Railroad - Subparts J & K Class 7

Radioactive Materials

Each rail shipment of low specific activity materials or surface contaminated objects as defined in §173.403 must be loaded in a manner that prevents spillage and scattering of loose material.

The number of packages of Class 7 - Radioactive Materials that can be transported by rail car or stored in location is limited to a total transport index (TI) and a total criticality safety index of no more than 50 each. This does not apply to exclusive use shipments. The Transport Index helps to calculate distance requirements involving Class 7 - Radioactive Materials. The distance shown in the table §174.700 must be measured from the nearest point on the nearest packages of Class 7 - Radioactive Materials.

The TI is placed on the label of most radioactive packages to indicate to the carrier the degree of control that must be exercised during transportation. Total TI is determined by adding together the transport index numbers on the labels of the individual packages.

Where packages are shipped under the exclusive use provisions of §173.441(b) for packages with external radiation levels in excess of 2 mSv per hour (200 mrem per hour) at the package surface, the following requirements must be met:

• The transport vehicle must meet the requirements for a closed transport vehicle in §173.403.
• Each package must be secured to withstand normal transport conditions.
• The radiation level must not exceed 0.02 mSv per hour (2 mrem per hour) in any normally occupied position in the transport vehicle or adjacent rail car.

When dealing with Class 7 - Radioactive Materials, you must not remain unnecessarily in or near the transport vehicle containing the hazardous materials.

Labeling

Each package of Class 7 - Radioactive Material bearing RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-II or RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-III labels must not be placed closer than 0.9 m (3 feet) to an area continuously occupied by a passenger, rail employee, or shipment of one or more animals. RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-II or RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-III packages must also not be closer than 4.5 m (15 feet) to any package containing undeveloped film. If more than one package of Class 7 - Radioactive Materials is present, the distance must be computed on the basis of the total TI number of packages in the rail car or storage area.

Transport vehicles used for transporting Class 7 - Radioactive Materials as exclusive use must be surveyed with appropriate radiation detection instruments after each use. A transport vehicle must not be returned to service until the radiation dose rate at any accessible surface is 0.005 mSv per hour (0.5 mrem per hour) or less, and there is no significant removable radioactive surface contamination, as defined in §173.443.

§174.715, dealing with the cleanliness of transport vehicles after use, does not apply to any transport vehicle used solely for transporting Class 7 - Radioactive Materials if a survey of the interior surface shows that the radiation dose rate does not exceed 0.1 mSv per hour (10 mrem per hour) at the interior surface or 0.02 mSv per hour (2 mrem per hour) at 1 m (3.3 feet) from any interior surface. The transport vehicle must be stenciled with the words "FOR RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS USE ONLY" in lettering at least 7.6 cm (3 inches) high on both sides of the exterior of the transport vehicle, and it must be kept closed at all times other than during loading and unloading.

The carrier must also notify the offeror as soon as possible following any incident in which there has been breakage, spillage, or suspected radioactive contamination involving Class 7 - Radioactive Materials shipments.

Transport vehicles, buildings, areas, or equipment in which Class 7 - Radioactive Materials have been spilled must not be placed in service or occupied again until the radiation dose rate at every accessible surface is less than 0.005 mSv per hour (0.5 mrem per hour), and there is no significant removable radioactive surface contamination.

The package or materials must be segregated as far as possible from personnel contact. If radiological assistance is needed, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) should also be notified. In case of obvious leakage, or if it appears likely that the inside container may have been damaged, care should be taken to avoid inhalation, ingestion, or contact with the Class 7 - Radioactive Material. Any loose Class 7 - Radioactive Materials must be placed in a segregated area and held pending disposal instructions from qualified persons.

Incidents involving leakage of Class 7 - Radioactive Materials via rail can be found in §174.750.

To learn more about Railroad HAZMAT visit our DOT Railroad HAZMAT Online Training web page.