1. RER/9/096 Regional Planning Meeting “Strengthening National Infrastructures for the Control of Radiation Sources” (TSA-1), (Phase II) Country: ESTONIA 19-20 March 2009 IAEA, Vienna

2. Legislation Regulations and Guidance occupational protection, public protection, medical exposure, radioactive waste, and the transport of radioactive materials. Radiation Protection Action Plan – planning for coming years, however some actions are not followed Preparation of amendment of Radiation Act and regulation concerning transport of radioactive waste New authority – Environmental Board with Radiation Safety Department Need for regulations in medical area – responsibility of the Ministry of Social Affairs

3. The Regulatory Body Environmental Board has around 420 staff members. Radiation safety department has 15 professional staff including: – radiation protection for licensing, source register, inspections etc (6), – monitoring and emergency (2), – personal dosimetry (2), – laboratory (3) and – administration (2). New system, it takes some time before it is possible to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses The Environmental Board has sufficient technical and office support equipment (including access to computers) and access to Internet and a library with current literature Funding through state budget (several budget cuts this year) + service providing

4. Regulatory Body Staffing and Training 15 staff members in Radiation Safety Department of Environmental Board Strength - Almost all staff members are with university degree Lot of young staff members, several continuing their master studies Staff training is provided through internal training courses, but with the assistance of external experts Several bilateral trainings Training requirements for staff are assessed annually Weakness – budget cuts, especially concerning the training possibilities, which also makes difficult to follow the continues training pattern

5. Notification - Authorization – Licensing - Inspections Licence is provided by Environmental Board For low and medium risk activities the licence is signed by the head of the department, for high risk by the director general of the Environmental Board Notification is not used, however it is forseen to start using it for example for dentist in coming years Weak points – co-ordination of the inspections between Environmental Board and Environmental Inspectorate, actually double use of staff members Strong points – well worked out licensing procedures, several of which are also documented. Information available on web-page, also several electronical forms Strong points – good communication with licensees Enforcement part needs more attentions

6. Management System Public relations department (X) of Environmental Board is responsible for information management Strength - A lot of information is available on the web page Strength - Several publications Weakness – need for more PR cover for everyday activities Strength - Laboratory of Environmental Board has quality management system Weakness - quality management manual for the department is under preparation for several year

7. Plans Main need - training of the regulatory body staff members Working out the new regulatory system Changes needed in the legislation Development of registries More information about nuclear safety More efforts about the security of the radioactive sources Risks – cuts in the budget Strength – small turn over among the staff members Weak - radiation safety is a small part of big authority