Assesment Of The Shielding Integrity Of Co – 60 Gamma- Ray Scanner At Aflao Border, Ghana.

ABSTRACT This study examines the current state of the shielding integrity of the 38.7 TBq Co-60 gamma ray scanner with an average energy of 1.25 MeV operated by NICK TC Scan Limited, which has been in use for destination inspection at Aflao Border of Ghana, for the past six years, (2010-2016). The facility uses a high energy ionizing radiation in its operation; therefore continuous adequacy of the installed biological shielding is critical to the protection and safety of the workers and the general public. The workload of the facility has increased since its commissioning, requiring the review of the status of the installed shielding. Theoretical calculations for dose rates and barrier thicknesses based on tenth – value- layer (TVL) concept and NCRP 151, 2005 recommendations, were done around the scanning facility using the current operational data. The results were then compared with the measured dose rates and the shielding thickness constituted during the commissioning stage, and international standards. Calculated dose rate at commissioning state ranges from 0.6µSv/hr to 2.4 µSv/hr with an average dose rate of 1. 43µSv/hr and that of the current operational state ranges from 1.1 µSv/hr to 2.6 µSv/hr with an average dose rate of 1.54µSv/hr, indicating an increase of 7.9%. Even though the dose rates were all below the recommended dose limit of 20µSvh-1 by NCRP, there has been an increase in dose to the staff and the general public. It has been observed that, the workload has increased three-fold from the commissioning stage to current operational state over the past six years. The assessment done on the installed shielding using the current operational data indicates that the shielding is inadequate in providing protection for the general public and the workers against X-ray radiation source of energy of at least 6MeV, and therefore the facility in its current state cannot be used to house a linear accelerator of energy up to 10MeV.