Disposal and treatment of sludge and scale wastes
Discussion and Recommendations (2 pgs)
The scope of the standards for regulating the disposal treatment of sludge and scale wastes should be reviewed to increase their dynamism and overall effectiveness of radiological measures instituted to protect workers from ionizing radiation. The standards should be designed with components that promote administrative controls. On this front, the standards should make it mandatory for the employers to erect clear and bold warning labels and signs in areas with high concentrations of NORM. Other administrative tools that require being strengthened include regular evaluation of NORM, the formation of an independent standards compliance department in each facility, and mandatory training for workers at risk of radiation exposure. Moreover, engineering controls should be at the core of the standards to enhance their effectiveness. For example, where possible, the NORM contaminated wastes should be held containers or disposal pits that are reinforced with radiation absorbent materials. In addition, an elaborate control system should be set up to notify employers of impeding leakage or accumulation of radionuclides. On a personal level, the scope of personal protective equipment (PPE) recommended by OSHA and other regulatory bodies should be expanded to include eye, respiratory, and foot protection. This has the potential to reduce workers’ levels of internal and external exposure to ionizing radiation.
Conclusion
The extraction of oil and gas is a significant risk factor for mobilizing radionuclide from rock formations adjacent to reservoirs. The use of technologies to process hydrocarbons into constituent components raises the concentrations of the radioactive materials to dangerously high levels, which exposes workers to ionizing radiation. The prolonged exposure to radiation- gamma rays, alpha rays, and beta rays – predisposes workers to a myriad of health issues with permanent impact. The standards provided by OSHA and other federal organizations provide effective remediation against workers’ exposure to radionuclides and related health risks. Although these regulations have been successful in managing the accumulation of NORM and employees’ level of exposure to ionizing radiation, more stringent measures should be instituted to limit health threats posed by a high concentration of radium isotopes in equipment and oily waste. In this light, the standard set by OSHA should be re-aligned to promote administrative, engineering, and extra personal protective measures to insulate them from health effects associated with direct and indirect exposure to ionizing radiation.