1. 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 September 2006
ALARA – NORM AND RADON Problems to be solved
Peter Shaw
Jan van der Steen

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

3. 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)

4. 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

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

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

7. 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

8. 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.