Nuclear and Radiological Source Security Culture Assessment of Radioactive Material Users at a University

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Security
• Radiation Safety
• Radiological Terrorism

Background:

• Radioactive source security is critical due to radiological terrorism threats.
• Nuclear security culture has lagged in non-nuclear industries like academia and medicine.
• Existing radiation safety protocols do not fully encompass security concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess attitudes and behaviors regarding nuclear security culture among radioactive material users.
• To evaluate nuclear and radiological material practices in an academic setting.
• To identify gaps in nuclear security awareness and preparedness.

Main Methods:

• Developed and conducted an assessment including surveys and interviews.
• Surveyed 73 radioactive material users at a university, categorized by experience and work classification (student, faculty, other staff).
• Interviewed 9% of survey participants to gather in-depth views on nuclear security culture.

Main Results:

• Students and users with 2-5 years of experience showed higher nuclear security awareness than faculty and more experienced users.
• Other staff reported difficulties in assessing policy enforcement, inspection adequacy, and performance reviews related to nuclear security.
• All groups highlighted the need for improved threat-response preparedness and stakeholder communication.

Conclusions:

• Nuclear security awareness varies significantly based on user experience and role within academic institutions.
• Targeted training and communication strategies are needed to bolster nuclear security culture, especially for faculty and experienced staff.
• Strengthening threat-response capabilities and inter-stakeholder communication is essential for comprehensive nuclear material security.