Speaker
Description
Operational quantities are designed for measuring external exposure to ionising radiation, providing conservative estimates of protection quantities. The International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) Report 95, published jointly with the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in 2020, proposes an alternative approach to the current definition of operational quantities, aligning them with the phantoms used for calculating protection quantities. This new approach aims to enhance the accuracy and reliability of radiation protection measures. To facilitate adoption and maintain trust in the radiological protection system, several critical questions and concerns must be addressed. These include practical application, financial implications for Member States, and the impact on current radiation protection practice. In response, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has developed a Technical Document (TECDOC) that reviews existing knowledge and identifies gaps. This document aims to inform discussions on monitoring system redesign, calibration, standardisation, regulation, and training needs. It seeks to engage stakeholders, including monitoring services, instrument manufacturers, metrology laboratories, standardisation bodies, international organisations, legislators, regulators, licensees, qualified experts, and occupationally exposed workers. The IAEA TECDOC aims to raise awareness among all stakeholders about the possible implications and actions to mitigate them. It intends to support and promote a well-balanced upcoming decision regarding the adoption of the new quantities from a stakeholders’ perspective. To stimulate open debate on the ICRU Report 95 proposal’s impact across various occupational fields, a series of workshops are planned to be organized in the African, Asia-Pacific, and Latin American regions.