EUTERP newsletter issue 13 - March 2017
President's message
Welcome to the first Newsletter of 2017. This year marks a time of change in radiation protection arrangements in Europe, with national bodies working to transpose the requirements of the new European Basic Safety Standards Directive into national legislation. The Directive contains many revised requirements – and some new ones – but continues to place emphasis on the importance of education and training in radiation protection as a central component in the arrangements for working safely with sources of radiation. Indeed, the education and training requirements of the Directive now form a dedicated chapter: Chapter IV – Requirements for radiation protection education, training and information. Training can take many forms, from the provision of information to public groups, through traditional classroom style courses to attendance at focused events and conferences covering specialist areas of interest. This Newsletter contains information and reports of events covering the whole spectrum of training activities in radiation protection. I hope you find it both interesting to read and helpful in identifying suitable training events for you and your colleagues.
Richard Paynter
President, EUTERP Foundation
How is your country working towards implementation of the BSS?
Concerning education and training it is remarkable that this law does not refer to the RPE and the RPO. As responsible actors it only mentions the “Strahlenschutzverantwortliche (SSV)” which corresponds to the “undertaking” in the directive and the “Strahlenschutzbeauftragter (SSB)” which is certainly closer to RPO than to RPE. According to Article 4 (73)of the directive, the RPE gives advice. This function cannot be found in the new German law. The specifications given in §74 on the required qualification of the SSB suggest that the existing scheme of many different qualifications will persist. One can of course say that radiation protection has and will work well in Germany but it appears that the possibility of harmonization in European E&T in radiation protection will further be reduced.
EUTERP news headlines
It was very helpful to have your feedback through the survey last year about the daily news and information feeds on the EUTERP Home page. The prize draw winner, Stephen Evans, was announced on 7 December.It is understood that no one has the time to go to a website each day for its news and this is why we have chosen to use the LinkedIn share buttons to share news headlines that are directly related to education and training in radiation protection with the EUTERP Foundation Group on LinkedIn. If you are not already a member, please consider joining this group to receive news in a timely manner; simply request the EUTERP Secretary to send you an invitation.
Please note that the three most recent headlines are illustrated on the home page and all the news headlines are listed on the website under “View more news” and you may access this page at any time for an overview of the latest news headlines and see what you might have missed.
ENETRAP III train-the-trainer module
A specialized train-the-trainer module for trainers of Radiation Protection Experts (RPEs) and/or Radiation Protection Officers (RPOs) has been developed within the ENETRAP III FP7 project.
On February 17, 2017, 16 participants successfully completed the first French session of this one-week course. The next session in English will be held from June 26 - 30, 2017 at INSTN in Saclay, France.
More information on this ENETRAP course modules is available online.
Register before June 2, 2017 for this unique training course!
RADKOR Public Information event held in Ankara on 21 October 2016 for technicians working in radiology clinics
The Association of Radiation Protection Experts (RADKOR) in Turkey organized a public information event on 21 October 2106 in Ankara where a panel of experts from various academic institutions discussed the recent situation about the thyroid cancer incidences reported by some radiographic technicians in Erciyes University (Kayseri, Turkey).After the introduction by Prof. Dr Dogan BOR on the scientific evidence for radiation induced cancers, other academicians emphasized the uncertainties regarding the evaluation of low dose radiation effects, especially for high risk groups such as occupationally exposed personnel. However, because of the lack of epidemiological studies in Turkey, the insufficient records for cancer incidences, and the unsatisfactory follow-up efforts for late radiation effects for a large population, it will not be scientifically meaningful to associate any increase in thyroid cancers with the stochastic effects of radiation.
Therefore, the speakers consented upon the urgent need to start local epidemiological and radio-epidemiological studies, as well as establishing academic programmes to train radiation protection experts who will address the issues related to radiation protection in medical and industrial sites, in addition to the nuclear reactor installation project that is under progress in Turkey.
2nd RADKOR Workshop on Radiation Protection in Occupational Health and Safety
The June 3rd, 2016 event attracted about 110 professionals from many disciplines such as medical physicists from clinics, radiation protection officers, occupational safety experts, and occupational physicians from industry, as well as academicians from different universities. In addition, the representatives of the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour, and non-governmental organizations addressed different aspects of radiation protection related problems and difficulties encountered in health and industrial applications.
Following the Workshop, there was a one-day course held for Occupational Health and Safety Experts on practical issues of radiation protection. The event also included a simulated accident exercise where a realistic scenario emphasized the rights and responsibilities of facility owners, radiation protection experts, radiation protection officers, and occupational safety experts during normal operations and accident situations.
The workshop ended with a final declaration that focused on the necessity of employing radiation protection experts for reducing the risks as well as preventing radiation related accidents and minimizing the doses to the exposed groups.
World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS)
Contributions to International Radioactive Source Security
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Best Practice Guides: WINS identifies, shares and publishes highly readable Best Practice Guides (BPGs) focused on topics relevant to those with responsibility for radiological materials. The Guides are written by subject matter experts, then technically edited for clarity. WINS has published 6 dedicated BPGs or special reports covering the entire life cycle of radioactive sources.
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Sharing Operational Experience: WINS has implemented more than 20 workshops to support the identification and dissemination of best operational security practices, for over a thousand radioactive source security practitioners.
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Source Security Training: WINS has developed training specifically designed for professionals with direct accountability for the security of radioactive sources used at medical, industrial and research facilities.
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Peer Review: WINS is developing peer review services, in which experts systematically review security programmes to identify both strengths and vulnerabilities.
More information is available at www.wins.org.
WINS Certified Training for Radioactive Source Security Management
Radiation Safety Officers (or similar professionals) have historically inherited the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of security policies and procedures for radioactive sources. Senior and line managers are also responsible for the security of radioactive sources, as well as regulatory personnel (particularly inspectors and license reviewers). The number of accountable staff may number in the dozens at larger organisation: the figure below provides an organisational chart depicting staff accountable for security at a typical hospital with medical radiotherapy management, operations and security personnel.
These individuals often have substantial knowledge of radiation protection and safety practices, but they may lack formal competency-based security education and training. To address this gap, the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS) has launched the WINS Academy, an initiative to provide practitioners with opportunities to earn certification in radioactive source security management. The training programme has been designed to be completed online, supplemented by in-person courses, and candidates can sit for certification exams at test centres through the Pearson VUE network, which has 5100 accredited test centres in 180 countries. More about the certification programme can be found at www.wins.org.
AIRP-C.I. joins the EUTERP as a new Associate
The Italian Radiation Protection Association (AIRP) promotes scientific and cultural actions in the field of protection against ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. AIRP was founded in 1958 and, as a founding member of IRPA, organized the first IRPA Congress in Rome, on 1966 and the first European IRPA Congress in Florence, on 2002.AIRP and its partner societies have more than 1400 members and represent the following Italian societies: AIRP, AIFM, AIRM and ANPEQ.
Education and Training
Education and training were, from the beginning, one of the main AIRP areas of interest.The “AIRP - Carlo Polvani Radiation Protection High School”, was established in 1984 as a permanent AIRP body devoted to spread the basic radiation protection principles, as well as new scientific advancements in all the radiation protection fields.Since 2009 AIRP has promoted the Summer School on Radioactive Waste Management, in collaboration with the European JRC-Ispra, IAEA and the University of Milan and translated into Italian the most important ICRP Publications.
Scientific and Cultural Activities
AIRP and its partners organize each year several National and European scientific meetings covering the most timely and important radiation protection topics. These are published on the web sites of each partner society: www.airp-asso.it www.anpeq.it www.fisicamedica.it www.airm.name.
Perspectives
AIRP and its partners are fully engaged at national level in the process of implementation of the recent (2013) European Directive (Workshop in Rome, in September 2016) and continue to help its members to gather and maintain their technical expertise through technical meetings. AIRP promotes and organizes technical comparisons that are open also tointernational participation (the next in 2017 , the 2° radon “in the field” measurement comparison for passive detectors) and the final Symposium of COST NETWORK “NORM4Building” in Rome on 6-8 June 2017.
A Young Generation network has been arranged and encouraged to establish contacts.
Society for Radiological Protection (SRP) joins the EUTERP as a new Associate
SRP is a professional and learned society that was founded in 1963 and was incorporated by Royal Charter in 2007. Their Royal Charter states that the object of the Society is to “promote the science and art of radiation protection and allied fields for the public benefit”.
More information about the Society for Radiological Protection is available on the website: https://srp-uk.org.
EUTERP NCPs
The EUTERP has National Contact Points (NCPs) for almost all the countries in Europe; we have as yet no NCP for Estonia. Please check the information on the NCP for your country and tell the EUTERP Secretary if updates or amendments are needed. We do try to keep these pages up to date but need to rely on local information to do so.
Upcoming events
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EAN Workshop: ALARA in emergency and post-accident situations
May 15-17, 2017
Lisbon, PortugalThe next EAN workshop will be organized in collaboration with NERIS and will be on ALARA in emergency and post-accident situations.
The objectives of the workshop are:- To show, in particular from the experience of Fukushima accident, the challenges posed by the optimisation of exposures in emergency and post-accident situations;
- To review the national arrangements for assessing, monitoring and mitigating the radiological consequences of an emergency, especially with regard to applying the ALARA principle to public and occupational exposures;
- To review the arrangements for managing emergency doses to workers
- To review the arrangements for providing ALARA-based training for the different types of stakeholders who would be engaged in the emergency response and long-term recovery actions.
The workshop will consist of presentations (oral and posters) intended to highlight the main issues, and a significant part of the program will be devoted to discussions within working groups. From these discussions, participants will be expected to produce recommendations on ALARA in emergency exposure situations, which are addressed to relevant local, national and international stakeholders.
Note that NERIS will organise its 3rd Workshop just after (17-19 May) at the same location.
Registration platform for both EAN and NERIS workshops:
http://www.planetReg.com/EANworkshop17NERISworkshop3
- 6th International Conference on Education and Training in Radiological Protection (ETRAP 2017)
May 30 - June 2, 2017
Campus of Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain
ETRAP 2017 provides a forum for decision makers, regulators, educational and training providers and practitioners, researchers, radiation protection experts and persons from international organizations to discuss the current status of education and training in radiation protection. The conference aims to identify trends and good practices in the area while looking to the future so that society can continue to benefit from the many uses of ionizing radiation.
More information about the conference, including the programme, is available on www.etrap2017.org.
EUTERP Associates can ask for a contribution for the registration fee by applying here.
- 4th ICRP symposium and 2nd Radiological protection research week
October 10-12, 2017
Disney Business Centre, Paris, France
The programme will include the following topics:- Effects, Risks, and Detriment at Low Dose and Low Dose-Rate
(in collaboration with MELODI) - Advances in Dose Coefficients
(in collaboration with EURADOS) - Advanced Radiotherapy: Benefits and Radiation Protection due to Developments in Imaging, New Technologies, and Stratification
(in collaboration with EURAMED) - Post-Accident Recovery
(in collaboration with NERIS) - Integrated Protection of People and the Environment
(in collaboration with ALLIANCE)
Registration is online available at: www.icrp-erpw2017.com - Effects, Risks, and Detriment at Low Dose and Low Dose-Rate
5th European IRPA Congress
Encouraging Sustainability in Radiation Protection
June 4-8, 2018The Hague, The NetherlandsSince 2002, Radiation Protection professionals from all over Europe and beyond have met every four years at regional European IRPA congresses. The Dutch Society for Radiation Protection (NVS) is pleased to host the next congress in this series. The 5th European IRPA Congress is scheduled to take place from 4th to 8th June, 2018 in the wonderful city of The Hague, The Netherlands. With the theme “Encouraging Sustainability in Radiation Protection”, the congress will focus on the various aspects needed to make sure that we have, and will continue to have, adequate equipment, staff and resources to protect human health and our environment against the adverse effects of ionising and non-ionising radiation.
Read all about this congress and the role of EUTERP on our website.