SERVIZI

NORM

NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) are materials with a high content of natural radioactivity, found in raw natural substances or resulting from industrial processes. National regulations impose specific requirements to protect the health of workers and the public, governing activities that involve exposure risks.

LB Servizi provides comprehensive support for the management of NORM materials, ensuring full compliance with current regulations and safe industrial operations.

Regulated Activities

Legislation identifies several work processes in which exposure to NORM materials may pose a significant risk. The main regulated activities include:

Phosphate mineral industry, including the production and trade of fertilizers.

Extraction and processing of minerals, such as tin, iron-niobium from pyrochlore, and aluminum from bauxite.

Processing of zircon sands and production of refractory materials.

Rare earth industries and production of thorium compounds, including welding electrodes, optical lenses, and gas-lamp mantles.

Production of titanium dioxide, used as an industrial pigment.

Petroleum and natural gas extraction and refining.

Additionally, the Italian Legislative Decree 101/2020 identifies further activities, including:

Groundwater filtration systems

Geothermal energy production

Coal-fired power plants (boiler maintenance)
Cement production (clinker kiln maintenance)

Primary iron production

All these activities require continuous monitoring and the adoption of protective measures to reduce exposure risks.

Regulatory Requirements and Risk Assessment

Current regulations mandate that any company working with NORM materials must evaluate exposure doses for workers and the public.
This assessment must be carried out by a Radiation Protection Expert, who determines action levels and identifies any corrective measures needed to keep exposure below safety limits.

If action levels are exceeded, the employer is required to implement mitigation measures to ensure a safe environment in compliance with regulatory provisions.