Speaker
Description
ANSTO has three campuses across two states of Australia and is the centre of Australia’s capabilities and expertise in nuclear science and technology. The variety of radiation sources at ANSTO encompasses the breadth of the health physics field. Our sources of ionizing radiation include but are not limited to: the OPAL multi-purpose research reactor; the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering; the Australian Synchrotron; Particle Accelerators; Unsealed radioisotopes used in medical radioisotope production settings; as well as biomedical and chemical research applications; and naturally occurring radioactive materials.
There is a potential for the principle of optimisation to be misunderstood, and taken as implying a need to minimise exposures regardless of cost. The level of protection should be the best under prevailing circumstances and should provide for adequate margin of benefit over harm. Think optimisation not minimisation.
Optimisation of protection is a process that is at the heart of a successful radiological protection program and is a frame of mind. Effective Implementation of Optimisation measures occurs when all stakeholders are involved, who know and agree with the principles of radiological protection, and adhere to an active safety culture.
The responsibility of implementing optimisation lies with all parties involved including management, workers and radiation protection. It should be a collective effort to strive for doses that are ALARA.
This paper discusses optimisation of radiation protection in practice, and gives a couple of real world examples at ANSTO from the last few years.
| Speakers email | sarah.turek@ansto.gov.au |
|---|---|
| Speakers affiliation | ANSTO |
| Name of Member State/Organization | Australia |
