ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE AND RADIATION PROTECTION IN SOME SELECTED WELL-LOGGING AND INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY FACILITIES IN NIGERIA
ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE AND RADIATION PROTECTION IN SOME SELECTED WELL-LOGGING AND INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY FACILITIES IN NIGERIA
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Date
2017-08
Authors
GUSAU, MUHAMMAD BELLO
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Abstract
Nigeria has for a very long time engaged in the peaceful application of nuclear technology. The use of ionizing radiation due to its unique properties has considerably increased over the years in oil and gas industry. In this study, the radiation safety procedures have been evaluated and whole-body occupational exposure for workers in some selected industrial radiography and well-logging facilities were assessed using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) for a 10y period. The TLDs were read using Harshaw dual-4500 TLD reader on quarterly basis. During the 10y study period, the average annual effective doses were found to be 1.3 mSv and 0.96 mSv for the industrial radiography and well-logging practices respectively. The annual collective dose received by the exposed workers in industrial radiography and well-logging practices were found to be between the ranges 27.8-99.6 man mSv and 12.1-32.2 man mSv respectively, while the two practices contribute 768 man mSv to the total world collective dose value. On the TLD return rates, well-logging practice records the highest with 95.7% while industrial radiography practice scored 90.1%. The overall result showed that 89% of the workers received doses lower than 1 mSv and there was no instance where a worker received dose greater than the dose limits prescribed by Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA). The average annual effective doses obtained from this study were compared and discussed with the results obtained from other countries and UNSCEAR. Although, the radiation workers covered by this study received doses less than the dose limits set by the NNRA, licensees and all stakeholders involved should make sure that, the radiation workers are regularly and properly trained on operational procedures and radiation protection matters, so that the doses to the individual and the working environment are kept as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER DEGREE IN RADIATION BIOPHYSICS
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS,
FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
Keywords
ASSESSMENT,, OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE,, RADIATION PROTECTION,, SELECTED WELL-LOGGING,, INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY FACILITIES,, NIGERIA