1. 10th European ALARA Network Workshop
Evolution of ALARA in Europe: from the 80's to the next decade Christian Lefaure, John Croft, Augustin Jansenss, Klaus Schnuer, Neale Kelly
EAN/CEPN, HPA, EC

2. PRESENTATION PLAN
The early developments
A decade of EAN
The impacts and lessons learned from EAN
and
The challenges and possible answers for the future

3. EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF ALARA from 1973 to 1992 (1)
2 driving forces:
ICRP publications;EC sponsored projects
ICRP 22, 26, 37; EC seminars ;
Theoretical aspects; faith in operational research tools and economics: desire to explore decision aiding techniques --> CBA- & man-Sievert monetary value.
Focus on theory perhaps inhibited engagement in operational radiation protection

4. EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF ALARA from 1973 to 1992 (2)
A structured empirical approach : the ALARA procedure
Quantitative and qualitative input to decisions
They are only inputs
EC research project: many case studies,in great variety of installations but mainly "a posteriori".
ICRP 55; EC Seminar 1983

5. EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF ALARA from 1973 to 1992 (3)
Development of more pragmatic approaches and tools
* ALARA reviews check lists & analytical trees
* Predictive ALARA planning (prediction, corrective actions and feedback)
* ALARA Programmes (Culture, Commitment…)
In practice many incentives
ICRP signals on risk factors & dose limits
On the spot experiences in Nuclear
New systems on feedback : ISOE/ EC studies…
EC seminars traced that evolution

6. EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF ALARA EC research project 1992- 1995 (4)
Further EC research project on ALARA in Installations
Decommissioning; internal exposure; Work Management … …and new generation of ALARA tools:
IRID (nrpb); DECOM (sck mol); OPTI-RP (cepn)
Final report concluded :
* Need to disseminate the ALARA concept, culture and tools outside the nuclear sector
* Need to focus on mechanisms for exchange of practices
* Need to establish a European ALARA network.

7. EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF ALARA NRPB CEPN Optimisation training courses (5)
First half of eighties
ISPRA courses (one week) for nuclear operators , and regulatory bodies
New ALARA shuttle courses in the 90's
More focussed on work management approaches and need for commitment
Both set of courses a two way process (providing output from EC research projects; feeding these with practice
The book ALARA from theory towards practice 1991

8. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK
In 1996 the European Commission, within its 4th Framework programme of Research and Development ( ), created the European ALARA Network
CEPN took on the role of the Network Co-ordinator with NRPB providing support.
Key outputs were to be biannual Newsletters and an annual topical Workshop that was to provide recommendations to the EC and others.

9. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK
Earlier, a network of individuals with expertise and enthusiasm from contacts in training courses.
Core on which to build a more structured network
More on individual interactions than organisational ones
But organisations provided time and effort of their staff…
… and EC provided funding.

10. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK
Since 1996 EAN, as a lively network, has evolved in terms of:
Objectives
Participants
Products
and
Organisation

11. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK Evolution of EAN Objectives (1)
The original objectives of EAN were:
To promote the wider and more uniform use of optimisation techniques in the various fields of occupational application in Europe
To provide a focus and a mechanism for the exchange and dissemination of information from practical experience and
To propose topical issues of interest that should be subject of European meetings, workshops or research projects

12. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK Evolution of EAN Objectives (2)
The objectives of EAN are now:
To maintain…and develop competence in radiation protection, with special emphasis on ALARA for all types of exposures in routine operations and emergency situations
To contribute to harmonisation of radiation protection policies and practices, particularly concerning ALARA, at regulatory and operational levels …
To cover all types of practices within the different sectors
To cover radiation protection themes relevant to all sectors, as well as themes specific to one or more sector(s).

13. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK Expansion of EAN Participation (1)
In countries in SG; in countries
Austria
Germany
Spain
Belgium
Greece
Sweden
Czech Republic
Iceland
Switzerland
Croatia,
Ireland
Netherlands
Denmark
Italy
United Kingdom
Finland
Norway
France
Portugal

14. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK Expansion of EAN Participation (2)
first period ( ), experts from regulatory bodies, research centres, major nuclear utilities … and EC
second period ( ) other types of participants
representatives of professional bodies such as EFNDT, ECRRT, EFOMP ;
representatives of manufacturers of devices using ionising radiations; or of radiation monitoring devices
representatives of international organisations other than EC
representatives of radiological protection training centres,
a few representatives of trade unions or of NORM industries

15. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK Evolution of EAN products (1)
The annual Workshops
Topics where improvements are possible
Few tens of participants
± 10 recommendations
Conclusions and recommendations in:
newsletters
Web site
National journals…

16. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK Evolution of EAN products (2)
Subject of the annual Workshops
Location and date
ALARA and decommissioning
Saclay, France, 1997
Good radiation practices in industry and research
Oxford, UK 1998
Managing internal exposure
Munich, Germany, 1999
Management of occupational radiological and non-radiological risks: lessons to be learned
Antwerp, Belgium, 2000
Industrial radiography, improvements in radiation protection
Rome, Italy, 2001
Occupational exposure optimisation in the medical and radio-pharmaceutical sectors
Madrid, Spain, 2002
Decommissioning and site remediation
Arnhem, The Netherlands, 2003
Occupational radiological protection control through inspection and self-assessment
Uppsala, Sweden 2004
Occupational Exposure to Natural Radiation
Augsburg, Germany, 2005
Experience and new developments in implementing ALARA in occupational, public and patient exposures
Prague, Czeck Republic, 2006
ALARA and waste management
2008

17. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK Evolution of EAN products (3)
The ALARA Newsletter and website
largely (x1000s) distributed
300 visits on the site per day; 500 documents down loaded up to 3000 times
Six- monthly issued
19 issues until now

18. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK Evolution of EAN products (4)
EAN a vehicle to support European surveys
BSS implementation (2000) (2006)
Exchange on incidents ( ) (W2)
Outside workers directive ( )
In areas where in depth developments are needed EAN to favour working groups and sub networks
Research reactors (EASN since 2002) (W1 to 3)
NDT with EFNDT (WG 2003) (W5)
Regulatory bodies ( ERPAN since 2005) (W8)
working group on ALARA training (2006)

19. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK Evolution of EAN organisation (1)
EAN was set up in EC fourth framework program (of research and development (FPRD)( );
Support was continued during the 5th FPRD ( ).
EC DG Environment supported financially the first 3 workshops; following workshops were supported in the 5th FPRD
EC DG Environment also provided funding during a 12 months between the 4th and 5th FPRD.
Since 2005 EAN has become a totally self-sustainable network both for its co-ordination costs and the organisation of the workshops.

20. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK Evolution of EAN organisation (2)
When self-sustainable,
a co-operation charter (in June 2005)
describing objectives, activities, organisation, financing
14 countries financially support its coordination while others support specific EAN actions such as workshops.
A legal entity, not for profit organisation under the French law, has been set up in July 2005.
Members of Steering group selected by the stakeholders in each country.
.“activities are open to each individual or institute, agreeing with the above-mentioned objectives. The participants participate to EAN activities on a voluntary basis.”

21. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORK Evolution of EAN organisation (3)
To establish more formal relationships with other European organisations.
EFNDT
ECRRT “By the present we confirm that ECRRT/ISRRT will support and cooperate in the field of radioprotection with EAN in Europe
EFOMP: “EFOMP would like to manifest…its appreciation to the kind invitation made by EAN to act jointly in order to improve the Radiation Protection in the European Countries and will participate together with EAN to develop work or research projects in this area and particularly to facilitate the diffusion of a good radiological protection culture amongst all stakeholders concerned by medical exposures”

22. EVOLUTION AND SUCCESS EAN has evolved EAN has been successful
What are its impacts?
Why is it successful?
What is needed as improvements?”

23. IMPACT AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM EAN impacts examples (1)
Strategies and Methods for Optimisation for of Protection against Internal Exposures of Workers from Industrial Natural Sources: a research project in the 5th FPRD (W1 & 3)
European Accident and Incident Data Exchange: a survey funded by EC DG TREN for the setting up of a new European system dealing with radiological incidents following (W2)
Following a W9 recommendation . RP06 paragraph 133 is directly related to the results of SMOPIE ( dose coefficients and low radon emanation).
All sub networks have been set up (or will be) after W recommendations.

24. IMPACT AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM EAN impacts examples (2)
One of the most interesting impact has been the setting up by the Norwegian regulatory body of a long term national plan for improving radiological protection in implementing the recommendations from the previous EAN workshops.
Many countries have set up working groups between regulatory bodies and other stakeholders after W5 and W6 workshops
After W5, EDF has promoted the development of an alarm device called “sentinelle” for advising worker when the source is not back in the container.

25. IMPACT AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM EAN acknowledgment of its effectiveness
EAN effectiveness recognised at IAEA international meetings (Geneva 2002; Rabat 2003).
One target of the International Action Plan on Occupational Exposure of IAEA/ILO: to spread such ALARA networking all over the world.
EAN represented in that Action Plan Steering Group and participates as Tec support and facilitator for a new network in central and Eastern Europe (RECAN) and a future network in south Asia and Pacific region.

26. IMPACT AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM EAN a dialogue structure between stakeholders (1)
EAN is a forum for discussions between stakeholders who otherwise would have little or no opportunity to interact.
Example: the Rome workshop on “Industrial Radiography”. Which brought together:
experts in radiological protection from international organisations, national regulatory bodies and research centres,
representatives of non-destructive testing companies and of their clients,
representatives of monitoring device manufacturers,
training companies
and trade unions.

27. IMPACT AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM EAN a dialogue structure between stakeholders (2)
EAN is an arena where no binding decision has to be taken
and where participants do not represent officially the “interest” of the institutions and countries they belong to
(no “institutional” stake is directly at work),
Each stakeholder can listen to the “free speeches” of the others. As they all agree that the main objective is to reduce radiological risks for human beings, they try to reach consensual recommendations
and generally succeed in doing so

28. IMPACT AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM EAN reasons for success (1)
Personal links and Communication
Opportunities for communication between individuals, not institutions
Many “bypasses”,
Enthusiasm
A real keyword
To put forward for discussion the real problems
To try to find together solutions
Through actions favouring a bottom-up approach

29. IMPACT AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM EAN reasons for success (2)
Flexibility
Much more than any other type of organisation between institutions
No permission has to be requested
No formal rules have to be followed.
Initiatives are easily taken
Collective efficiency
Differences lead to solutions more generic
Solutions with more chance of sustainability

30. IMPACT AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM EAN needed improvements
Difficult to involve
Workers/trade unions
Small firms
As patients and public are now in EAN scope
Need to introduce new stakeholders (Medical Doctors, representatives of the civil society…)

31. LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE Long standing challenges
Medical sector
The largest component of man made exposure
Improvements in further reducing doses from well-established techniques
Emergence of new technologies and evolution of current techniques could increase doses
NORM
Scale of the problem largely uncharted
Need for integrating radiological risk into a holistic approach
Nuclear sector
ALARA into the design stage and for decommissioning

32. LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE Long standing challenges
Non Destructive Testing sector
Improvements during the last decade
But remains an area of high doses and risks
Potential to shorten the learning cycle for new organisations and countries
Probabilistic risks assessment and management
A lot of situations where the views of different stakeholders differ with regards to probabilities of events
Uncertainties for the design of new installation and for the decommissioning of old ones
Pragmatic and practical approaches have to be developed

33. LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE Challenges created by a changing world
Improved security
Increased market competition
Stakeholder involvement
Managing risk in contaminated lands

34. LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE Possible answers to the challenges
A Working Group on ALARA tools
Need for new adapted operational tools for implementation of ALARA
Should rely on the scientific knowledge and uncertainties, but should be adapted to the need of the required information
A Working Group on ALARA training in Europe
Develop adapted training material for the industry, the medical sector and NORM
Build up new European training sessions

35. LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE Possible answers to the challenges
To promote ALARA in the medical sector
Excellent relationships with ECRRT, EFOMP and EAR
Establishment of a Medical ALARA Network
Areas of interest:
Interventional procedures using X-Ray equipment outside the X-Ray departments
Management of radiological protection in major medical facilities
Installation and maintenance of radiological equipment in the hospitals (for workers only)

36. LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE Possible answers to the challenges
To create a portal on ALARA and radiological protection in Europe
Website fundamental to the aims of EAN
Possible evolution into a kind of “portal of radiological protection in Europe”:
Documents and references on national regulations
Feedback on best practices
Lessons learned from accidents
Training materials
Statistics
Links to related subjects …

37. LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE Possible answers to the challenges
To participate to initiatives concerning stakeholders involvement and set up a Working Group on workers involvement
EAN might be a partner of initiatives such as IRPA initiative for developing a “code of conduct for stakeholder involvement in radiation protection”
Possible creation of a Working Group for identifying and promoting new ways of involving the workers themselves into their occupational risk management

38. LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE Possible answers to the challenges
Partnerships with other networks or organisation
Partnerships already established: EC, IAEA, ILO, WHO, NEA/OECD, EFNDT, EFOMP, ECRRT
Partnerships to be established: EAR and other medical societies, NORM industries professional organisations, European Trade Unions, some European training projects (ENETRAP, EUTERP…)
To enhance cooperation between regional ALARA networks
EAN ready to participate to “ad hoc” cooperation with other regional networks (as with RECAN),
not to set up a huge worldwide network.

39. CONCLUSION
EAN provided a strong European focus for development of best practices in pursuing ALARA
There are still a lot of ways forward
This will remain attached to enthusiasm, flexibility, personal links and collective efficiency within a "human-sized" network !!