The international conference on Radiation Safety

The IAEA is organizing the International Conference on Radiation Safety: Improving Radiation Protection in Practice in Vienna, from 9 to 13 November 2020. The Conference is being organized in cooperation with the main international associations, i.e. : European Commission, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Labour Organization, the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Pan American Health Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Health Organization.

International Conference on Radiation Safety – Objective

The Conference aims to take stock of the worldwide radiation safety situation. Moreover 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 is being organized by the ICRP and will be held 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.

International Conference on Radiation Safety – List of Topics

The IAEA welcomes high-quality contributions on all aspects of the system of radiological protection, focusing in particular on the topics listed afterwards. This is not an exhaustive list and other relevant topics will also be considered. For example:

Firstly – Justification and optimization:

• Accounting for societal values;
• Decision making and stakeholder involvement; and
• Review of justification decisions.

Secondly – Dose constraints and reference levels:

• 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.

Thirdly – Applying the graded approach:

• The graded approach to regulation;
• The graded approach to operational radiation protection;
• Managing hazards and risks.

Fourthly – Conservatism in radiation protection:

• Conservatism in the linear–no threshold model;
• Communicating radiation risks;
• Conservatism in dose assessment and modelling.

then- Planned exposure situations:

• 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 public in planned exposure situations.

then – Emergency exposure situations:

• Radiological criteria for transition;
• Optimized protection strategies; and
• Managing exposures of workers and the public.

lastly – Existing exposure situations:

• Radon in homes and workplaces;
• Natural and artificial radionuclides in food and drinking water; and
• Cosmic ray exposure of aircrew and space crew; implications of space tourism.

and more