The European ALARA Network (EAN) promotes the optimisation of radiation protection (keeping exposures As Low As Reasonably Achievable – ALARA) across Europe. It brings together professionals, regulators, and stakeholders to share experience, develop guidance, and support the practical implementation of ALARA principles in various sectors, including industry, medicine, research, and the environment.
In 2005 the French nuclear safety authority (ASN) requested the French Comittee of Non-Destructive Testings (COFREND) to work on improving radiation protection in gammagraphy. To perform this task COFREND asked for collaboration with the French Radiation Protection Society (SFRP). Thus in 2006-2007, 9 working groups on different topics (for instance, regulation, training, dosimetry, risk assessment […]
Following recommendation from the three first EAN workshops, the European Commission has set up a research project on the application of ALARA for the internal exposure. The SMOPIE (Strategies and Methods for the OPtimisation of Internal Exposure of workers from industrial natural sources) project came to its end in June 2004 and has generated important […]
Context The principle of optimisation in radiation protection has been published by the ICRP in the recommendation No. 22 for the first time in 1973. Since 1980 the ALARA principle has been part of the European Basic Safety Standards and has been progressively introduced into national regulations. Nowadays the effective radiation protection practice […]
The European ALARA Network for NORM (EANNORM) is organizing its 2nd Workshop from 24th to 26th November, 2006 in Dresden (Germany). This Workshop will follow the spirit of the first edition. It will mainly be devoted to the dissemination of topical information/knowledge on good radiation protection practices concerning the NORM industru and other work activities. […]
The 12th EAN Workshop took place in Vienna (Austria) from 21st to 23rd October 2009. It dealt with "ALARA issues arising for Safety and Security of Radiation Sources and Security Screening Devices". The full papers and PowerPoint presentations are downloadable in the Workshop section. NEW: The Conclusions of the 12th EAN Workshop are now available […]
The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), the Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering of the St. Jame’s Hospital and the Faculty of Radiologists, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland are organising an International Symposium on "Non-Medical Imaging Exposures". It will be held in Dublin (Ireland) on 8-9 October 2009. As it is funded by […]
The Greek Atomic Energy Commission, under the auspices of the European Commission and in co-operation with IAEA and EURADOS is organizing "the Individual Monitoring of Ionizing Radiation Conference". The conference will be held in Athens, from 8 to 12 March 2010. This conference presents a unique opportunity to keep up to date with the scientific […]
The 24th issue of the EAN Newsletter has now been published and can be downloaded in the Newsletter section. Contents of the Issue Extremity dose to nuclear medicine technologists in routine clinical practice with 18F-FDG, The European Radiation Protection Authorities Network, Summary of the 1st ARAN Workshop: "Imrpoving Radiation Protection in Industrial Radiography", 4th RECAN […]
Download the 24th issue in PDF format
Editorial
"ALARA issues arising for Safety and Security of Radiation Sources and Security Screening Devices", Vienna, Austria, 21-23 October 2009
Download the Conclusions of the Workshop (without references)Download the Conclusions of the Workshop (with references)Download Special Issue of the ALARA Newsletter dedicated to the Workshop
Background and objectives
Radiation protection has always included security-related provisions, for example measures to prevent the unauthorised use and illegal transfer of sources, which have contributed to the overall system of radiation safety. In recent years, however, interest in security issues has dramatically increased and the challenge is to ensure that safety and security measures are designed and implemented in an integrated manner so that security measures do not compromise safety and safety measures do not compromise security.
The aim of the Workshop was to consider how the implementation of ALARA, in terms of planned and emergency exposure situations, involving worker and public doses, is affected by the introduction of these new security-related measures. In the case of new equipment and procedures, there is also the question of whether exposures arising from security screening devices can be justified. In addressing these issues, the Workshop aimed to consider how an optimum balance between protection, safety and security can be achieved.