Occupational Radiation Protection Standards
Standards and related documents on occupational radiation protection
The Agency’s statutory functions include the establishment and provisions for application of safety standards for “labour conditions”. While the BSS (52kb) establishes basic requirements for occupational radiation protection, more detailed occupational radiation protection guidance is being prepared. The Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention, as well as the ILO Convention 115, establish occupational radiation protection obligations to States Parties. The International Labour Office (ILO) relies on the Agency for — and collaborates with it in — establishing and applying occupational radiation safety standards and disseminating information on occupational exposure to radiation.
According to estimates by UNSCEAR, over 80% of the annual collective dose to workers worldwide arises from occupational exposure in workplaces with elevated levels of natural radiation. Increased attention is being given to the development of guidance on protection against exposure to sources of natural radiation.
A list of publications and other material on occupational radiation protection is provided separately, while the following text concentrates on material that is under development.
Safety Standards
A set of three Safety Guides concerning the application of the BSS to the control of occupational exposure are published and also provided together with the BSS and the Safety Fundamentals as an interlinked set of searchable documents, called ORPGUIDE.
At present a Safety Guide on radiation protection aspects of design for nuclear power plants is being finalized for publication. The purpose of this Safety Guide is to provide recommendations for implementing radiation protection in (1) the design of new nuclear power plants, (2) design modifications to operating plants, and (3) safety reviews of operating plants.
Safety Reports
Complementary advice on specific topics of occupational radiation protection is published as Safety Reports.
A Safety Report on Methods for Assessing Occupational Radiation Doses due to Intakes of Radionuclides is being finalized for publication. It contains practical advice on the interpretation of monitoring results and the assessment of committed effective doses to workers. With its publication the IAEA provides a complete set of reference documents for use in Member States that have facilities in which workers have the potential to incur intakes of radionulides.
A Safety Report on occupational radiation protection related to the employment of itinerant workers is under development. This group of occupationally exposed persons has very specific management issues associated with the control of radiation exposure and the Safety Report includes guidance on issues such the allocation of management responsibilities, the provision of suitable dosimetry arrangements and health surveillance, and the adequacy of training.
A Safety Report on workplace monitoring is being finalized for publication. It provides extensive practical information on monitoring techniques, choice of equipment, measurement procedures, and interpretation of results of ambient radiation contamination measurements. The report includes aspects on maintenance, documentation, training and quality assurance. Appendices contain examples of measurement procedures in different monitoring circumstances.
Practical Radiation Technical Manuals
Additional valuable information is provided as cost free material. The Practical Radiation Technical Manual (PRTM) Series is designed to provide guidance on radiological protection for persons who have a responsibility to ensure the safety of employees working with ionizing radiation and may be used to provide training, instruction or information for these employees. Three earlier published PRTMs on Workplace monitoring for radiation and contamination, Individual monitoring and Health effects and medical surveillance have been revised and were published in May, 2004 together with a new PRTM on Personal protective equipment. These will be translated into all UN languages.
Further guidance
ILO Convention No.121 (1964), concerning benefits in cases of employment injury, provides for compensation for diseases caused by ionizing radiation. Occupationally exposed workers may develop diseases similar to those developed by members of the general public, including cancers.Some of these diseases may be attributable to radiation exposure at work, and a mechanism for deciding on attributability is essential. An informal IAEA/ILO/WHO meeting held in 2000 produced a report on The potential for developing joint international guidance for aiding decision making on attributing cases of detrimental health effects to occupational exposure to ionizing radiations, including concrete recommendations for further work on this issue. The Action Plan for Occupational Radiation protection is in support of the IAEA continuing its work on developing international guidance for aiding decision-making on the attribution of cases of detrimental health effects to occupational exposure to ionizing radiation, in collaboration with ILO, WHO, NEA and other relevant bodies and drawing on the experience of other stakeholders.
For further information please contact P.Deboodt
