1a191b22-8d3a-4f9b-9018... · web viewirpa executive council meeting, buenos aires, april 2015....
TRANSCRIPT
IRPA Executive Council Meeting, Buenos Aires, April 2015
Vice President’s Report
Sievert Award
The Award Committee comprised of the following nominees: Abel Gonzales (Argentina), Jacques Lochard (France), Ken Kase (US), Phil Metcalf (South Africa), Richard Vetter (US) and Yoshiharu Yonekura (Japan). There were three declared candidates, nominated respectively by the Canadian, UK and US societies.
The Committee has completed the assessment process through each assessor placing the candidates in rank order, with the following conclusion (note that the candidate identities will be revealed in the EC meeting):
Candidate Points Awarded * Number of First PlacesA 16 4B 13 2C 7 0* 3 points for first place, 2 points for second place, 1 point for third place
In accordance with the IRPA Rules, Candidates A and B are therefore forwarded to the IRPA EC for a final decision on the Award. Summary CVs of the three candidates are attached as Annex 1 – additional information is available if required.
Progress on New Societies
IRPA admitted its 50th Associate Society during the African Regional Congress in September 2014 - TUNISIAN ASSOCIATION OF PROTECTION AGAINST IONIZING RADIATION AND NON IONIZING RADIATION.
There have been ongoing contacts with the following countries over the last 12 months, but no society can yet present itself as a current candidate:
Gulf Emirates Ghana Saudi Arabia Turkey Montenegro – note that there is an existing Associate Society nominally covering Serbia and
Montenegro, but it is not clear whether it is active in Montenegro: exchanges are ongoing.
Previous contacts with colleagues in Algeria, Nepal, Nigeria, Indonesia, Belarus, Ethiopia and Ukraine have gone quiet. Full information on contacts is given in Annex 2. Specific targets for discussion during the South American Congress should include Chile, Costa Rica and Paraguay.
Societies Admissions and Development Committee
Some progress is being made against the agreed work programme (see the previous VP Report), but only a small (UK) subset of the committee is contributing. A draft Benefits Statement is attached as Annex 3. Developing draft proposals for sharing good practices via the IRPA website are given as Annex 4. The EC is invited to comment on these drafts.
Eye Dose Task Group
This TG has been re-formed with revised Terms of Reference (Annex 5a). A preliminary progress report is attached as Annex 5b.
TG on Radioactive Source Security
No further information available from the TG leader.
Interface with the World Nuclear Association
The VP represented IRPA at a Panel Discussion on radiation protection during the WNA Annual Seminar in September 2014. This received good coverage in the nuclear media, and a podcast is available [https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/world-nuclear-association/id934046021?mt=2 ]. Discussions were held with WNA during the Geneva Congress, and a formal MoU has now been agreed – awaiting signature by WNA (Annex 6).
Miscellaneous Activities by the VP
Assisted in drafting the Regional Congress Model MoU, including annexes on Refresher Courses and the Young Persons Prize
Assisted in drafting ‘Arrangements for IRPA’s Support for Conferences - Waving the IRPA flag’
Assisted the President in preparing thoughts for the University Day during the IRPA14 Congress
Continuing to progress the filing of IRPA13 scientific papers onto the IRPA website. This has been delayed due to the bankruptcy of the contracted support organisation, but good progress is now being made.
Published a personal view on “Radiation Protection – Where Are We After Fukushima?” as an Invited Editorial in the Journal of Radiological Protection [http://iopscience.iop.org/0952-4746/34/4/E13/article]. This was aimed at prompting further debate from practitioners.
Roger Coates
March 2015
Annex 1.1RE: Nomination of Dr. Gary H Kramer by Canadian Radiation Protection Association
500-Word Summary
Dr Kramer has carried out original research for 42 years, until he retired in 2013, resulting in about 200 peer-reviewed publications. He began working in Health Physics when he joined Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) in 1979 working as an Analytical Radiochemist designing and testing new procedures for separating radionuclides from human excreta to support Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories Bioassay program. In 1985 he was appointed the section head of the Health Canada’s (HC) Human Monitoring Laboratory (HML) and the focus of research became In Vivo Monitoring. At the request of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Dr Kramer instituted the National Independent Testing In Vivo programme formally and brought all the facilities that possessed whole body, lung, and thyroid monitoring systems under its umbrella. His research then focussed on measurement uncertainties and improving body-burden estimates. It was also during this period that he designed and carried out two International In Vivo Performance Testing Programs (1993: 35 participants from 18 countries; 1996: 45 facilities in 23 countries). A third programme was carried out with the IAEA taking the burden from him.
Dr. Kramer rebuilt HC’s whole body counter and lung counter, twice, with (at the time) state of the art equipment. Each rebuild offered new avenues for research and those activities are reflected in the titles of the papers published in the peer-reviewed journals. He also designed and built a portable whole body counter used in both the Northwest Territories (NWT) and Israel to assess body burdens of persons internally contaminated post-Chernobyl. The NWT study revealed that the residents had been continuously internally exposed to 1960's fallout, a fact previously unknown.
The attack on New York City (11 September, 2001) raised the research profile of emergency response. Dr Kramer’s contribution was in the field of mass casualty/contamination scenarios. Such as: understanding the logistics of screening centres, designing and implementing both portal monitoring and portable high-resolution whole body counting systems, and how portal monitors (and other detectors) would behave in the presence of significant amounts of contamination. He was prominent in the Canadian response effort and has held the post of Director of the Federal Radiological Assessment Team during exercises.
Dr Kramer built a comprehensive Monte Carlo simulation capacity at the HML to examine issues experimentally impossible. Over time the capability improved and the HML was able to create its own voxel phantoms and a variety of manipulation tools. These are freely available to the Health Physics community.
In 2003 Dr Kramer’s research mandate expanded to include In Vitro again and this is reflected in the titles of the published papers. One surprising result was that 210Po can be excreted in gaseous form and provided a hitherto unsuspected contamination route.
Dr Kramer has also served on numerous committees both as a member and as Chairperson. He has also served as the President of the Canadian Radiation Protection Association twice (the first to do so) and has been recognised nationally and internationally as exemplified by the multiple awards he has received.
Annex 1.2
Summary of career: Professor Dudley T. Goodhead OBE
Professor Dudley Goodhead was born and educated in South Africa. He gained his D.Phil. at the University of Oxford in 1965 in particle physics and went on to academic positions at the Universities of California, London (St Bartholomew’s Hospital) and Natal (Durban). He joined the Medical Research Council Radiobiology Unit at Harwell, UK, in 1975 and later became Deputy Director before being appointed Director of the new MRC Radiation and Genome Stability Unit. Since formal retirement, he has retained attachment to MRC Harwell and continued as an independent advisor to national and international agencies.
In 2002, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Queen for services to medical research. His other awards include the Weiss Medal (ARR), Failla Medal (RRS), Douglas Lea Lecturer (IPEM), Bacq and Alexander Award (ESRB), Honorary Fellowship of SRP, Warren Sinclair Lecturer (NCRP, USA) and the Gray Medal (ICRU, 2011).
Professor Goodhead’s research, his collaborations and the research he directed whilst at the MRC Unit, were mainly towards identifying the underlying mechanisms of radiation action and how these relate to risk and protection. His personal approach focussed on the biophysics of radiation effects with emphasis on microscopic features of radiation track structure at the atomic, molecular and cellular levels and their consequent health effects. He has more than 200 publications.
Professor Goodhead’s external activities with national and international agencies and committees have been mainly for translation of the current scientific knowledge to practical situations and implications for radiation protection or treatment, and for policy and guidance of research to increase knowledge pertinent to these areas. Activities include work with the IAEA (atomic and molecular data for radiotherapy, 1988-94), UNSCEAR (dose-rate effects, 1989-93), US National Academies (BEIR-V on radon risk, 1993-98; cancer risk model for astronauts, 2011-12), IARR (councillor for physics, 1995-98), IARC (evaluation of X-, γ-rays and neutrons, 1999-2000; and internal radionuclides 2000-01), UK Royal Society (risks of depleted uranium, 2000-03) and NCRP (2005-present, including biological effectiveness of photons as function of energy, radiation protection for space activities). He chaired the CERRIE committee (2001-04), constituted to include extreme opposing views on risks of internal emitters, with the aim of together working through the evidence and arriving at consensus. It is common belief that CERRIE published a final report that did much to settle down the debate, or at least to crystalize the reasons for disagreement. Involvement with the EU EURATOM Radiation Protection programme (1989-present) included direct multi-national collaborative research, policy guidance and evaluation of research proposals. He was the (sole) Technical Secretariat for the HLEG report (2009), which set the foundations for future low-dose research throughout Europe on the basis of priorities for radiation protection and the need to consolidate European research competence and led to the pan-European Platform (MELODI) dedicated to low-dose risk research. His research interests in radiation quality led him from 2007 to reviews of various NASA radiation-risk research programmes and proposals (2007-12) and to be Scientific Director (2011-13) of the graduate/post-doc NASA Space Radiation Summer School.
Annex 1.3 Dr. John Boice, Professor, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
President, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements
First Chief, Radiation Epidemiology Branch at NCI
John Boice is professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and President of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), a Congressionally-chartered not for profit organization that supports the scientific and public aspects of radiation protection through independent analyses by leading scientists throughout the United States. He is an international authority on radiation effects and currently serves on the Main Commission of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, the US delegation to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and the US Congressionally mandated Veterans' Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction.
During 27 years of service in the US Public Health Service, Boice developed and became the first chief of the Radiation Epidemiology Branch at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Boice's seminal discoveries and over 440 publications have been used to formulate public health measures to reduce population exposure to radiation and prevent radiation-associated diseases.
In September 2011, he was an invited expert at the International Expert Symposium in Fukushima -- Radiation and Health Effects held in Fukushima City, Japan, and a Featured Speaker at the Department of Energy Integrated Safety Management Champions Workshop in Kennewick, WA. In June 2011, he presented a Plenary lecture at the Congress of Epidemiology in Montreal, Canada on “Fukushima is not Chernobyl”. In May 2011, he testified before the US House Committee on Science, Space and Technology on Nuclear Energy Risk Management.
In 2008, Boice received the Harvard School of Public Health Alumni Award of Merit. He has also received the E.O. Lawrence Award from the Department of Energy -- an honor bestowed on Richard Feynman and Murray Gell-Mann among others -- and the Gorgas Medal from the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. In 1999 he received the outstanding alumnus award from the University of Texas at El Paso (formerly Texas Western College).
Boice has a bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Texas at El Paso and a master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He received a master’s degree in Medical Physics at Harvard and also a doctoral degree in Epidemiology at Harvard.
He currently directs the Genetic Consequences of Cancer Treatment study, supported by the NCI, to assess the possible genetic risks related to the curative treatments received by cancer survivors who are able to become pregnant. In cooperation with the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Boice is conducting an NCI-funded study of atomic veterans who participated in any of the 230 atmospheric nuclear weapons tests between 1946 and 1958 at the Nevada Test Site or the Pacific Proving Grounds. In collaboration with the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and NASA, Boice has recently initiated the study of a Million US Radiation Workers and Veterans to examine the lifetime risk of cancer following relatively low-dose exposures received gradually over time.
Annex 2
IRPA Candidate Associate Society List
As at March 2015
Country Contact IRPA ECLead
Status
Algeria Zohra Loumis-Mokrani. Director of Research, Nuclear Research Centre of Algiers Algerian Atomic Energy [email protected]
RCoates
T Pather
Expelled 2008: last known contact at that time [email protected]
Later contact from Ken Kase via HPS (opposite). Email sent 4Feb13. Positive response 11.02.13: hoping to finalize society during 2013
Belarus Viktor Averin, Belarus Institute of Radiology[[email protected]]
Mrs. Olga Lugovskaya,Head of Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety,Ministry for Emergency Situations, Republic of Belarus
R Coates Contact supplied by Chris Clement.Email sent Aug13, responded Oct with suggestion to contact Prof Kenigsberg – done 25 Oct13. Prof K deceased!At VA’s suggestion sent email to Mrs O Lugovskaya on 6 Dec13 asking for support.
Bolivia ?? AM Bomben?
??
Cameroon Dr Saidou Saidou[[email protected]]
R Coates July13 Ottawa EC approved admission to IRPA
Chile ?? AM Bomben
Some contact during 2008/12.July13: AnaMaria working with existing society. Number 1 target!
Costa Rica ?? AM Bomben
July13: AnaMaria working with existing society. Number 2 target!
Ecuador ?? AM Bomben?
??
El Salvador ?? AM Bomben?
??
Ethiopia Demeke Edel [[email protected]]
R Coates Email discussion in progress. (22 Oct 2012)Aug13 – advised him to contact the East African Association
Ghana FRANCIS OTOOResearch ScientistRadiation Protection InstituteGhana Atomic Energy Commission P.O.Box.LG 80,Legon-Accra [email protected]@yahoo.com
R Coates Made contact with Renate at the IAEA Occ Exp Conference Dec 14.Email sent 16 Dec 14.
Feb 15 exchanged comment on draft Constitution.
Tel:+233243102487
Georgia ?? [R Coates]
Some exchanges during 2008/12 – documents returned for review.Established as a Chapter of US HPS. Dick Toohey information July13 – in contact with HPA President, not yet ready for IRPA link.
Gulf States:Qatar
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Professor Ilham Al-QaradawiDept of PhysicsQatar University[[email protected]]Professor Philip BeeleyProgram ChairNuclear EngineeringKhalifa University[[email protected]]
[email protected] (Radiation Safety Department Director, Federal Authority for NuclearRegulation, Abu Dhabi)
Dr. Jamila Salem Al SUWAIDIDirector of Clinical Support AffairsDubai HospitalDubaiUnited Arabic Emirates
R Coates
J Kim
Heard of interest through third party.Sent email 24 Oct 2012 – no response.
1st Nuclear Engineering Program in UAE. Prof. Beeley is the right person to contact.NB John Loy is also a player (Renate and Chris C contact).
Discussion with Daniele Giuffrida at the Geneva Congress June 14 – he will take action.
Renate contact – working jointly with Daniele G above
Hong Kong MA [email protected]
RC IEM6 contact Feb14. Email 5 Apr14 noting China society already an IRPA member
Indonesia Mr. Susilo WidodoHead of Center for Technology of Radiation Safety and Metrology, National Nuclear Energy Agency, Jl. Lebak Bulus Raya 49, Pasar Jumat, Jakarta Selatan.Phone: +62.21.7659511[[email protected]]
Previously[[email protected]] as a representative ofPT Bantan Teknologi
J KimSome contact during 2008/12.
Contact established by JK Feb13.RC email follow up 15 Feb13.Update Widodo to JK May/June 13: society is functioning.JK to keep contact
Iraq Dr Bushra AhmedHead of Regulatory Body[[email protected]]
Mr Yousif Al-Bakhat
R Coates Roger C contacts through other work: encouraged them to form a Society – no progress yet.
Head of RPIraq Atomic Energy Commission[yousif_zayir @yahoo.com]
Ireland(existing IRPA society)
Tanya [email protected]
R Coates An Irish Society is listed as an Associate Society, but it is inactive in IRPA terms and is believed to be focussed on radiobiology research. The UK SRP has been approached by some Irish practitioners to help start an alternative society or SRP branch. Discussions are in progress aimed at joining-in the existing society (as at Dec 13). Discussion with Lorraine Currivan (new Council Member of the Irish Society) in Geneva, June 14: she will follow up the drive to make the society more inclusive of the RP community.
Kosovo(+ Albania?)
President: Rame Miftari[[email protected]]Secretary: Ferki Felza[[email protected]]
R Coates Ready to join as Kosovo Society, but UN country recognition issue.Advised to consider regional association with Albania (see email 7Dec2012). Update 25 June13.
Mauritania Mohamed Mahmoud MounjaCHEFSERVICE INSPECTIONAutorite National de Radioprotection, de Surete et de Securite Nucleaire (ARSN) BP:4500, Tevragh Zena - Nouakchott - Mauritanie Tel: (222)44770444 (mobile (222)45290116(bureau)Fax: (222)45290113 Email: [email protected]
R Coates 27 Nov 13 received email requesting details of admission to IRPA. Responded 5 Dec 13.
Moldova Some contact during 2008/12.Nothing currently active.
Montenegro Tamara DjurovicSenior AdviserMinistry of Sustainable Development and TourismIV Proleterske brigade 19Podgorica 81000Montenegro Tel: +382 (0) 20 446 235Fax: +382 (0) 20 446 215Mobile: +382 67 263 463 [email protected]
R Coates Tamara D made contact with Renate in Vienna. Roger C follow-up Jan14.
Nov 14: Email sent to existing Serbia/Montenegro society requesting information and views. Similar email sent to Tamara.Dec14: Further exchange of emails with Tamara.Mar 15: Response from Serbian & M Society
[email protected] Kanchan Adhikari
National Academy of Medical SciencesBIR HospitalMahabuddhaKathmanduNepal[[email protected]]
Dr Buddha. R ShahNepal ~Academy of Science and [email protected]
R Coates Made contact at IRPA13 Glasgow.Email discussion on-going. (28Oct2012) (26 June13)
Also contact from Dr Buddha Shah at IEM6 Feb14. Email to him and Adhikari 5 Apr14
Nigeria Ekemezie Peter .O.[[email protected]]
Adeyemo Olalekan, Resident Medical Physicist from the National Hospital [[email protected]]Amidu Mustapha [email protected]
R Coates (T Pather)
Some contact during 2008/12.
Peter OE made contact Feb13.RC reply sent 15 and 21 Feb2013.Continues 25Jun13.Aug13: Further contact person identified (Olalekan) – put in touch.
Aug13: Amidu Mustapha confirms working to establish a society
Panama ?? AM Bomben?
??
Paraguay ?? AM Bomben
July13: AnaMaria working with existing society. Number 3 target!
Saudi Arabia [email protected], <[email protected]>[email protected]
R Coates(C Clement)
Contacts supplied by Chris Clement.RC email 7 Mar 14.
Singapore [email protected] J KimR Coates
Contact from Richard Wakeford June13. Followed up Aug 13.
Sudan ?? ?? ??Thailand Mr. Dacharchai Charnbanchee.
Head, Radiation Safety UnitThailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) [[email protected]]
Also Chanatip Tippayakul [[email protected]]
R Coates(J Kim)
Initial contact established by Jong Kim.RC email sent 15 Feb13.
Tunisia Mrs Kamoun Hager, Physician, Tunisian RP Institute . [email protected].
Prof Azza HammouDirector of National Center of Radiation Protection,[email protected]
T Pather Contact from Bernard LG.Sent email 17 April 13.July 13: Formation of society announced – first meeting in Nov13. Discussed with Azza Hammoun Vienna Sept 13.
Update April 2014. Discussions with Kamoun at the Geneva Congress June 14: Constitution received for review.
Tunisia admitted to IRPA at the Sept 14 African Regional Congress
Turkey Y.Ergün TOGAY, PresidentRadiation Protection AssociationTurgut Özal Bulvarı,Maşlak İş Merkezi,No: 20/4 İskitler - [email protected]
Mrs. Pinar CELIK [email protected]
R Coates Contact via Bernard Le Guen.Email exchange Sept 13.
Pinar Celik nominated as the IRPA contact. Email exchanges Jan14.
Uganda Dr Akisophel [email protected]
R Coates Contact at IAEA GC Sep13Invited to contact East Africa Society (email Sep13)
Ukraine Mr. Oleksandr Kluychnykov[[email protected]]
Previous contact was Prof. Borys GrynyovFirst Deputy Chairman,State Agency on Science, Innovation and Information of Ukraine[[email protected]]
J Kim Some contact during 2008/12.
New contact supplied by JK. Received an information of new contact point from Prof. Borys Grynyov who is the first deputy chairman,State Agency on Science, Innovation and Information of Ukraine. (February 15, 2013)RC followed up Aug13.Met Volodymyr Berkovsky at IEM6 Vienna Feb14: sent follow up email 6 Apr 14.
Vietnam 1)Professor Vuong Huu Tan Director General, Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS)[[email protected]]2)Prof. Hoang Anh TuanDirector, Vietnam Atomic Energy Agency (VAEA)[[email protected]]
Other possible contact:Professor Tran Thuy DuongRector, School of Nuclear Engineering & Environmental PhysicsHanoi Univ. of Sci. and Tech[[email protected]]
J Kim Updated contact points. (Received on January 8 , 2013 by JK)Prof. Tan is the former director of VAEC (Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission).July13: JKim to continue.
Zimbabwe Mr Jameson Mupariwa Mukaratirwa4, Lockheed RoadHARAREZIMBABWE
R Coates Contact made at Nuclear Law Institute course Oct 2013. Email sent subsequently.
Also IEM6 contact Feb14: Reward
Tel.: 2634705040EMail: [email protected]
Severa, CEO, RP Authority of Zimbabwe: sent email 5 Apr 14
Iran, Venezuela admitted as Associate Societies during 2008-12.
Cameroon admitted 2013. Tunisia admitted 2014
Roger Coates
IRPA Vice President
Annex 3
Benefits of a Radiation Protection Society [DRAFT]
There are two related questions common to all radiation protection societies and to professionals engaged in radiation protection:
Why create a national/regional Radiation Protection Society?
As an individual practitioner, why should I join a Radiation Protection Society?
There are many reasons to form a society and for individual practitioners to become involved, and they can be regarded as falling into four categories as follows:
1. The Benefits of Creating and Belonging to a Radiation Protection Society
Basic society benefits:
- Mutual support and encouragement for the radiation protection practitioners in your country/region:
o Sharing experiences and best practice, providing access to fellow professionals for cooperation and advice
o Assistance with education, training and personal development to advance the knowledge and understanding of members in the field of radiation protection
- Establishing a programme of scientific and technical meetings and discussion forums on topics and issues relevant to your country/region
- Advancing radiation protection practice and standards in your country/region, thereby improving the overall standard of radiological safety through enhanced professional competence
- Sharing information on radiation protection issues and developments within your country/region, including access to society newsletters, journals and other publications.
At a more advanced level (as a society develops):
- Development of recognised training programmes for radiation protection professionals, and the promotion of a good radiation protection culture
- Recognition of competence to practice radiation protection, for example to undertake roles required in regulations such as a Radiation Protection Expert, through the formation of assessment schemes, where relevant recognised by the appropriate national authorities
- Formulation of sectorial groups e.g. nuclear, medical, education, research, non-ionising etc. for sharing of information/good practice and the development of sector specific guidance etc.
-
- A forum for interaction between radiation protection practitioners and government, regulatory authorities and relevant professional organisations, particularly in the context of developing national law and regulations and issues relating to professional standards and competence.
- Promoting public understanding and awareness of radiation risk
- Information and assistance on career development and opportunities, including access to experienced professionals for guidance and mentoring
- Advice and opportunities for developing presentational and speaking skills
- Development of guidance notes and standards of good practice on professional radiation protection activities.
- Provide organisations using radiation with access to a database of qualified Radiation Protection Experts in specific sectors
2. The Benefits of Cooperation at an International Level through IRPA
IRPA is an international association of individual radiation protection practitioners joining through national or regional societies. It promotes excellence in national and regional associate societies and in radiation protection professionals by providing support, guidance, benchmarks of good practice, exchange of information, and by facilitating networking to ensure that the highest standards of professional conduct, skills and knowledge are applied for the benefit of society. Our Vision is to be recognized by our members and stakeholders as the international voice of the radiation protection profession in the enhancement of radiation protection culture and practice worldwide
Through membership of IRPA, radiation protection professionals and the national/regional Associate Societies have an enhanced opportunity for:
- Influencing the development of radiation protection practice and international standards through IRPA’s involvement with key international organizations such as ICRP, IAEA, EU, ICRU, WHO, ILO and many others.
- Engagement with developing experience of excellence and good practice within the profession. IRPA has active programmes for sharing and promoting experiences in many fields, currently including Stakeholder Engagement, Training and Qualifications, Radiation Protection Culture, Public Understanding, and Ethics, amongst other issues.
- Sharing radiation protection experiences at a range of IRPA-sponsored international meetings, including international and regional congresses and topic-specific discussions.
- Working with other radiation protection societies in your region to share best practice, common problems, address regional issues and establish important communication channels.
- Access to IRPA and other Associate Society newsletters, bulletins and journals (either free of charge or at a reduced subscription rate)
- Improving understanding of how radiation protection issues are managed worldwide and in turn how individual countries/regions can feed into and affect this process.
- Supporting the development of new or emerging radiation protection professional societies in lesser developed parts of the world in order to embed good radiation protection practices, often in challenging circumstances.
3. Benefits for the Employer when an Employee belongs to a Radiation Protection Society
Where organisations believe that they benefit from their staff belonging to Radiation Protection Societies, they are more likely to be encouraging and supportive of their staff’s involvement. Benefits to employers can include:
- Greater assurance that staff are keeping up to date with developments in radiation protection, and that they will be more aware of good practices within other organisations
- Greater confidence that staff are aspiring to the highest professional standards
- Staff access to peer review of their competence and professionalism
- A demonstration to customers, stakeholders and external bodies that staff are aiming to practice at the highest levels
- Better access to acknowledged leaders in the field
- Staff have opportunities to attend seminars, lectures and conferences for their professional development, often at reduced cost compared to non-members, or even with bursary support from the Society or related organisations
- Many other opportunities for staff to pursue professional development in their career
- Staff have opportunities, working through the Society, to influence the development of legislation and guidance at national and international level
- Staff have greater awareness of the importance of public communication and engagement on radiation issues, and have access to communication techniques and good practices.
4. The Benefits to National Authorities
- Societies provide a focus for Authorities to interact with practitioners
- National Authorities need to recruit staff with practical and technical experience and/or train staff in these areas. Societies can help facilitate this.
- Society activities, such as arranging scientific meetings, can provide important elements for the Continuing Professional Development of Authority staff.
- The work of Societies can provide early identification of issues that National Authorities may need to develop policies on.
- Many regulators are active members of Societies, and this provides opportunities for both the regulators and the practitioners to understand each other’s driving forces. This can prevent, or ameliorate, any “us and them” attitudes.
Conclusion
There are many benefits to radiation protection practitioners, employing organisations and society in general from active participation in national/regional Radiation Protection Societies. These benefits are rarely articulated, and hence IRPA Associate Societies are encouraged to be more active in their promotion activities.
[Specific detailed examples of Society activities and statements in this field are listed in the attached Annex.]
Annex 4 IRPA SADC Action Plan: Good Practices (Draft)
Explanatory Note
This document is a first attempt at exploring how we might put together and format information on existing “good practices” used by ASs, which other ASs might find useful. It is assumed that the end product would be web pages on the IRPA website. Initially the viewer would just see the title boxes, for each activity, one below the other. How we group and order them is for later down the line*. If the viewer scrolls through and finds something interesting, clicking on <More> reveals the text that you see here. We have used 4 standard headings in each activity, but it might be preferable to reduce to 3 and put the Benefits text into the description. Hypertext links and contact details are provided so that if the activity is of real interest it can be pursued further.
Note*: The activities could be grouped under a set of keywords to ease the search for societies looking for good practice in a particular field. As an example, keywords could include:
- Membership Structure [eg - International Committee & Partner Societies, Young Persons]
- Public Understanding and Outreach [eg - schools programme etc]
- Regulatory and Government Liaison
- Professional Standards and Guidance
- Career Information and Guidance
- International Liaison
- Member Communications
Draft produced by Christine Edwards John Croft and Roger Coates (SRP)
1. Activity: Liaison with other Societies SRP <More>
Associate Society focus for interaction with IRPA
Key Objectives
The International Committee is appointed by SRP Council to facilitate co-operation with IRPA; to facilitate liaison with Partner Societies and to encourage, develop and facilitate appropriate UK involvement in IRPA affairs.
Description
The International Committee (ICom) is made up of members of SRP and UK Partner Societies (PSs). It provides a forum for co-operation to develop UK inputs and responses to IRPA and associated
international activities. The Committee typically meets twice a year, with interspersed teleconferences, to discuss International matters within the UK RP community. The PSs are
Association of University Radiation Protection Officers (AURPO)
British Institute of Radiology (BIR)
British Nuclear Medicine Society (BNMS)
Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)
Royal College of Radiologists (RCR)
Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR)
ICom is formally a Committee of SRP and was established by formal agreement between the Societies. The number of members on ICom a PS has is governed by the size of their IRPA membership (see 2); and SRP has a membership equal to the total of all the PSs. The positions of Chair and secretary rotate between SRP and a PS on a 4 yearly cycle linked to the IRPA International Congresses. https://www.srp-uk.org/about-us/committees
Benefits
Sharing of good practice between the sectors.
Formulation of a holistic UK view and response to key IRPA issues.
Contacts
Christine Edwards MBE, Chair of SRP ICom: [email protected]
John Croft, Secretary of SRP ICom: [email protected]
2. Activity: International Member grade SRP <More>
Key Objectives
To provide a mechanism for members of PSs, who are not also full members of SRP, to be a member of IRPA.
Description
Membership of IRPA can only be through an Associate Society. Partner Societies (PSs) nominate individuals who would meet the IRPA membership requirements. PSs pay IRPA fees to SRP, who include this in the overall membership fees to IRPA, and act as the formal point of contact. Information from IRPA is disseminated via the PSs to their members and also via a Monthly Update email (See 3). A significant number of people have membership of both SRP and one or more PS. However to cater for PS members who are not members of SRP, access privileges have been set to allow them to access the International Committee area of the website.
Benefits
Provides for a wider engagement of UK professionals in IRPA.
Contacts
John Croft, Secretary of SRP ICom: [email protected]
3. Activity: Weekly and monthly updates to members SRP <More>
Key Objectives
To assist members in keeping up to date with meetings, events, consultation processes and issues.
Description
(a) SRP Full members: weekly emails sent out by MailChimp covering news, consultative documents and Jobs. The format is a sequence of Logo/picture plus short text with link to full article. Essentially the format gives a “heads up”, which if they are of interest to the members they can follow up on < provide a link to a typical example: currently in members only area>
(b) International members from the Partner Societies (see 1). Monthly version of above, without job adverts but including information about activities of the various Societies.
Benefits
Provides regular updates and news items to members
Contacts
John Croft, Secretary of SRP ICom: [email protected]
4. Activity: Schools Event SRP <More>
Key Objectives
To inspire school children to consider a career in science and in particular, radiation protection.
Description
An annual outreach event aimed at Years 9-10 (age 13-15 year olds) which is directly relevant to the
syllabuses offered by all major UK exam boards. The event includes an extensive exhibition of interactive, entertaining and thought provoking stands based around the subject of radiation with inspiring exhibitions including those manned by representatives from the emergency services, hospitals, universities and the nuclear industry. With the opportunity for pupils and their teachers to talk to a wide range of radiation protection professionals, together with university students taking courses in radiation-related subjects. https://srp-uk.org/public-and-schools/srp-schools-event
Benefits
It helps widen public engagement and provide a springboard for young people into careers in radiation protection.
Contacts
Charlene Matthewman. [email protected]
5. Activity: Resource centre for schools outreach programmes SRP <More>
Key Objectives
To provide freely available posters and other information material that fellow professionals, teachers and others can use to broaden the understanding of radiation, its uses, controls and protection standards.
Description
The resources currently available fall into two groups
A web page on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): https://srp-uk.org/public-and-schools/faqs
A series of A0 Posters (currently 46), that cover the different types of radiation, how they are used and how we control them. The posters were originally developed for the Schools Event that was put on at IRPA13 in 2012. They were on display in the Hall where the exhibition was taking place. To attract the pupils to look at them, they were each given a quiz sheet related to the content of all the posters and a prize given for the best answers. It was always envisaged that SRP would make the electronic versions of the posters freely available as a teaching aide. After IRPA13 the posters were reviewed and added to; and have been used at subsequent events. https://srp-uk.org/public-and-schools/resources-for-schools
Benefits
They provide useful teaching aides and material that can be used in Outreach programmes
Contacts
John Croft, SRP: [email protected]
6. Activity: Young Professionals Award (YPA) SRP <More>
Key Objectives
To promote the development of, and provide support to, young professionals from SRP and Partner Societies; typically within the first 10 years of their radiation protection career.
Description
The UK YPA is for the best 8-minute oral presentation of a ‘qualifying’ entrant’s research and/or development work in radiation protection in any field, including operational at the SRP Annual Conference. The winning entry is then given a fully funded opportunity to present at an IRPA Congress. https://www.srp-uk.org/news/article/71/2015-young-professionals-award
Benefits
A fantastic opportunity for young UK professionals to gain experience of presenting in front of an audience of RP professionals, both in the UK and internationally.
Contacts
Prof Peter Cole: [email protected]
Annex 5a
Task Group on Eye Lens Exposure and Tissue Reactions
Terms of Reference
Objectives
To take forward the principal recommendations from the Task Group report on the implementation of ICRP recommendations for a revised dose limit to the lens of the eye (approved by the IRPA Executive Committee in July 2013), collate practitioner experience and liaise with relevant international organisations.
To monitor and review current considerations relating to the wider generic issue of Tissue Reactions, and to identify issues of particular relevance to IRPA and RP practitioners.
Membership
Chair: Marie Claire Cantone, (AIRP, Italy)
Vice Chair: Merce Ginjaume (SERP, Spain)
Nominees from other Associate Societies: [To be nominated]
S. Miljanic (Croatia))
To achieve the widest participation by the practitioners through the ASs, the TG members have to be representative of the different geographical areas: Europe, Asian, North and South American, African regions.
Key Tasks
To promote awareness and feedback mechanisms regarding practitioner experiences on eye lens dose.
To collate key practical experience of controlling eye lens dose, including dose monitoring and assessment, methods of protection, and related practical implementation issues.
To interact with relevant international organisations, particularly IAEA, ICRP and ISO, on developing guidance and best practice.
To work towards the development of an international protocol for the identification of those workers with potentially significant eye lens exposure and the determination of appropriate monitoring methods (when and how).
To highlight possible critical points which have emerged or are still open in the community, by collecting and sharing warnings related to the eye dose limits or its monitoring.
To review current international developments on the topic of Tissue Reactions generally, and to identify relevant issues which should be brought to the attention of IRPA and the practitioners.
To prepare a report on the evolution and current status of the eye lens issue and tissue reactions generally, for presentation at the IRPA14 International Congress in Cape Town, May 2016.
Working Methods
The ASs will be asked to provide their views and comments on the impact related to the implementation of the new limit for the lens of the eye.
The final report will try to capture in its conclusions, the status of the process of legislative alignment in the various countries for the new limit and it will try to represent potential requests for further information or studies and to list possible emerging suggestions.
The work of the Task Group will be conducted principally via email, internet and telephone.
The Task Group Chair will report annually to the IRPA Executive Council through the designated Liaison Officer (Roger Coates), normally one month prior to the meeting of the Council.
Signed
IRPA President
Date
Annex 5b
Update on the progress with ‘IRPA TG on the impact of the implementation on the Eye Lens Dose Limits’
The Terms of Reference for the study were developed, approved and signed by the IRPA President on January 9th, 2015.
Membership.
With reference in particular to the ToR statement: “To achieve the widest participation by practitioners through the Ass, the TG members have to be representative of the different geographical area: Europe, Asian, North and South American, African regions“ , we proceeded to the constitution of the Group.
In addition to the memberships already listed in the ToR, members nominations have been obtained from: Society for Radiological Protection, Japan Health Physics Society, Southern African Radiation Protection Association, Sociedad Argentina de Radioprotection and Health Physics Society.
The current structure of the Group is:Chair: Marie Claire Cantone (AIRP, Italy)Vice Chair: Merce Ginjaume (SERP, Spain)Saveta Miljanic (CRPA, Croatia)Colin Martin (SRP, UK)Keiichi Akahane (JHPS, Japan)Louisa Mpete (SARPA, South Africa)Severino C Michelin (SAR, Argentina)Cynthia M Flannery (HPS, US)Lawrence T Dauer (HPS, US)Stephen Balter (HPS, US)
Work in progressHaving in mind the first two points of the Key Tasks, from the ToR, , a draft questionnaire, in a basic format for distribution, discussion and input among all TG members, has been developed, together with the vice chair Merce Ginjaume, on the basis of 16 questions divided among 4 topics:
Implications for Dosimetry,Implications for Methods of Protection, Wider Implications of Implementing the Revised Limit,Legislative and other general aspects.
Once reviewed and finalized, the questionnaire will be sent to IRPA EC for the distribution to the IRPA ASs with the request to answer and fill in the questionnaire.
Agenda and milestonesAction DeadlineTo finalize the text of the questionnaire by the TG April 20th, 2015Distribution of the questionnaire by IRPA EC to the IRPA ASs. April 30th, 2015Note: the deadline of July 1st will be clearly stated while distributing the questionnaire.Collection of the answers by the ASs to the questionnaire July 1st, 2015
Note: a possible extension of the term by 20 days will be considered, in case of few answers revived by the deadline.
Preparation work within the TG to outline the content and structure of the basic protocol in line withparagraph 4 of the ToR Key Tasks June 2015
Date 21 March 2015 Marie Claire Cantone
Annex 6 MoU IRPA/WNA
Practical Arrangements on Cooperation Activities between IRPA and WNA
World Nuclear Association (WNA)
And
International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA)
WHEREAS the aim of WNA, as theinternational organization representing the global nuclear industry, is to promote a wider understanding of nuclear energy among key international influencers by producing authoritative information, developing common industry positions, and contributing to the energy debate, as well as to pave the way for expanding nuclear business. The Association speaks in key international forums that affect the policy and public environment in which the industry operates, and promotes improvements in the international system of radiological protection by developing and advocating scientifically sound positions of policy and practice.
WHEREAS the aim of IRPA, as an independent non-profit organization, is to promote excellence in national and regional associate societies and in radiation protection professionals by providing support, guidance, benchmarks of good practice, exchange of information, and by facilitating networking to ensure that the highest standards of professional conduct, skills and knowledge are applied for the benefit of society;
WHEREAS WNA and IRPA believe that whilst each has its specific contributions to radiation protection, cooperation between the two organizations in areas of common interest will contribute to the overall joint goal of the safe use of radiation without compromising on quality, and to facilitating the safe use of radiological practices.
NOW, therefore, the two organizations hereby agree as follows:
1. Purpose of this cooperation:
to recognize that both organizations can complement each other in promoting the safe use of radiation,
to enhance the cooperation between both organizations in the field of radiation protection
2. Cooperative activities:
The two organizations will:
share information and respective views on the development of the system of radiation protection and its application in practice
organize joint events or sessions on the safe use of radiation
provide each other the link to WNA and IRPA website on their own webpage
inform on and possibly invite a designated representative of the other organization to participate in respective events and venues
send an official letter of invitation for attendance of meetings.
Any cooperative activity as outlined in this article shall be subject to the availability of sufficient financial and human resources for that purpose, as well as each Party’s program of work, priorities, regulations and policies. Invitation of representatives to meetings shall be at no cost to the inviting organization unless specifically agreed. Nothing in this cooperation agreement implies that IRPA will promote the use of nuclear energy.
3. Termination.
This agreement may be terminated by either Party, subject to three months advance written notice to the other Party.
Signed
Agneta Rising Renate Czarwinski
(Director General, WNA) (President IRPA)
on …../……/…... ……/…../………..