Safety Advisor Supporting the Transport of Radioactive Materials

Text: Jussi Aromaa

In this article, I share my thoughts and experiences related to the transport of radioactive materials from the perspective of a Radiation Safety Expert (STA). Over the past ten years, some of my work has involved the transport of radioactive materials within the fields of industrial and research applications of radiation. Last year, I had the opportunity to attend training for a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA), and by the end of the year, I obtained DGSA certification. Before diving deeper into the topic, it’s good to first review the basics of transporting radioactive materials. 

Radiation is used worldwide in a wide range of applications across healthcare, industry, and research. Here in Finland, numerous types of radiation sources are used and transported daily. Each year, several thousand shipments of radioactive materials take place in Finland. 

The use of radiation requires a safety license granted by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK). However, under the Radiation Act, the transport of radioactive materials is exempt from requiring a safety license—except for road and rail transport of high-activity sealed sources. There are only a few dozen such high-activity sealed sources in use in Finland, whereas the total number of sealed sources exceeds 5,000. Of course, only a small portion of these sealed sources are transported regularly. The transport of more dispersible open sources (such as radiopharmaceuticals) also does not require a safety license. Therefore, it can be concluded that the vast majority of radioactive material shipments do not require obtaining a safety license. 

This does not mean that these transports are free from requirements—quite the opposite. The regulations governing the transport of radioactive materials are included in the general dangerous goods transport regulations, where radioactive materials form Class 7. Overall supervision of dangerous goods transport mainly falls under the police and the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom), which works in cooperation with STUK. The transport of radioactive materials is regulated by the Act on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (541/2023) and the related Government Decree (925/2023). More detailed requirements for road transport can be found in Traficom’s regulation on the transport of dangerous goods by road (TRAFICOM/473662/03.04.03.00/2022). 

The above-mentioned VAK regulations include numerous requirements for the transport of radioactive materials, covering aspects such as classification, transport packaging and labeling, vehicle markings and equipment, transport documents, driver qualifications, and the use of a DGSA (Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor). These regulations are not light reading, and finding the correct requirements relevant to one’s own activities is not easy. 

When considering the risks of radiation use, I believe transport issues have often remained somewhat in the background—both from the perspective of radiation users and authorities. This is likely partly because most radioactive material transports do not require a safety license, meaning STUK’s main focus has been on the actual use of radiation sources, not their transport. This is understandable, but in some cases, using a radiation source can be quite straightforward, while the greater risk of deviation may occur during transport. Another reason may simply be a lack of familiarity with the content of VAK regulations. I do not have detailed knowledge of how other competent authorities supervise the transport of radioactive materials, but it is clear that expertise related to radioactive substances is not at the same level as at STUK. 

In 2012, STUK published a guide on the transport of radioactive materials. The guide provided significant relief in monitoring and complying with requirements for such transports. When I started working at STUK in 2014, I also had the opportunity to participate in inspections related to the transport of radioactive materials and several radiation-use audits that addressed transport issues. At that time, among the operators inspected, there were several whose knowledge of VAK regulations was insufficient, resulting in numerous corrective actions. The situation today is certainly better, as monitoring has increasingly focused on transport matters. However, even in my current role as a Radiation Safety Expert (STA), I still encounter similar cases as a decade ago—meaning there is still work to be done to ensure safer transport of radioactive materials. This is despite the fact that STUK carried out a monitoring project in 2022 and 2023 for transported sealed source devices and published a report for all operators. 

At the beginning of 2025, STUK has prepared a comprehensive transport survey for senders, carriers, and recipients of radioactive materials. The survey asks, among other things, about the use of a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA) as required by the VAK Act. According to the Act, the obligation to appoint a DGSA applies to all operators engaged in the transport of radioactive materials. Nowadays, the appointment of a DGSA must also be reported to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom). I have wondered how these requirements will be monitored—or whether they will be monitored at all—but this recent survey provides at least one answer. I am curious to see what kind of enforcement actions or other consequences the survey will lead to. 

A DGSA should not be used merely because the law requires it; the purpose is, of course, to ensure that, with the advice and guidance of the DGSA, the transport of radioactive materials can be carried out as safely as possible in compliance with VAK regulations. A DGSA can also be involved, for example, in organizing VAK-compliant training for employees performing transport-related tasks. I believe that even relatively light use of a DGSA could improve safety in the transport of radioactive materials. And if there is a need for both a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor and a Radiation Safety Expert, it makes sense to obtain these services from the same provider to achieve synergy benefits. 

Jussi Aromaa works at Platom as a Radiation Safety Expert (STA) in the field of industrial and research radiation practices. In addition, Jussi holds certification as a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA).