Radiation Safety Seminar in Malaysia: Its Implication to the XIP’s Radiation Safety Program and Policies

By Renato D. Palgan

(This is a reprint from the SCANNER Newsletter, 19th Issue, September 2011)

The sixth International Symposium on Radiation Safety and Detection Technology (ISORD-6) held in Langkawi, Malaysia last July 12 - 14, 2011 was an international gathering of radiation safety experts and practitioners held every two years in the Asia Pacific Region to discuss the latest trends, developments and issues covering a wide array of topics about radiation, such as radiation transport, radiation protection philosophy, radiological issues, etc. And this year’s symposium, which was organized by the Malaysian Radiation Protection Association, was eventually divided into seven different sessions to finish them in a very short span of time, with a special session on the accident of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. All these concerns were discussed in less than a hundred scientific papers which were presented by different nationalities from Japan, Korea, China and Malaysia but what caught me with special interest was the paper presented by Norah Alih of Malaysia entitled, “International Standards for Radiation Protection”, because it has direct relevance to the on-going XIP ISO certification process at the POM X-ray Field Office.

According to the author, in her analysis of the various standards, rules and regulations involving radiation safety made by the different regulating agencies like International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Commission on Radiation Protection, the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements, and even the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), it is inevitable that to have a mandatory compliance by all, these standards should be publicized in order to give guidance and ensure proper implementation by the government and private sectors. And from among the sets of safety standards established by the international regulating bodies, there is also a need to harmonize the field of radiation safety and complement ISO/IEC 17024 for the promotion of radiation safety infrastructure through competent personnel. With the end view of professionalization and standardization of radiation safety workers, there is also a need to have a certification system among radiation safety personnel to test and demonstrate their qualification and competence to carry out the tasks in a specific workplace. By harmonizing the certification process, a safety culture will be developed and this will enhance manpower development. 

Its relevance to the XIP

Basing on the author’s arguments for the strict adherence to the international safety standards on radiation, the Port of Manila and MICP Field Offices of the X-ray Inspection Project have put up their own respective radiation safety rules and regulations which are suitable to their own respective X-ray facilities, and these  are  in  addition  to the existing

Radiation  Safety  Manual  which is promulgated and published by the XIP in accordance with the radiation safety standards issued by the Department of Health, which is the regulating agency with regards to X-ray radiation.

 Some of these provisions are similar to both X-ray facilities at the said ports. These provisions include, among others, that only X-ray personnel and authorized visitors are allowed inside the X-ray facility, the wearing of personal radiation monitoring devices at all times during the X-ray personnel tour of duty, X-ray inspectors shall always make an audio warning that X-ray is about to emit to warn people on the site before X-ray scanning of cargoes, all truck drivers shall wait at the designated drivers truck holding area during X-ray inspection, X-ray personnel must wear the prescribed uniform while on duty to distinguish them from the transacting public, and X-ray personnel must immediately press any of the emergency stop button whenever there are emergencies occur. Again, these are just some of the radiation safety guidelines implemented at the X-ray facility and there are still other guidelines implemented inherent with the specifications of the mobile X-ray machine as well as the proper distances within the X-ray facility itself that need not be discussed here for space limitation.

With these radiation safety guidelines earlier mentioned which are all approved by the Department of Health and in congruence with the radiation safety rules and regulation by the international regulating bodies, it is therefore relevant to the ongoing ISO Certification process of XIP’s work and procedures especially at the Port of Manila Field Office because it is a good indication that our work system is in line with the international best practices and standards on X-ray scanning operation. Thus, it would be another crowning glory if once the ISO certification of personnel has already been implemented that only qualified and competent personnel are allowed to be assigned in the XIP and do the work 

of X-ray scanning of cargoes. With the ISO certification of XIP personnel, it would surely promote professionalism and the XIP’s outlook towards manpower development would become proactive since ISO Certification necitates to have continuous improvement of skills and competence of X-ray personnel performing a sensitive and technical work in X-ray scanning operation for it is a basic requirement in ISO Certification of radiation workers like the XIP personnel.

Thank you, Ma’am Tatit

Thank you, Ma’am Tatit

(In celebration of the Teacher’s Month this September, I offer this simple and humble poem of mine to my most beloved teacher in high school who had greatly influenced and molded my views, outlook and values as I walk on in this struggle called “life”. Her name is Ms. Tarcisia Mahinay and she is fondly called “Tatit” by her peers but she is more than what her name stands for. If anybody of you knows her and her whereabouts, please inform her that she has a poem from me… Thank you.)

Thank you for the tears you shed before in one of our classes that reminded me always to be

responsible in all my actions and deeds so that I won’t harm other feelings and emotions because there are always vexations in one’s spirit that I might become pain and bitter as I walk through life and which I knew was my first lesson in human relations which is to act, behave and deal with others with respect and self-discipline that ultimately made me right now as one of the respected personalities in my workplace and community for the simple reason that I am at peace with my soul…

Thank you for the attention you called upon me when I was told to report to your faculty room

to discuss with me my frequent absences due to a number of extracurricular activities I was involved with, and I know pretty well that you were concerned that my non-academics campus activities would affect my studies and I was touched by your parenthood advice by not discouraging me to pursue my personal interests but merely informed me to have time management with my academics subjects and to be always the best in the activities I was involved with, and that advice has forever rang in my thought all throughout the years by setting my time wisely in all the things I have to do and to be the best in whatever fields, profession, vocation and in whatever capacity that I am entrusted to do…

Thank you for the praise and public approval that you gave me as I volunteered to read my first

ever English composition before the class, of which I knew deep in my heart I was so afraid to do for I might made known to my classmates of my limitation and weaknesses as a student in English Subject, but never did I realize that your positive comments were all implanted into my mind that from the time on grew like a molave tree, which is strong and a fully developed skill that even made me to write some handbooks and other literary pieces because I made it a point to keep on reading and writing every vacant time I have had and to participate in every discussion that I might come across with other people and that’s all because of the simple seed of approval that you gave me that I am now harvesting the fruits of my efforts and sacrifices by having a bigger responsibilities in my work and by attending international conferences and gathering as a delegate of my agency and our country, and…

Thank you for the sweet and wonderful lessons that you had shared with me in my four years as

my teacher and mentor of which you had inculcated me important and priceless lessons in life that I will forever treasure and grateful, but I am so sorry to say thank you just now because of my carefree attitude in my youthful years… and the shining moments of these lessons have now dawned on me as they became the foundations of what I am now today and Thank you, Mam Tatit, for being one of the greatest teachers I ever had in my life…

Misdeclared Machinery seized by MICP X-ray

           After a series of seizures made in the past several days involving several shipments containing misdeclared items, the MICP Field Office has once again seized another yet two units of machineries of magnetic separator and magnetic assembly last August 13 after a shipment of 1x40’ Container Van No. WSDU 4912716, declared to contain household wares, consigned to Rosvie Enterprises, was x-rayed by XIP Inspector Ryan Veloso and found to contain suspicious and misdeclared items on the X-ray monitor.

            Based on the report of MICP Field Officer and  concurrent Luzon Area Supervisor Renato D. Palgan to XIP Head Atty. Ma. Lourdes V. Mangaoang, the said shipment arrived at the MICP on August 7, 2011 from China on board sea vessel M/V Sinotrans Shenzhen, with Registry No. SIT0029, and, after the filing of import entry and was classified as Red X-ray in the Selectivity System, it was subjected to X-ray Inspection by the MICP Field Office to verify the true contents of the shipment. And when XIP Inspector Veloso made an image analysis on the innermost portion of the container van, he found out some irregularities depicting machineries which were not declared on the import documents, and the shipment has become even more suspicious when it was found on the X-ray monitor that the declared items were used as concealment near the door of the container van so that spot-checking by the customs examiner cannot identify the misdeclared items inside.

            As a resullt of the X-ray findings, an alert order was issued by the Office of the Commissioner and a 100 percent physical examination was conducted against the shipment that confirmed the X-ray findings.

  Magnetic separator machine seized by the MICP Field Office recently      

Forklift Machines naispatan ng MICP X-ray Office

        NABIGO ANG tangkang palusot ng isang kompanya nang maispatan ng mga matang-agila ng mga tauhan ng Manila International Container Port (MICP) X-ray Field Office and dalawang unit ng forklift machines at iba pang makinarya noong Hulyo 29 na patotoo na talagang totohanan ang kontra ismagling na kampanya ni XIP Head Atty. Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang.

          Sa report ni Renato D. Palgan, MICP Field Officer and concurrent Luzon Area Supervisor, ang hindi idineklarang forklift machines at iba pang kagamitan ay kasama sa kargo ng 4x40’ container vans mula sa China (Import Entry No. 115863).

          Idineklara na pawang gamit sa bahay at iba pang hardware na nakapangalan sa Aldero Enterprises.

          Sa image analysis na ginawa nina XIP Inspectors Rielito A. Hernandez at Vincent Anthony G. Guzman natuklasan ang tangkang pagpapalusot sa dalawang forklift machines, kaya agad na inalerto ng Office of the Commissioner.

          Nag-isyu agad ang OCOM ng alert order laban sa kargamento ng Aldero na mahaharap sa kasong ismagling.

FORKLIFT MACHINES

INDUSTRIAL MACHINERIES

MICP X-ray detects another Motorcycle

           In another show of their expertise in conducting X-ray inspection of containerized cargo that is truly imbued in their works and profession, the MICP X-ray Field Office has recently detected another unit of undeclared motorcycle hidden inside several balikbayan boxes as a result of its intensified anti-smuggling campaign in compliance with the directive of XIP Head Atty. Ma. Lourdes V. Mangaoang. This is the second time that an apprehension was made involving motorcycle after all informal shipments were required to undergo 100 percent X-ray scanning.

           

            According to XIP Head Atty. Ma. Lourdes V. Mangaoang, the smuggled used motorcycle of Honda Super Sports 250cc, with Chassis No. MC-15-1015406, was part and parcel of a forty-footer shipment with Container Van. No. EISU 9136106, declared as personal effects and household goods, consigned to DXL International, which arrived at the MICP on June 25, 2011, from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. After the filing of import entry by the customs broker, the said shipment was subjected to X-ray inspection on July 8 by X-ray Inspector Vincent Anthony G. Guzman. However, during X-ray image analysis of the said shipment it showed that there was undeclared item that looks like motorcycle which was maliciously hidden on the farthest portion of the container van that eventually led to the conduct of physical examination to ascertain the findings of X-ray image, and it was discovered during the spot-checking conducted by the assigned customs examiners of the Informal Entry Division that the suspected item was indeed a fully-assembled motorcycle. As a result, Warrant of Seizure and Detention was issued against the shipment by the MICP District Collector of Customs.

            Atty. Mangaoang added that the latest apprehension of motorcycle inside a consolidation shipment showed once again the effectiveness and efficiency in the conduct of X-ray inspection of containerized cargo using the state-of-the-art X-ray machine, as it was already proven in the XIP past apprehensions.

            The XIP Head likewise commended the officers and men of the MICP Field Office headed by Field Officer Renato D. Palgan for a job well done.

The prized catch of one unit of high-end motorcycle during the intensified anti-smuggling campaign waged by the officers and men of the MICP Field Office.

Field Inspection of Customs X-ray Facilities

         To ensure that X-ray scanning inspection of containerized cargoes are carried out in accordance with the Customs rules and regulations and in compliance with the Customs Radiation Safety Manual as well as to ensure that the directives of the XIP Head are fully implemented, MICP Field Officer and concurrent Luzon Area Supervisor Renato D. Palgan has conducted an ocular inspection last week on the container X-ray facilities at the Port of Subic in Zambales and the Port of Clark in Pampanga.

            The inspection was also made to check the on-going construction of X-ray facility at the said ports to ensure that radiation safety requirements and specifications are met.

            “ Considering that more than half of the total 30 container X-ray scanning machines of the Bureau of Customs are deployed at the major ports of entry in Luzon Area it is an imperative that these state-of-the-art equipment are fully utilized by our operatives with utmost efficiency and effectiveness in our anti-smuggling campaign”, Palgan said.

            The Port of Manila and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) have a combined 13 container X-ray machines while the Port of Subic and Port of Clark have 2 machines each respectively.

MICP Field Officer and concurrent Luzon Area Supervisor Renato D. Palgan (at left), with Port of Subic Field Officer Filemon Obejas (at right), inspects the on-going construction of the Port of Subic Satellite Office located at the New Container Terminal Road, ICTSI, inside the Subic Free Port in Olongapo City.

With XIP Inspector Paul Jorda, Luzon Area Supervisor Renato Palgan makes an on-site visit at one of the mobile container X-ray machines at the Port of Clark in Pampanga.

3 X-ray Personnel attend training in Malaysia

                   To update their expertise and knowledge on the latest issues and trends on radiation safety, three personnel of the X-ray Inspection Project of the Bureau of Customs, namely, Radiation Safety Officer Renato D. Palgan, Field Officer Pedro Irineo D. Gutierrez, and POM X-ray Inspector John Mar Morales, have attended recently an international seminar on radiation safety in Langkawi, Malaysia, last July 12-14, 2011.

            Entitled “6^th International Symposium on Radiation Safety and Detection Technology”, the international gathering was aimed to address the latest issues and concerns among radiation safety experts, professionals, and practitioners on wide array of topics such as radiation transport and shielding, radiation dosimetry, radiation detection and sensor technology, environmental radiation measurement and assessment, radiological risk management, radiation protection philosophy, and radiation education and training.

            According to Radiation Safety Officer Renato D. Palgan, “the topics and issues raised during the seminar were very timely considering the awareness, doubts, and skepticisms of the world on the hazardous effects of radiation as what happened to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant incident in Japan. The sharing of information among radiation safety experts and practitioners certainly gave us fresh and relevant knowledge on how we can still improve our radiation safety procedures in our own X-ray facilities and in handling of cargo found to contain regulated radioactive substance during our X-ray scanning operation. And we are indeed very grateful to the BOC Commissioner Angelito A. Alvarez and the XIP Head Atty. Ma. Lourdes V. Mangaoang for making radiation safety as one of their primary concerns in our X-ray facilities’ operational matters”.

It may be recalled that the Bureau of Customs has acquired thirty container X-ray machines from China as part of its modernization program in the conduct of examination of cargo. These machines were deployed in the major ports of entry in the country and all of them were duly licensed by the Department of Health (DOH) to be used and operated by the BOC after they had passed the stringent requirements and tests conducted by the DOH personnel as part of its regulatory function in the use of linear accelerator-sourced of radiation.

The BOC delegates to the Sixth International Symposium on Radiation Safety and Detection Technology held in Langkawi, Malaysia on July 12-14, 2011, pose for a picture of posterity in front of Awana Porto Malai Hotel. Left to right: POM X-ray Inspector John Mar Morales, POM Field Officer Pedro Irineo D. Gutierrez, and XIP Radiation Safety Officer Renato D. Palgan.