[en] Full text: The Radiation Protection Services (RPS) group at ANSTO are required to provide a high quality radiation protection advice and assurance service to multiple types of facilities (nuclear reactor, linear accelerators, cyclotrons, radiopharmaceutical production, multiple research departments and others) which give rise to a diverse range of ionising radiation safety challenges. In order to maintain high standards and recognise development opportunities to ensure that best practices are employed the RPS group developed a Strategic Operational Plan to identify continuous improvement opportunities to maintain “best practice” in radiation protection within this diverse organisation. This presentation will explore some of those opportunities to ensure continuous improvement in radiation protection practices at ANSTO. (author)

[en] Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization(ANSTO) has a research reactor, OPAL (Open Pool Australian Lightwater reactor) which is a state-of-art 20 MW reactor for various purposes. In OPAL reactor, there are many kinds of radionuclides produced from various reactions in pool water and those should be identified and quantified for the safe use of OPAL. To do that, it is essential to check the efficiency of filters which are able to remove the radioactive substance from the reactor pool water. There are two main water circuits in OPAL which are RSPCS (Reactor Service Pool Cooling System) and HWL (Hot Water Layer) water circuits. The reactor service pool is connected to the reactor pool via a transfer canal and provides a working area and storage space for the spent and other materials. Also, HWL is the upper part of the reactor pool water and it minimize radiation dose rates at the pool surface. We collected water samples from these circuits and measured the radioactivity by using Gamma Spectrometry System (GSS) and Liquid Scintillation Counter (LSC) to evaluate the filters. We could evaluate the efficiency of filters in RSPCS and HWL in OPAL research reactor. Through the measurements of radioactivity using GSS and LSC, we could conclude that there is likely to be no alpha emitter in water samples, and for beta and gamma activity, there are very big differences between inlet and outlet results, so every filter is working efficiently to remove the radioactive substance

[en] Full text: The Australian nuclear industry is suffering heightened concerns of a skills gap. The following paper provides an overview of ANSTO’s approach to developing a radiation protection competency-based framework. The aim is to provide a holistic view of the professional development requirements within ANSTO for current and aspirational Health Physicists, whilst also providing a technical skill profile across ANSTO (i.e. what knowledge, skills and experience Radiation Protection Services are required to show). This will allow the identification and implementation of the required professional development initiatives (learning and competency based activities) to support the development of personnel, their careers, and the radiation protection profession (i.e. how the individuals will show the required knowledge, skills and experience). This is used by ANSTO to create and recognise Qualified Experts in the absence of a formal recognition mechanism within Australia. ANSTO recognises that locally developed measures are more relevant and sustainable than those imported substantially from outside. It is therefore important to support and facilitate indigenous methods and to factor in Australia’s and ANSTO’s culture – ‘the way we do things here’ – whilst still achieving radiation protection objectives that reflect international norms. This health physicist development framework has been developed by drawing on the requirements for recognition of example accreditation schemes / professional societies, including ARPAB, ARPS, RPA 2000, SRP (Membership and Chartership); the European Network on Education and Training in Radiation Protection (ENETRAP III); and the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) Guidance on Certification of a Radiation Protection Expert. This Health Physicist development framework is not intended to be definitive, but rather something that grows and adapts as experience is gained using it as part of the professional development of individuals, Radiation Protection team, and ANSTO. In order to support Health Physicists in showing that they possess the required radiation protection knowledge, skills and experience for their ANSTO role, and to support the development of personnel, their careers, and the radiation protection profession, a list of professional development initiatives (learning and competency based activities) has been identified. This includes on-the-job training, mentoring, and attendance at training courses for less experienced health physicists; whilst for more experienced individuals, development requirements are likely to be primarily met by supporting attendance at industry seminars, conferences and specialist training courses. (author)

[en] Full text: The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) operates one of the world’s most modern nuclear research reactors, OPAL; a comprehensive suite of neutron beam instruments; the Australian Synchrotron; the National Research Cyclotron; and the Centre for Accelerator Science. ANSTO also provides the Australian and international community with nuclear medicine including Tc-99m using Gentech® generators which contain the parent nuclide, Mo-99. During August 2017 a radiopharmaceuticals manufacturing QC analyst became contaminated whilst carrying out standard operating processes with a QC sample of Mo-99. Despite the rapid reactions of the operator the radioactive contamination on the analyst’s gloves and hands led to an estimated dose to the skin of the hands of approximately 20Gy. The accident was reported on the IAEA International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) as a level 3, serious accident. There were a number of improvements to equipment, process and protective equipment identified in the resulting investigation. This presentation will describe the process which led to the accident, the immediate responses and causes of the accident, initial dose estimates and the error margins of the early dose estimates based on the information available at the time and lessons learned. Immediate changes to equipment were implemented and longer term modifications requiring significant design changes were identified to reduce the risk of a similar accident happening and these will be described. The tissue reactions due to the radiation exposure to the workers hands will be described along with the medical treatments administered. Finally, the emotional / psychological impacts will be briefly discussed. (author)

[en] Full text: This paper discusses the potential combined off-site radiological impacts of the reference accidents for OPAL multipurpose research reactor, ANSTO radiopharmaceutical production and ANSTO Nuclear Medicine facilities’, and the protection strategy that would be employed if such a scenario were to occur. For the Lucas Heights Radiological Hazard Assessment and Protection Strategy the ANSTO Lucas Heights campus fence line is prudently considered the boundary between on-site and off-site as described in IAEA GSR Part 7 (2015). The Lucas Heights Radiological Hazard Assessment and Protection Strategy has been prepared as a technical document in support of the Lucas Heights subplan to the New South Wales State Emergency Management Plan (EMPLAN). This details the hazard assessment and protection strategy for aspects of the preparation for, response to, and immediate recovery from a radiological or nuclear emergency occurring at Lucas Heights. The off-site radiological impact of the combined reference accidents is assessed for adults, children and infants over an exposure period of 50 years using conservative assumptions, such as unfavourable meteorological conditions and lack of response actions, such as sheltering (no sheltering during the exposure period). This hazard assessment supports the preparation for, and the response to, a substantial radioactive release, including radiological monitoring, other response actions, and communication with relevant parties (response agencies, government agencies, members of the public, etc). The protection strategy describes the outcomes required in response to a radiological emergency during all its phases, and how this will be achieved. The aim is to prevent severe deterministic effects, reasonably reduce the risk of stochastic effects, and to ensure the safety of emergency workers and helpers. (author)

[en] Full text: There is a potential for the principle of optimisation to be misunderstood, and taken as implying a need to minimise exposures regardless of cost. The level of protection should be the best under prevailing circumstances and should provide for adequate margin of benefit over harm. Think optimisation not minimisation. Optimisation of protection is a process that is at the heart of a successful radiological protection program and is a frame of mind that encompasses the following: • Forward-looking, but informed by learnings from past experience, • Aimed at preventing unnecessary exposures before they occur, • Ongoing and iterative, and • Considers both technical and socio-economic developments. Effective Implementation of Optimisation measures occurs when all stakeholders are involved, who know and agree with the principles of radiological protection, and adhere to an active safety culture. The basic role of the concept of optimisation of protection is to foster a ‘safety culture’ and thereby to create a state of thinking in everyone responsible for control of radiation exposures, such that they are continuously asking themselves the question, ‘Have I done all that I reasonably can to avoid or reduce these doses whilst still allowing the net benefit to be realised?’ ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) is often used to express the principles underlying optimisation of radiation protection. The responsibility of implementing optimisation lies with all parties involved including management, workers and radiation protection. It should be a collective effort to strive for doses that are ALARA. Optimisation is applied in various types of exposure situations and these can be in Planned, Emergency or Existing situations. New designs and existing facilities can also benefit from applying the optimisation process to demonstrate that ALARA has been applied and implemented in the process. ANSTO has three campuses across two states of Australia and is the centre of Australia’s capabilities and expertise in nuclear science and technology. The variety of radiation sources at ANSTO encompasses the breadth of the health physics field. Our sources of ionizing radiation include but are not limited to: the OPAL multi-purpose research reactor; the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering; the Australian Synchrotron; Particle Accelerators; Unsealed radioisotopes used in medical radioisotope production settings; as well as biomedical and chemical research applications; and naturally occurring radioactive materials. This paper discusses optimisation of radiation protection in practice, and gives a couple of real world examples at ANSTO from the last few years. (author)

[en] Full text: The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s (ANSTO) Radiation Safety Standard outlines the elements developed and implemented by ANSTO to assist management and workers to establish and maintain a healthy and safe workplace. This Standard supports ANSTO in delivering excellence in its work health and safety performance with regard to all aspects of radiation safety, including the requirements of the ARPANSA Planned Exposure Code RPS C-1 (2016). For those actions that have been assessed and are deemed to be justified this Standard describes a Dose Optimisation Framework to maximise the overall benefit as far as is reasonably achievable under the prevailing circumstances. It also describes additional restrictions that apply to occupational exposure for a female worker who has notified ANSTO of pregnancy or is breastfeeding. To encourage early notification and to provide assurance that appropriate controls are considered and put in place where required ANSTO has published guidelines for expectant or breastfeeding mothers. This document provides advice for workers who may be exposed to ionising radiation during the course of their work at ANSTO. It is specifically aimed at female workers who are planning a family or are currently pregnant or breastfeeding. This guideline explains how ANSTO takes a collaborative approach to protect workers and their families. The guide aims to assist ANSTO in achieving its duty of care to its workers during pregnancy and breastfeeding and as a tool for education and awareness of early notification for expectant or breastfeeding mothers and their managers and supervisors This presentation describes the development of this document, and summarises the advice given. (author)