NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-72-089
Recommendation
TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: ADOPT THE LABEL REVISION PROPOSED IN THE THIRD REVISED DRAFT OF THE IAEA REGULATIONS FOR THE SAFE TRANSPORT OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS. IN ADDITION TO ADOPTING THIS PROPOSED LABEL, WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE A MORE CONSPICUOUS AREA IN WHICH TO MARK THE TRANSPORT INDEX, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION STRESS THE NEED FOR MAKING THIS INDEX AS CONSPICUOUS AND LEGIBLE AS POSSIBLE.
Safety Issue and Context
THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INITIATED THIS STUDY IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE A RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION INCIDENT INVOLVING A U.S. AIR CARRIER AND TO INVESTIGATE ALL ASPECTS OF THE AIR SHIPMENT OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS. THE SAFETY BOARD'S STUDY LED IT TO THE CONCLUSION THAT, AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS CARRIED BY AIR DO NOT NORMALLY CONSTITUTE ANY UNUSUAL RISK OF LIFE TO THE PUBLIC. NEVERTHELESS, AS THE GOVERNMENT RELINQUISHES MORE OF ITS ACTIVITIES TO PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND AS THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY CONTINUES ITS PHENOMENAL GROWTH, THE PROLIFERATION OF THE SYSTEM PRESENTS NEW DEMANDS FOR VIGILANCE IF THE CURRENT MINIMAL RISK TO THE PUBLIC IS NOT TO RISE.
ACCORDINGLY, THE BOARD'S PRIMARY CONCERN IS NOT THE RISKS ENGENDERED BY PRESENT OPERATIONS, BUT RATHER, IT IS THE RISK POTENTIAL CREATED BY THE RAPID EXPANSION OF THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY.
Response History
August 23, 1972 · Recipient Response · DOT
THE DEPARTMENT DISAGREED WITH THE FIRST PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE OF INTERNATIONAL COMPLICATIONS, AND BECAUSE ANOTHER LABEL FORMAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A LARGE BLOCK FOR INSERTING HAZARD INFORMATION NUMBERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH A NEW SYSTEM.