Revised Basic Safety Standards - implications for occupational health

Occupational radiation protection is an important part of occupational health. To reach harmonized and high level of safety at the work with ionizing radiation worldwide Radiation Safety Standards are fundamental. The revision of the International Basic Safety Standards (BSS) was started in 2007 jointly with ILO, WHO and several other international organizations. After 4 years and more than 60 meetings, the revised BSS was approved by the Board of Governor of IAEA in September 2011. The BSS takes account of the Fundamental Safety Principles, findings of UNSCEAR, the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the opinions from different stakeholders. The revised BSS is relevant to all facilities and activities which may give rise to exposure to ionizing radiation. Occupational radiation protection is a key topic in this regard.
Three exposure situations – planned exposure situation, existing exposure situation and emergency exposure situation – are introduced. The dose limitation system for planned exposure situation remains the same with the current BSS except for the equivalent dose limits for the lens of the eyes which were considerably reduced. Monitoring and control for the radiation exposure to the lens of eyes of workers will be an issue to be solved. The concept of dose constraints is adopted for the purpose of optimization and plays an important role in the practical application of ionizing radiation. A graded approach was suggested for occupational radiation protection, inter alia on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM). Radiation protection for radon in some areas may face challenge due to the change of the dose coefficient for radon. Occupational exposure control for emergency exposure situation is still a field that needs to be strengthened. The safety guides on occupational radiation protection are being revised to implement the newly revised BSS.