This Safety Report contains the findings of extensive research in terms of the lessons that can be learned from accidents which have occurred in industrial radiography, both in developed and developing countries. The review was carried out by a team of regulatory authorities, manufacturers and safety advisers. The objectives were to draw lessons from the initiating events of the accidents, the contributing factors and the consequences, and to identify several measures that, if implemented, would improve safety performance in industrial radiography.

The purpose of this publication is to present the results of a review of accidents in industrial radiography which have either been reported to regulatory authorities or to professional associations, or been published in scientific journals. Use of ionizing radiation in medicine, industry and research for technical development continues to increase throughout the world. Although this industry has a good safety record, there is a potential for accidents with serious consequences to human health because of the high dose rates produced by these sources. Five fatal accidents occurred between 1975 and 1994. Such accidents have prompted the present review, carried out by a team of manufacturers, regulatory authorities and operating organizations. Having closely looked at the circumstances of each accident, the apparent deficiencies in design, safety and regulatory systems, and personnel performance, the team made a number of recommendations. The findings of extensive research pertaining to the lessons that can be learned from irradiation accidents are presented.

An industrial radiographer was accidentally over-exposed while taking the radiograph of weld-joints of gas pipe-lines in 1985 in Bangladesh. Symptoms of high radiation exposure occurred immediately after the accident and skin erythema developed leading to progressive tissue deterioration. The consequences of this over-exposure is being followed up to assess the long-term effects of ionizing radiation on the victim. Progressive tissue deteriorations have already led to multiple surgeries and successive amputations of the finger-tips so far. Lessons learned from this accident are also reported in this paper.

This Safety Report summarizes good and current state of the art practices in industrial radiography and provides technical advice on radiation protection and safety. It contains information explaining the responsibilities of regulatory authorities, operating organizations, workers, equipment manufacturers and client organizations, with the intention of enhancing radiation protection and safety.

This publication addresses the chronology of events and circumstances of the radiological accident in Ventanilla, Peru, in February 2014. The information includes a detailed description of the international assistance provided by the IAEA, the health consequences and dose assessment for, and the medical management of the affected individual. This information and the lessons learned from the accident, relating to its circumstances, the notification, medical response, dose assessment and response at national and international levels are key aspects for Member States to consider when analysing their response procedures to radiological emergencies. The intention is to aid the and identification of necessary actions to be implemented in order to avoid or prevent potential similar accidents.