10th European ALARA Network Workshop

1. 10th European ALARA Network Workshop Evolution of ALARA in Europe: from the 80's to the next decadeChristian 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 ALARAfrom 1973 to 1992 (1) • 2 driving forces: • ICRP publications;EC sponsored projects • 1973-1982 • ICRP 22, 26, 37; EC seminars 1979-1981; • 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 ALARAfrom 1973 to 1992 (2) • 1982-1987 • 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 ALARAfrom 1973 to 1992 (3) • 1987-1992 • 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 1988 1993 traced that evolution

6. EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF ALARAEC 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 ALARANRPB 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 (1996-1999), 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 NETWORKEvolution 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 NETWORKEvolution of EAN Objectives (2) • The objectives of EAN are now: • To maintain…and developcompetence 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 NETWORKExpansion of EAN Participation (1) • In 1996 8 countries in SG; in 2006 19 countries

14. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORKExpansion of EAN Participation (2) • first period (1996-2000), experts from regulatory bodies, research centres, major nuclear utilities … and EC • second period (2001-2006) 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 NETWORKEvolution 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 NETWORKEvolution of EAN products (2)

17. A DECADE OF EUROPEAN ALARA NETWORKEvolution 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 NETWORKEvolution of EAN products (4) • EAN a vehicle to support European surveys • BSS implementation (2000) (2006) • Exchange on incidents (2000-2002) (W2) • Outside workers directive (2004-2005) • 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 NETWORKEvolution of EAN organisation (1) • EAN was set up in EC fourth framework program (of research and development (FPRD)(1996-2000); • Support was continued during the 5th FPRD (2001-2004). • 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 NETWORKEvolution 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 NETWORKEvolution 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 EANimpacts 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 EANacknowledgment 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 EANa 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 EANa 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 EANreasons 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 EANreasons 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 EANneeded 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 FUTURELong 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 FUTURELong 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 FUTUREChallenges created by a changing world • Improved security • Increased market competition • Stakeholder involvement • Managing risk in contaminated lands

34. LOOKING FOR THE FUTUREPossible 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 FUTUREPossible 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 FUTUREPossible 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 FUTUREPossible 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 FUTUREPossible 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 !!