"Experience and new Developments in Implementing ALARA in Occupational, Patient and Public Exposures", Prague, Czech Republic, 12-15 September 2006

Download the Summary and Recommendations

See the pictures of the 10^th Workshop

Introduction
Previous EAN Workshops have focused on the optimisation principle in specific circumstances, for example for a specific work sector or particular types of exposure. The subjects have been chosen to reflect areas with potential for the further development and implementation of the concept of ALARA. 

This was the 10-year anniversary of the EAN Workshops, and the aim was to consider the optimisation principle as a whole. This principle is fundamental to radiation protection, and the Workshop aimed to draw together key stakeholders to discuss its past, present and future status. In particular, the Workshop has considered the practical implementation of ALARA, and how this might be improved in the next 10 years.

Objectives and scope of the Workshop
The main objectives of the 10^th EAN Workshop were to:

• Review the past evolution of the ALARA concept, internationally, within the EU, and nationally, in terms of the practical impact on radiation protection;
• Examine the current status of the implementation of the ALARA principle; and
• Identify needs for future developments in the concept and implementation of optimisation.

As with previous Workshops, the 10^th Workshop consisted of presentations (oral and posters) and work in small groups. Presentations were invited on the following subjects:

• The history of ALARA in Europe;
• Future ICRP recommendations on optimisation;
• International (IAEA) actions on optimisation;
• Identifying needs for future developments in ALARA implementation; and
• ALARA implementation in different areas:
• Occupational exposures in general (ESOREX)
• Nuclear sector
• Medical/patient exposures
• Non-destructive testing
• Exposures from NORM
• Public exposures.

The working group sessions considered the following issues:

• How to encourage the involvement of different stakeholders in implementing ALARA;
• How to further develop ALARA culture (including education and training);
• How to assess ALARA implementation (including performance indicators); and
• How ALARA interfaces with the justification principle, and with other types of risk management.

Programme and Downloadable Papers

Paper	Title, Authors	PDF	PPT
	Session 1 - Introduction and Scene Setting Chairpersons: D. Drabova (SUJB) and C. Lefaure (EAN)
1.1	Evolution of ALARA in Europe from the 80s to the next decade J. Croft (HPA), C. Lefaure (EAN), A. Janssens, K. Schnuer, N. Kelly (EC)
1.2	Survey on implementation of optimisation in national regulations in Europe P. Croüail, F. Drouet (CEPN)
1.3	Optimisation in ICRP recommendations - New developments broadening the process L.E. Holm, W. Weiss (ICRP)
1.4	IAEA perspective on implementation of ALARA principle K. Mrabit, P. Deboodt (IAEA)
	Session 2 - Identifying Needs for Future Developments Chairperson: J. Croft
2.1	Justification and optimisation in radiation protection: which one is first? M. Bourguignon (DGSNR)
2.2	The success of the ALARA principle - The view of an inspector P. Hofvander, I. Lund (SSI)
2.3	A transdisciplinary approach to education and training in radiological protection and ALARA G. Meskens, G. Eggermont (SCK-CEN)
2.4	German lessons leared from hearings in radiological risk management: limits and problems with stakeholder involvement V. Kunze
2.5	Observations and lessons from OECD/NEA activities in stakeholder involvement B. Ahier (OECD/NEA)
2.6	Lessons learned from post Chernobyl measures and stakeholder involvement in Norway L. Skuterud (NRPA)
2.7	Local communities projects for stakeholder involvement in radiological risk management D. Klein (France)
2.8	Occupation risk: introduction to an holistic approach including radiological protection S. Niu (ILO), M.H. Repacholi (WHO), P. Deboodt (IAEA)
2.9	Holistic approach for risk management with regards to public doses from discharges B. Morley (BNG)
	Session 3 - ALARA Implementations Problems to be solved in Different Areas Chairperson: S. Mundigl (EC)
3.1	Introduction to occupational exposure trends and problems to be solved: European Studies on Occupational Radiation Exposures - ESOREX K. Petrova (SUJB), G. Frash (BfS), K. Schnuer (EC)
3.2	Introduction to public exposure trends and problems to be solved M. Crick (UNSCEAR)
3.3	Introduction to patient exposures trends and problems to be solved B. Wall, S. Ebdon-Jackson (HPA)
3.4	Quality control and optimisation of patient doses and image quality in the Norwegian mammography screening programme K. Pedersen, G. Saxebøl (NRPA)
3.5	Training and culture problems to be solved in the medical area for improving ALARA implementation J. Hernandez Armas (EFOMP)
3.6	The role of radiological technologists in ALARA implementation and the influence of MED 97/43 on that D. Katsifarakis (ECRRT)
3.7	ALARA from the decommissioning to the design stage in the nuclear field V. Massaut (EFDA)
3.8	ALARA principles in NDT: reduction of radiation exposure by modern methods and detectors U. Ewert, et al. (EFNDT)
3.9	ALARA and NORM: problems to be solved P. Shaw (HPA), J. van der Steen (NRG)
3.10	The role of the regulatory body in ensuring that the ALARA principle is implemented in practice S. Fennell (RPII), N. Stritt (SFOPH), G. Thomas (HSE)
3.11	European ALARA sub-network on research reactors C. Joly (CEA)
	Session 4 - Conclusions and Recommendations Chairpersons: P. Shaw (HPA), P. Croüail (CEPN)
4.1	Report from the Working Group 1: How to encourage the involvement of differents stakeholders in implementing ALARA?
4.2	Report from the Working Group 2: How to further develop ALARA culture?
4.3	Report from the Working Group 3: How to assess ALARA implementation?
4.4	Report from the Working group 4: How ALARA interfaces with the justification principle and with other types of risk management?
4.5	Summary and Recommendations P. Croüail (CEPN), P. Shaw (HPA)
	Posters
P.1	A method for the evaluation of the "zero signal" for personal thermoluminescent dosemeters P. Askounis, E. Carinou, E. Papadomarkaki, H. Kyrgiakou, F. Dimitropoulou, V. Kamenopoulou (GAEC)
P.2	Public and occupational exposure during CT examinations in Greece: a national survey S. Economides, N. Kalivas, G. Simantirakis, M. Kalathaki, P. Tritakis, P. Askounis, C.J. Hourdakis (GAEC)
P.3	ALARA based policy recommendations for medical practices in Belgium G. Eggermont, F. Hardeman, L. Struelens (SCK-CEN)
P.4	ALARA in practice - an example from the research sector in Sweden B. Ekström (SSI)
P.5	Errare Humanum Est: it is inhuman not to make mistakes G. Hellström, S. Richter (SSI)
P.6	Implementation of ALARA culture in German NPPs P. Jung (Philipsburg NPP), W. Pfeffer, J. Kaulard (GRS)
P.7	Safety improvement projects in the Netherlands P. van Loenhout, T. Vermeulen, P. van Wissen
P.8	Regional European and Central Asian ALARA Networking G. Morkünas (Lithuanian Radiation Protection Centre), P. Deboodt (IAEA)
P.9	Five years of personal dosimetry using TL dosemeters in Greece (2001-2005) E. Papadomarkaki, E. Carinou, P. Askounis, H. Kyrgiakou, F. Dimitropoulou, V. Kamenopoulou (GAEC)
P.10	European Studies on Occupational Radiation Exposure - ESOREX 2005 K. Petrová (SUJB), G. Frasch (BfS), K. Schnuer (EC)
P.11	European Network on Education and Training in RAdiological Protection (ENETRAP) - New concepts and new tools for an ERPC A. Schmitt-Hannig (BfS), M. Marco, M. Rodriguez, C. Llorente, L. de Diego (CIEMAT), P. Livolsi (INSTN), J. MacMillan (NHC)
P.12	Developing a positive safety culture in industrial radiography R. van Sonsbeek (RTD Netherlands)
P.13	Application of ALARA principles in manipulation radiopharmaceuticals V. Vraná (General Faculty Hospital Prague), P. Králík
P.14	The justification of practices involving exposure to ionizing radiation L. Coy (LfU)
P.15	Diagnostic Reference Levels - A tool for implementing ALARA into medical practises A. Almén, W. Leitz (SSI)
P.16	Frequency and effective dose of diagnostic and interventional X-Ray procedures in Germany E.A. Nekolla, J. Griebel, R. Veit, G. Brix (BfS)
P.17