Introduction and setting the scene to the 9th EAN Workshop on “Occupational exposure to natural radiation” C. Lefaure (CEPN), P. Shaw (HPA-RPD) 9th EAN Workshop Augsburg, Germany 18-21 October 2005

EAN Member States since 2004 (18 countries) Steering group with Regulatory bodies Research centres Utilities

Supported by contributions from members Self - Sustaining EAN Since 2005 Supported by contributions from members Co-operation charter (terms and conditions) New legal entity and Administrative Board Continuation of activities Co-ordinator and assistant Steering Group Newsletter and workshops

EAN Future Challenges Develop ALARA for occupational, medical and public exposures Encourage involvement of new categories of stakeholders Specifically expand network actions in medical and NORM fields

THE WORKSHOPS To Exchange feedback Identify problems that need further research or developments Aid the implementation of ALARA in practice Provide recommendations One per year Limited audience (50/80 persons) Focus on working in groups (since N°3)

PAPERS PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE: 5 to 10 per workshop downloaded > 400 times 130 visits on the site per day

Occupational exposure optimisation in the medical field ± 10 RECOMMENDATIONS PER WORKSHOP to EC, regulatory bodies and other stakeholders Occupational exposure optimisation in the medical field Madrid 2002

IMPACTS OF EAN RECOMMENDATIONS EC level: SMOPIE, EURAIDE, sub-networks on industrial radiography, research reactors, medical field… National level: Regulations or guidelines modifications (Swed., Germ., UK., Nor., …) New system for incident (Fr., Nor.,…) Other Regional Networks : IAEA…

EC: EAN for NORM Review existing surveys, identify and assess situation in NORM industry review ALARA, produce operational guidance develop and maintain Codes of Practice improve and support training harmonization proposals to EC co-operation with international organizations integrate with EAN

“Occupational exposure to natural radiation” Objectives: How to increase the commitment to radiation protection? What are the best practical approaches to exposure management? Scope: NORM (and TENORM) Radon-222 (and radon-220) Not cosmic rays

Occupational exposures - workers and doses NORM (from SMOPIE) reliable data not available approx 100, 000 “exposed” workers mostly Th electrodes (70k) Phosphate fertiliser (10k) Others (20k +) doses mostly below 6 mSv/y, except for rare earth processing (>20 mSv) grinding Th electrodes (6 - 20 mSv) some zircon milling (6 - 20 mSv)

Occupational exposures - workers and doses Radon lack of workplace data UK estimates 10 000 workplaces above Action Level? 100 000 affected workers? Few % above 6 mSv = few thousand workers? If extrapolated to EU = 1 million affected workers?

Imagine a source…... Occupational exposure Exposes more workers than any other source Large range of individual doses EU collective dose >1000 man Sv/y Range of protection measures Many are cheap and effective

Regulation and optimisation - NORM Widespread adoption of application level Below 1 mSv/y - no regulation, no ALARA? Above 1 mSv/y - regulation and ALARA? newly regulated industries no ALARA by design learning ALARA in operation industrial hygiene approach vs ALARA?

Regulation and optimisation - Radon Widespread adoption of Action Levels Typically 400 - 1000 Bq/m3 Below AL - no regulation, no ALARA? periodic re-testing Above AL - remedial action optimisation of intervention? ALARA where radon remains above AL? ALARA below AL?

9th EAN Workshop WORKING GROUP 1 TYPES OF REGULATION AND ALARA What type of regulatory system is most appropriate? What are the most appropriate criteria for determining when regulations do/do not apply? What are the most important requirements for NORM and radon? Should these be similar to the requirements for artificial sources? What should be required in respect of the ALARA principle?

8th EAN Workshop WORKING GROUP 2 COMMUNICATION AND STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT How should the radiation risks and the need for controls be communicated? How can employers be encouraged to implement protection measures and the ALARA principle? What is the role of employees? Can/should this role be increased? What other stakeholders are there? How should they be involved?

9th EAN Workshop WORKING GROUPS 3 and 4 PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT - RADON and NORM What methods should be used to identify exposure situations, and to assess the associated risk? What monitoring tools, methods and strategies are most effective in terms of helping to manage exposures? What does practical experience tell us, i.e. in terms of the best ways to manage and optimise exposures? Are there lessons to be learnt from comparing the approaches to NORM and to radon? How do these approaches interface with existing workplace safety and industrial hygiene regimes?

9th EAN Workshop Now it is time to work together Plenary sessions and work in small groups Challenges ±10 new recommendations to EC, regulatory bodies and other stakeholders, particularly the concerned industries Oral presentations downloaded more than 500 times each! Actual impact of exchanges and recommendations on practices