ALARA – NORM AND RADON Problems to be solved 10th EAN Workshop “Experience and new developments in implementing ALARA in occupational, public and patient exposures”, Prague 12-15 September 2006 ALARA – NORM AND RADON Problems to be solved Peter Shaw Jan van der Steen

NORM – ALARA ISSUES Introducing radiation protection regulations? Existing health and safety requirements? Lessons from ALARA in practice?

Radiation Protection Regulations Application of Regulations AND specific control measures need to be optimised 1 mSv/y application level works in practice Bq/g application levels are useful Many NORM industries still unaware or unsure of Regulations Still a need for simple guidance Lack of ALARA information Need guidance and ALARA experience Industry-specific (e.g. IAEA Safety reports)

Existing (industrial hygiene) controls Non-radiological controls are common in NORM workplaces In some NORM workplaces, industrial hygiene controls (e.g. for airborne dust) produce the same effect as ALARA same control philosophy, same level of control achieved, same monitoring methods, etc BUT not true in other NORM workplaces Radiation Dose limits not equivalent to OELs Hazards not comparable (e.g. radium scales) The link between RP and other controls needs further examination

Experience from implementing ALARA in NORM workplaces Limited information available External gamma radiation Dust inhalation Workplace monitoring (e.g. RTDM)

Real-time dust monitoring complete “map” of workplace day-to-day changes short-term variations localised dust levels dust sources

Experience from implementing ALARA in NORM workplaces Limited information available External gamma radiation Dust inhalation Workplace monitoring (e.g. RTDM) Practical experience is very useful Need to develop means of accumulating, sharing and disseminating ALARA experience Databases Networks

RADON (9th EAN workshop) Action Level approach ALARA in choosing Action Level No ALARA thereafter? Need “practice” type approach? Controlling exposures Regulations exist, but compliance is low Need to better communicate the risk The radiation protection community cannot solve such a big problem. Needs a national commitment.