Radiological Safety

Radiological Safety

The Department of Radiological Safety (RSD) is one of the four departments of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) as provided for in the Section 9(1) of the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act No.19 of 1995 (Act). It is mandated with the responsibilities of ensuring compliance with the Act, Nigeria Basic Ionizing Radiation Regulations (NiBIRR) and other relevant established regulations in all operations and activities associated with ionizing radiation, to ensure protection of workers, public and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation. They also compliment the obligations of the NNRA in regards to enabling Nigeria meet international obligations on Radiation Safety Standards.

The following are the responsibilities of the RSD:

  • Develop and review of Regulations and Guides relevant to radiation safety and protection
  • Regulatory oversight of facilities and activities associated with exposure to ionizing radiation to ensure compliance with established regulations, relevant national and international safety standards, terms and conditions of issued authorization
  • Review and assessment of technical reports, inspection reports, environment radiological data, radiological impact assessment reports, personnel dose monitoring records, workplace radiation monitoring records, environmental dose assessment reports
  • Radiological monitoring assessments and radiation surveys
  • Review and assessment of technical services providers
  • Undertake investigations and research into ionizing radiation sources and practices
  • Train Radiation Safety Officers and other radiation workers
  • Liaise with and foster co-operation with international and relevant organizations or bodies concerned with similar or related objectives or mandate
  • Pilot Survey and identification of practices associated with ionizing radiation
  • National occupational dose monitoring/Registry
  • Collaboration with international organizations such as the United Nation Scientific Committee on Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), IAEA, United Nation Environmental Statistics and others to collate and analyze radiation date for establishment of effects of ionizing radiation and development of models for radiological impact assessment
These responsibilities are achieved through the following procedures:
  • Review and assessment of safety reports
  • Conduct of inspections
  • Report format (Pre-authorization)
  • Report format (Pre-shipment)
  • Review of inspections report (Pre-authorization)
  • Review of inspections report (Pre-shipment)
  • Occupational Dose Assessment
  • UNSCEAR Global Survey Report
  • Evaluating Radiological Environment Monitoring reports from facilities
  • NNRA’s Independent Radiological Environmental monitoring
  • Conducting Inventory/Audit of Radioactive Waste/Disused Sealed Radioactive Sources (DSRS)
  • Dosimetry Service Providers & Radiation Safety Advisers Review
The RS Departmental structure is made up of four (4) Divisions at the (Headquarter) and the six (6) zonal offices strategically positioned to enable the department meet its mandates. The Department is headed by Dr. Isa Sambo. These Divisions comprise: