The Conference aims to take stock of the worldwide radiation safety situation. It will provide a forum for the exchange of information on Member States’ experiences in applying the system of radiological protection, as provided for in the IAEA safety standards, to the protection of workers, patients, the public and the environment. Both natural and artificial radiation sources fall within the scope of the Conference.
A particular focus will be given to the lessons learned from applying GSR Part 3 and improvements that could be considered to further facilitate its application. Discussion on changes in approach considered necessary for effectively dealing with new and emerging challenges in radiation protection is expected and encouraged.
The Conference has been scheduled to allow for input from the 5th International Symposium on the System of Radiological Protection, which was organized by the ICRP and took place in Adelaide, Australia, from 17 to 21 November 2019 and from the 15th International Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association, which will take place in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from 11 to 15 May 2020.
In preparing the programme for the Conference, the views of Member States were sought through regional workshops organized in Argentina (for the Americas region), Cyprus (for the Europe region), Singapore (for the Asia and the Pacific region) and the United Republic of Tanzania (for the Africa region). These workshops identified the key implementation issues in each region that would benefit from detailed discussion at the international level.
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Justification and optimization
JO- accounting for societal values;
- decision making and stakeholder involvement; and
- review of justification decisions.
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Dose constraints and reference levels
DCRL- how to establish appropriate dose constraints and reference levels;
- regulatory and operational lessons; optimization below the reference level; and
- development and use of diagnostic reference levels.
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Applying the graded approach
GA- the graded approach to regulation;
- the graded approach to operational radiation protection; and
- managing hazards and risks.
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Conservatism in radiation protection
CRP- conservatism in the linear-no-threshold model;
- conservatism in the dose assessment and modelling; and
- communicating radiation risks.
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Planned exposure situations
PES- practical application of radiological protection standards;
- occupational dose limit for the lens of the eye;
- authorized discharges and protection of people and the environment;
- criteria for release of patients following administration of radionuclides; and
- dose limit for the pubic in planned exposure situations.
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Emergency exposure situations
EmES- radiological criteria for transition;
- optimized protection strategies; and
- managing exposures of workers and the public.
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Existing exposure situations
ExES- radon in homes and workplaces;
- natural and artificial radionuclides in food and drinking water;
- cosmic ray exposure of aircrew and space crew; and
-.implications of space tourism.
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Risk communication and risk management
RCM- challenges in communicating with the public
- Stakeholder involvement
- informed decision making
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Safety Culture
SC- education and training;
- competence in radiation protection; and
- learning from experience
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Round Table on Non-medical human imaging
HI- exposures in medical facilities;
- exposures in non-medical faciities; and
- justification, optimization and ethical aspects.
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Round Table on Exemption and clearance
EC- exemption of practices and materials;
- clearance of materials; and
- trade in contaminated commodities
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Round Table on COVID-19
C19- experiences of regulatory bodies
- experiences of licensees and operators
- challenges for the future
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Other topics in radiation protection
OTOther aspects of the system of radiation protection