PROTECTFP Application of Optimisation within PROTECT
PROTECTFP Optimisation ICRP: –Principle of optimisation of protection (ICRP 2007). states that: “the likelihood of incurring exposures, the number of people exposed and the magnitude of their individual doses should all be kept as low as reasonably achievable, taking into account economic and societal factors” IAEA: –Protection (of humans) must be optimized to provide the highest level of safety that can reasonably be achieved –Fundamental Safety Principles No SF-1 (2006)
PROTECTFP Optimisation Safety measures can be considered optimized if they provide the highest level of safety that can reasonably be achieved throughout the lifetime of the facility or activity, without unduly limiting its utilization Must be assessed (using a graded approach) a priori and periodically reassessed throughout the lifetime of facilities and activities
PROTECTFP Optimisation Should consider –Worker and public doses –Likelihood of incurring exposures –Magnitude and distribution of doses –Foreseeable events –Economic, social and environmental factors –Resources applied should be commensurate with the magnitude of the radiation risks and their amenability to control
PROTECTFP Optimisation Should consider –Worker and public doses + ENVIRONMENT –Likelihood of incurring exposures –Magnitude and distribution of doses –Foreseeable events –Economic, social and environmental factors –Resources applied should be commensurate with the magnitude of the radiation risks and their amenability to control
PROTECTFP Optimisation Regulatory control may not be needed where this is not warranted by the magnitude of the radiation risks
PROTECTFP In PROTECT Optimise protection / limit discharges / introduction of new BAT etc
PROTECTFP In PROTECT Optimise protection / limit discharges / introduction of new BAT etc
PROTECTFP In PROTECT Optimise protection / limit discharges / introduction of new BAT etc Human RP context
PROTECTFP In PROTECT Optimise protection / limit discharges / introduction of new BAT etc Human RP context
PROTECTFP In PROTECT Optimise protection / limit discharges / introduction of new BAT etc Human RP context Regulatory de- minimis level IAEA suggests an exemption level of the order of 10’s µSv/a In UK use 20 µSv/a as a cut off level below which we do not look to reduce doses further
PROTECTFP In PROTECT Optimise protection / limit discharges / introduction of new BAT etc Human RP context Regulatory de- minimis level e.g. 20 µSv/a Regulatory Action Level could be considered to be equivalent to the source constraint (0.3 mSv/a) or public limit (1 mSv/a)
PROTECTFP Optimisation So how might this work together? –When (re)assessing whether safety is optimal, include consideration of both human and environment (wildlife)
PROTECTFP Optimisation So how might this work together? –When (re)assessing whether safety is optimal, include consideration of both human and environment (wildlife) –Driver for need to change things might be wildlife or human assessment (e.g. might be concerned about foodstuff contamination for humans, external dose rate in particular environments for wildlife)
PROTECTFP Optimisation –This might affect the areas to focus on for discharge reduction (e.g. specific nuclides) –Choice of BAT may then be influenced by the need to reduce impact to wildlife and/or humans
PROTECTFP Optimisation –This might affect the areas to focus on for discharge reduction (e.g. specific nuclides) –Choice of BAT may then be influenced by the need to reduce impact to wildlife and/or humans –Likely that reduction (for either wildlife or humans) will have an impact on the dose assessment for the other
PROTECTFP Optimisation –This might affect the areas to focus on for discharge reduction (e.g. specific nuclides) –Choice of BAT may then be influenced by the need to reduce impact to wildlife and/or humans –Likely that reduction (for either wildlife or humans) will have an impact on the dose assessment for the other –Over time, driver (wildlife or human assessment) may change