Regional Workshop on Establishing a National Strategy for Education and Training in Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety 05 - 07 October 2016 in Nicosia, Cyprus AZERBAIJAN Regional Workshop on Establishing a National Strategy for Education and Training in Radiation, Transport and WASTE Safety SIMA AZIMOVA STATE AGENCY ON NUCLEAR AND RADIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY REGULATION

Regulatory body THE STATE AGENCY ON NUCLEAR AND RADIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY REGULATIONS (SANRAR) OF THE MINISTRY OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OF AZERBAIJAN The SANRAR was established by the President Decree of No 746, of 24.04.2008 The Statute of the SANRAR was approved by the President Decree No 74, of 03.04.2009

SANRAR structure Head of the Agency Deputy head Department on Nuclear and Radiological Activity control General sector Secret Maintenance department Department on expert assessments of nuclear and radiation safety and enlightenment Department on special permissions and State Registry Department on Financial Accounting and technical supplies Sector on management in condition of nuclear and radiation emergencies Normative Technical Department Deputy head SANRAR structure 05 - 07 October 2016 in Nicosia, Cyprus

Practices and Activities with Use of Ionizing Radiations The Republic of Azerbaijan has no any nuclear  facilities In Azerbaijan radioactive sources are widely used mainly in the oil and chemical industries, research institutions of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), health institutions (radiotherapy and nuclear medicine also); 80% of these sites are located within and around the Baku area; In our country radiation technology has been increasing with the nation's economic development. There were more than 577 companies, organizations and medical facilities used radioactive sources or installation of ionizing radiation in Azerbaijan at the end of 2016. It is expected that the demand for radiation technology will continue to increase.

Inventory system in Azerbaijan Republic Relevant Legislative Acts According to the Resolution “On Measures to Reinforce Control of Radiation Safety in the Territory of the Azerbaijan Republic” of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 76 dated 1997 year all enterprises, agencies and companies, should inform the Ministry of Emergency Situations about all radioactive materials and other ionizing radiation sources and prepare annual inventory acts; A complete centralized inventory of sources is being established in the State Agency on Nuclear and Radiological Activity Regulations (SANRAR) as basis for a regulatory program. This inventory is keeping and periodical update by the Agency during the inspections and new data receiving; Register of all radioactive and nuclear materials and other ionizing radiation sources established in the SANRAR. According to the relevant Agreement Azerbaijan Republic gives the report to IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) about the all nuclear materials being in the country.

Legislation and Regulatory Requirements for Education and Training in Radiation Protection and Safety At present the MES (SANRAR) issues special permissions as state official documents for all activities associated with the use of sources of ionizing radiation The Rules for obtaining a special permission (license) for radiological activities are defined by the Resolutions of the Cabinet Ministers of Azerbaijan Republic No 42 (12.04.2004) According to this Resolution any legal or physical person intending to be engaged in any practical activities or to go in possession of any ionizing radiation source submits to Regulatory body (SANRAR) the application for issuing a Special Permission On the base of the Resolution No.42 dated 2004 year any legal or physical person addressing for the Special Permission, for substantiation of the application should gives necessary information, such as:

Recognition Qualified Expert and Designation of Radiation Protection Officer Education and training is very important tool in enhancing safety during execution of radiation-hazardous work, as it substantially reduces the possibility of occurrence of incidents and accidents associated with the human factor, as well as promotes the adoption of necessary measures for the implementation of adequate radiation protection. However, unfortunately, today Azerbaijan hasn't any institute or faculty that specializes in this issue. During the course of study at the Faculty of Physics of Baku State University, as well as at relevant faculties of the State Medical University students are being trained in radiation protection and methods of its optimization, but this is clearly not enough. In this connection there is a great need to create an alternative specialized education and training in radiation protection of staff involved in the conduct of radiation hazardous work.

Recognition Qualified Expert and Designation of Radiation Protection Officer An effective and efficient regulatory body requires appropriately qualified and trained personnel who have a sound knowledge of practices and current technology for radiation safety and security of radioactive sources. The authority of the SANRAR should ensure that the proper skills and adequate levels of competencies are exist and maintained in the agency. We are aware that the SANRAR should employ sufficient number of personnel with the necessary qualifications to fulfill its regulatory obligations. Still it lacks certain skills and experience necessary to effectively operate all aspects of the regulatory programme and to draft and revise legislation, guidance and procedures.

National policy and strategy for E&T Employees of SANRAR was developed and submitted for consideration a draft of the new law of Azerbaijan Republic on Nuclear and Radiation Safety; The law provides a number of measures aimed at passage of a specialized training in radiation safety for all staff involved in the conduct of radiation hazardous operations; 13th article of the draft law is wholly directed to the requirements for the passage of mandatory training as workers involved in the conduct of radiation-hazardous work, and officers working in the field of regulation of the radiation-hazardous activity.

Recognition Qualified Expert and Designation of Radiation Protection Officer The greater help in preparation of employees is rendered by courses organized by the IAEA. State Agency on Nuclear and Radiological Activity Regulation works on the organization of specialized courses for the employees of respective companies and enterprises. Since the Agency has been formed relatively recently, in the process of preparation of the relevant events some legal and financial difficulties arise. However, in principle the regulatory body is not responsible for providing training, except for training of its own staff.

According to the existing training infrastructure There are institutions in Republic of Azerbaijan that train the specialists in various fields of radiation safety. Nevertheless, it was found that, the some specialties only partially related to the problems on radiation safety (radio-biology, radio-care, etc.). After evaluating the training programs of the Baku State University and Azerbaijan Medical University, it was concluded that some of these programs cover only a part of the field of radiation safety, as the curriculum is mainly focused on the study of scientific problems, rather than as a system of radiation safety;

On target training in radiation safety Taking into account that the Republic of Azerbaijan had more than 1,200 employees working at facilities where radiation safety should be applicable, it was noted that the requirements for retraining are becoming an increasingly important aspect in order to achieve the stated objectives. It was also defined that the issue of training of a sufficient number of qualified professionals in order to ensure a high level of efficiency in the newly created National Center for Nuclear Research will be very relevant in the near future. The results of review indicated that the apparently most of the staff of the center should be adequately trained in radiation safety. 

According to the organization of training courses By mutual initiative, 08 - 09 February 2016, in Baku was held bilateral meetings with the representatives of US Nuclear Regulatory Committee and Ministry of Emergency Situations on which the main priority in the area of ​​support for the Regulatory Authority was asked to provide expert and technical assistance in creating the necessary requirements on the basis of Academy of MES for the targeted training in radiation safety. Also proposed the primary option for the courses at the Master's degree in relevant specialties related to radiation safety. At this stage, conducted organizational measures and arrangements for the involvement of local and international speakers to deliver of high quality services training.

According to the organization of training courses With the Academy of Ministry of Emergency Situations has been discussed and agreed to the organization of targeted training by the specialization of radiation safety. These trainings will be applied to training programs developed in the framework of the Twinning project. Training courses are scheduled to perform on the following specializations: Training on emergency preparedness and response in the event of a radiological emergency; Radiation Safety Training for employees working with ionizing radiation sources in the industry; Radiation Safety Training for employees working with sources of ionizing radiation in medicine; Radiation Safety Training for people who work in the field of buying and processing scrap metal, waste, or its products (according to the latest estimates of the number of specialization underway which is expected to attract employees to undergo training).

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION If you permit, I would have answered questions in Russian