Radiation Protection System in the Czech Republic

Occupational Radiation ProtectionControl of Radioactive Sources

Karla Petrová

State Office for Nuclear Safety

Karla Petrová

Profession : nuclear engineer (Czech Technical University)

Since 2005 deputy chairman for radiation protection (State Office for Nuclear Safety)

Before : Head of Division of National Registration Systems, Licensing of Dosimetric Services, Regulation and Control of Occupational and Medical Exposures

Before : Reference Dosimetry Lab, research in personal dosimetry, testing of devices, dosemeters, protective tools

Intl. Activities: member of IAEA RASSC, NEA CRPPH, EU Art.31 GoE, HERCA, ESOREX project (EC)

General information

population: 10,5 millionmonitored workers: ~ 23 000licensed facilities: 6 500NPP 2 (Temelín, Dukovany), 6 unitsradiation passports: 4 500

dosimetry services: 6 external radiation5 internal radiation6 natural radiation

sources

INFRASTRUCTURE

SÚJB Introduction Position and Organization

• SÚJB basic legal powers and responsibilities:– the Constitutional Law – Act on Distribution of Competencies within the Governmental

structure– Since 1995 nuclear safety and radiation protection together – Atomic Act (nuclear safety and radiation protection) and

acts on Biological & Chemical Weapons• SÚJB has its own budget approved by the Parliament in frame

of the state budget• SÚJB can propose acts and decrees within its competence• SUJB President directly under prime minister

Position of the SÚJB (see also www.sujb.cz)

Organization

Staffing:

• SÚJB in total – 200• Headquarters – 142• Regional Centers –58 (12

at NPPs)• see www.sujb.cz

Radiation Protection Department

• Radiation Sources Section– 5 Regional Centers

• Exposures Regulation Section– 1 Regional Center +Natural Sources Unit (radon)– Evaluation of Exposure and National Registers Unit– Natural Radiation Sources Activities Assessment

Unit (NORM)• Radiation Protection of Fuel Cycle Section

– 3 Regional Centers (incl. uranium mines)

SÚJB Organization - Locations

TSO in Radiation Protection: National Radiation Protection Institute(SÚRO)

• SÚRO is a budgetary organization (financed from the SÚJB budget) established in 1995 (having longer historical background)

– Director appointed by the SÚJB President– Currently more independent as research institution,

but still app. 50% of budget by SUJB• Mission:

– to provide special expertise, methodology, education, information and to carry out R&D in the field of protection against ionizing radiation

General informationWorkers and Sources

Artificial sources:

~ 5000 sealed sources, 200 workplaces with unsealed sources

11 764 generators

2 NPPs (3700 workers with average E=0,2 mSv)

2 RRs and 1 training reactor

~ 23 000 workers occupationally exposed to radiation are monitored average E= 0,76 mSv

Natural sources:

uranium mines (1400 workers with E=7,45 mSv)

pilots and aircrew (1900 with 1,6 mSv)

excavation work, waterworks, work in radon spa, ..

Occupational Radiation Safety

in the Czech legislation

Legal Framework

General protection of workers is governed by:

•Labour Code (No. 262/2006 Coll.)Radiation protection requirements - Atomic Act (No. 18/1997 Coll.), as amended

Decree on Radiation Protection (No. 307/2002 Coll.), as amended

Decree on Personal Radiation Passports (No. 419/2002 Coll.)

supported by:

•Series of Guides published by SÚJB = implementation of good practice (VDS, VDMI - „Series of blue line“) www.sujb.cz

specific requirements in

•Licence conditions,

•Documentations – some of them approved by SUJB

Main provisions

Legislation stipulates: •dose limits: 50 mSv/y and 100 mSv/5y in E, 150 a 500 mSv in HT•duties of licensees to:

designate area (supervised/controlled)

categorize workers (A/B category)

appoint Qualified Expert – supervises radiation protection in more general sense – compliance with legislative requirements,

documentation, etc…

Radiation Protection Officer - manages RP in daily practice

make protective clothing, equipment, tools available

educate, train and inform workers

evaluate and report personal doses to the state registration system

Personal Monitoring Program• Approved documentation• Content:

Desription of monitoring –personal,workplace, discharges, environment (if relevant)Evaluation of results of monitoringMonitoring levels – recording, investigation, intervention levelsDose constraintsProcedures when investigation and intervention levels are exceeded, or dose constraints (re-consider optimization)Categorization of workers Rules and procedures for work in controlled area

Related documentation – Optimization, QA Program, Emergency Program

Categorisation of Workers

Category A and B (European Directive only)- helps to use a graded approach for requirements related to workers

safety, but sometimes makes difficulties (wrong categorization – often intentionally with the aim to save money, incorrect argument used – the results of personal monitoring !)

Cat. A: who may receive E greater than 6 mSv/y or HT greater than 3/10 of the dose limits for the lens of eye, skin, hands or feet, is personally monitored/fit/works in controlled area, potentional exposures taken into account

Cat. B: those who are not A

• Category A workers requirements - Personal monitoring- Periodic medical surveillance (yearly)- Regular education and training and regular verification - Personal radiation passport for the work in controlled area of another

licensee

Central Register of Occupational Exposures

RECORD KEEPING

The Central Register of Approvals (CRA)

The Central Register ofLicensees (CRL)

The Central register of OccupationalExposure (CROE)

Workers s personal data

Dozimetric data

Licence specifications

Source identification Source characterisation

Licence – full text

The Central Register of Ionizing RadiationSources (CRIRS)

List of approved types of IRS

Licensee’s facilities

Working places

CENTRAL REGISTER OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE

data registered

– Personal data: name, Personal Identification Number (PIN), occupational activity

– Employer data: name, address, supervisory authority, RPO, classification of the activity, etc.

– Workplace information: type of sources, type of radiation, category (I-IV)

– Dose information: external, internal, equivalent doses to organs, annual dose, accidental dose, five-year dose, lifetime dose

– Dose records from personal radiation passports

CENTRAL REGISTER OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE

data exchange

Individual monitoring is based on measurements carried out by authorized Personal Dosimetric Services (PDS)

PDS and Licensee report to SUJB:

• Personal dose on each worker of the A category within 1 month from the coming to the employment and during each change of these data and within the 2 months after the termination of the monitoring period

• Effective dose exceeding 20 mSv or the equivalent dose exceeding 150 mSv of external exposure and the effective dose exceeding 6 mSv or equivalent dose exceeding 15 mSv of internal exposure - immediately

• Annual overview of personal doses for the preceding year is ready till the end of April of the next year

CENTRAL REGISTER OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSUREstorage of data

• PDS keeps the data at least one year after the year to which the data are related

• Licensee shall archive the dose data till the 75 years of the radiation workers age and at least 30 years after the end of the work as a radiation worker

• Personal doses from exceptional exposures and from the exposures that the worker obtained during radiation accidents are recorded separately

• Dose certificate from CROE is issued on request of worker

Outside workers

• Work in a controlled area and have a temporal contract with the employer or are an employee at an external enterprise

• Obligation - Personal Radiation Passport from start of the activities in controlled area (issued by SÚJB, unique identification, 2 parts – A – permanent, B – changed annually )

• If they work for more than one company, the dose is checked if the sum does not exceed the limits (responsibility of RP officer)

• Dose data are stored in CROE (from PRP part B - manually into CROE)

Other provisions• Health surveillance (provided by occupational health services

according to Acts No. 372, 373/2011 Coll. and Decree No. 79/2013 Coll.)

• Protection of pregnant/fetus,breast-feeding• Exceptional exposure – authorisation, 100mSv, 500mSv/5y• Protection of outside workers (as category A)

(SÚJB issues radiation passports - 4300)• Training and information

training services giving training to QE and RPO shall be approved by SÚJB

Recognition of QE and RPO – necessary to pass an exam, SUJB special commission established

Statistics

• Annually there are registered about 22 800 workers in 30% - individual E is below MDL

• Average dose of all monitored workers = 0,56 mSv

Interesting groups:• Workers in medical sector - average E = 0.85 mSv

– 1.3 mSv for those with doses over MDL– average E for cardiologists, interventional radiologists - 2.9 mSv

• Workers in uranium mining - average E = 7.11 mSv

CENTRAL REGISTER OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE (CROE)

• Currently CROE registers in the whole history about 35 000 workers and 2000 licensees• Part of dosimetric data is available from 1991• Complete data are registered from 1997, when the official

operation of the Register started• Annually there is registered more then 20 000 active workers

and based on the data registered in CROE it can be observed, that about 30% of individual effective dose lies below MDL (0.05 mSv in the case of film dosimetry) and the distribution of doses has a stable trend for the last years

Dosimetric and metrological services

• Dosimetric service shall be approved by SÚJB 5 external 2 countrywide / 3 internal/ 10 natural exposure

• Metrological services are authorized by

Czech Metrological Institute (Act No. 505/1990 Coll.)

Průměrná efektivní dávka v jednotlivých sektorech v letech 2009-2012

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

E [m

Sv]

2009 0,82 1,57 0,68 4,76 0,27 0,5 0,32 0,66

2010 0,78 2,16 0,65 5,37 0,23 0,56 0,27 0,69

2011 1,12 1,51 0,7 5,37 0,23 0,57 0,26 0,71

2012 0,86 1,36 0,69 5,51 0,24 0,56 0,23 0,69

defektoskopie karotáže ostatní průmysl uranový průmysl jaderný průmysl medicína služby celkem

Statistika – počty vyšetření, dávky ÚZIS/2006, VZP/2004

ÚZISCelkový počet provedených radiologických vyšetření (vč. zubních, ULZ, MR):

13 160 329 Počet provedených CT výkonů:

750 798 (5,7 %)

VZP (cca 70% pojištěnců)

6 463 212Z toho 335 061 CT – 5% (170 156 hlava, 104 156 břicho, 40 749 páteř)

Počet CT vyšetření se v ČR meziročně zvyšuje cca o 5-10%

Distribuce dávek ve vybraných zdravotnických sektorech

0,1

1

10

100

1000

10000

Počet pracovníků

součet E

prům.E

Počet prac. nad 0,1mSv

prům. E nad 0,1mSv

Počet pracovníků 5485 804 3718 1025 929

součet E 2485 1906 1631 621 116

prům.E 0,45 2,37 0,44 0,61 0,12

Počet prac. nad 0,1mSv 1648 555 1186 605 239

prům. E nad 0,1mSv 1,51 3,43 1,38 1,03 0,49

Radiodiagnostika Kardiologie Chirurgie, ortopedie,urologie Nukleární medicína Radioterapie

SAFETY AND SECURITY OF RADIOACTIVE SOURCES

Categorization of sourcesCategorization of sources

Categorization Categorization of sources according to the increasing of sources according to the increasing degree of possible health hazards and environmental degree of possible health hazards and environmental hazardshazards

1.1. major sourcesmajor sources – nuclear reactor – nuclear reactor

2.2. important sources important sources – radioterapeutical sources, – radioterapeutical sources, irradiators, accelerators, mobile industrial radiography, irradiators, accelerators, mobile industrial radiography, HASS HASS

3.3. simple sourcessimple sources – X-ray generators, – X-ray generators,

4.4. minor sourceminor source – ionizing smoke detectors – ionizing smoke detectors

5.5. unimportant sourcesunimportant sources – calibration, small activities – calibration, small activities

Categorisation of sourcesCategorisation of sources

TheThe „Czech“ „Czech“ categorization of sources is categorization of sources is currently currently supplemented also with the IAEA categorisation using supplemented also with the IAEA categorisation using recommended D-valuesrecommended D-values and with identification of HASS and with identification of HASS. . All categories are used in the Central Register of SourcesAll categories are used in the Central Register of Sources

Categorisation of workplacesCategorisation of workplaces

TThe workplaces with such sources are classified he workplaces with such sources are classified into 4 categories, from the workplaces of the 1st into 4 categories, from the workplaces of the 1st category (the less hazardous) to the 4th category category (the less hazardous) to the 4th category (potentially the most hazardous). (potentially the most hazardous).

Licensing, InspectionLicensing, InspectionTThe higher class of the sourceshe higher class of the sources

• the more rigid and extensive requirementsthe more rigid and extensive requirements are are defined for assurance of radiation protection; defined for assurance of radiation protection;

• the the licensing procedurelicensing procedure is more complicated and is more complicated and requires a thorough professional knowledgerequires a thorough professional knowledge

• the the inspectionsinspections are primarily focused on the are primarily focused on the management of the potentially most hazardous sources management of the potentially most hazardous sources and relevant inspections are more frequent, extensive and relevant inspections are more frequent, extensive and detailed.and detailed.

• The frequency of inspections is pre-establishedThe frequency of inspections is pre-established

Central Register of Ionizing Radiation Sources (CRIRS)

CRIRS registers • sealed radionuclide sources• devices with sealed radionuclide sources• generators• specification of workplaces with unsealed radiation sources. Users are obliged to report information on new source specified by

Decree on radiation protection within one months as well as all changes of registered data including the transfer of source to another user or to final disposal. The registration of the source is based on the registration of its type and serial number.

Central Register of Ionizing Radiation Sources (CRIRS)

Manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors report to SÚJB once per 3 months the list of the sources delivered.

This system serves as a control of the completeness of the register and enables monitoring of the movement of the source during its whole life.

Export, Import

• The manufacturer, exporter, importer and distributor shall deliver the radiation sources only to a person with the appropriate authorisation

• They shall ensure that during export only authorised persons will handle radiation sources

• A certificate stating that the recipient is authorised for handling radiation sources confirmed by a competent body of the recipient's country shall be required for radionuclide source export

Export, Import

A licence is required also for installation or commissioning, storage of radionuclide sources and usage of radiation sources, testing of radiation sources (performance test, long term stability test, acceptance test) and repairs of radiation sources.

Temporary workplace

The radiation sources may be used, if specified in the license, also at temporary workplaces designed for work with radiation sources for a short period of time, but no longer than 30 days.

SÚJB shall be notified in writing, no later than one day in advance of the date of work start-up, of the anticipated period of time of work at a temporary workplace, of its location, of work duties description and an list of the radiation sources used.

Safety and Security of Radiation Sources In accordance with Atomic Law a licensee secures sources for which

he has the licence against burglary, damage, or destruction.

In addition it shall be ensured that:

• no unauthorised person handles the source;

• any lost control over the source, its theft, loss, disappearing, or destruction is with no delay notified to the SÚJB and Police of the Czech Republic;

• the source is not distributed or anyhow handled over, unless the person taking over the source has a relevant licence to handle such source;

• the location, movement, consumption, security against burglary, loss, disappearing, or destruction of the source is controlled by physical inventory on a regular basis each six months

• annual inventory of radioactive sources – sent to SUJB

SÚJB guidance – published, also www.sujb.cz•

SÚJB guidance

Development of New Legislation based on ICRP 103, IAEA GSR Part 3 and Council Directive No.59/2013

Changes and Challenges ??

43

New legislation

• Final stage of preparation (4 years of preparation)– second round of comments – all ministries, offices, stakeholders – professional bodies , societies , operators,licensees

• Deadline for sending to government – end of 2014

• Approval by Government and governmental legislative board, then send to parliament

• Estimated time of entering into force – half of 2016

Principal changes

• Exposure situations – replacing practices and interventions

• Authorization in the form of Registration for some sources – generators, stomatology – significantly easier procedure of authorisation, pre-defined conditions, form included in new Decree, app. 3500 current licensees

• New limits• More specific requirements for dose constraints• Optimization – more emphasized, financial equivalent of

averted dose included but as only possible tool for comparison of cost and benefit, more accent put on the good practices, BAT in some cases

Principal changes

• Medical exposures – testing of sources – more explicit and strict requirements, clinical audit – internal, external – authorisation by Ministry of Health (SUJB giving opinion) – once per 5y duty of licensee to order an audit, national radiological standards issued by MoH

• Existing exposure situations – remediation after radiation emergency – quite new – the preparation of general strategy,

Principal changes

• Existing exposure situations – natural sources – radon in dwellings – new reference levels – 300Bq/m3 – (currently 200 for new buildings and 400 for existing buildings), radon in workplaces!

• Consumer products – prohibition of distribution of products exceeding an exemption criteria

• Ionizing smoke detectors – prohibition of installation of autonomous ISD

• Exemption and Clearance Levels – unification for unlimited amount of material

Challenges• Occupational exposures - new limits – 20mSv/y complication for uranium miners

dose regulation, possibility to authorize 100mSv/5y, more explanation on the use of limits – prospective tool for regulation

- new limit for lens of eye – 20mSv/y too low - monitoring ? - 2 dosemeters for identified professions when using

shielding apron- dose constraints – set by operator – level? - outside workers – now more broader definition – not only

category A and not only controlled area, also self – employed workers – necessary always explicitly state in the text ( understandibility !)

Challenges

• Occupational exposures Emergency workers – professionals (members of integrated rescue systems, soldiers), but also volunteers (health surveillance required!), reference level – 50mSv(IAEA), 100mSv (EU) – actions with possibility to reach this level – voluntarily – problem for fire fighters, policeman, soldiers? NORM workplaces– planned exposure situations (EU), licensing, categorisation of workers, evaluation of doses, if exceeding 6mSv – specific requirements for workers protection, limits Radon in workplaces – existing exposure situations, but requirement for estimation of doses in all workplaces located in basement or first floor ( EU - radon prone areas, 6mSv, 300 Bq/m3 , IAEA – 1000Bq/m3, 10mSv)

Challenges• Safety and Security of SourcesSecurity mesures– new requirements, Security Plan, graded

approach, problem with restricted documents, potential conflict with special law on national security, strict requirements for screening of personnel – impact to the licenses but also inspectors, the reason why at the moment only requirement for internal procedure of checking staff handling with source

Orphan sources - requirement for education and training of staff of large metal scrap yards, steelworks, etc.. where orphan sources could be found – not licensees – difficult to identify them

Bankruptcy of licensee – duty to give sources to the recognized storage, the expenses shall be paid as a priority from the rest means (register – Ministry of justice – automatically compared with register of licensees – every week)

Long – term storage of disused sources – max for 12 months , then to the recognized storage or final disposal

Thank you for your attention

and

Good Luck !

Questions?