety
manage Defence compliance with the ARPANS Act
assure SEC/CDF that Defence is meeting its licence obligations
liaise with ARPANSA as the Defence single point of contact
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
• Defence Source Licence
S0042
– Single source licence
covering whole of Defence
– Includes 65,000 controlled
radiation sources
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
Controlled Radiation Sources in
Defence
Ionising
45,148
Non-Ionising
23,282
→ Lasers
~22,000
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
Stimulatory/
CNS effects
Heating
Cancer causing
Established Biological Effects
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
Laser Hazards
• Principal risks
– Blindness
– Burns
– Fires
• Controls
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Establish an LHA based on NOHD/NSHD
Training
SOPs incorporating AS/NZS and IEC
Minimisation (LRF: Class 4 → 3B)
Positioning on platforms
• High up on ships
• Fixed mount on tanks and aircraft
– Laser Safety Papers
– PPE (goggles)
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
• Issues
– Widely used with large number present in Defence
– Training use: Weapons Training Simulation Systems (WTSS)
– Combat use:
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LAIRCM/DIRCM
FLIR
Missile guidance and warhead fusing
Target illumination
Target designation
Range finding
Personal weapon sight
– Laser dazzle to ADF personnel
– Output mostly invisible infrared radiation
– Very large NOHDs (Litening-AT ~34km)
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
RF Hazards (3kHz-300GHz)
• Principal risks
– HERP (personnel)
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Body heating/burns
Electrostimulation/shock
Microwave hearing effect
Rotating machinery (radar)
– HERO (ordnance)
– HERF (fuel)
• Controls
– Location of emitters
• High in ship superstructure
• Externally on armour/aircraft
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Positive control of RADHAZ of keys
Training
RADHAZ Surveys
Exclusion zones (red lines)
Trends: frequency (↑) and power (↓)
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
• Issues
– Defence is one of the biggest RF users
in Australia
– Minimal coverage in Regulations
– Accompanying ionising radiation risk
due to high voltages
– Very conservative RADHAZ limits
• Based on detectable effects in-vitro not
damage
• Loss of upper deck real estate for Navy
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
Static/ELF Hazards (0Hz-3kHz)
• Principal risks
– Whole body heating/stimulatory effects/CNS
– Body currents/coupling
• Controls
– Surveys
– Exclusion zones
– Medical clearance for metallic implants
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
• Issues
– Power generation in ships/subs/buildings
– Accompanying ionising radiation risk
– Minimal coverage in regulations
– ICNIRP guidance only
• Draft ARPANSA guidance (2006)
– IARC perceptions...
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
Incoherent Optical Radiation
(IR /Vis /UV) Hazards
• Principal Risks
– Erythema (sunburn)
– Skin cancer
– Ocular damage
– Photosensitivity
– Body overheating
• Controls
– SOPs
– Trade training
– PPE
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
• Issues
– Sun exposure is the biggest radiation risk in
Defence
– Controlled Vs uncontrolled sources
• Controlled in one area but not in another
– Lacking guidance on visible/infrared
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND
Questions???
JOINT LOGISTICS COMMAND