Transcript RER/9/096 Regional Planning Meeting “Strengthening National Infrastructures for the Control of Radiation Sources” (TSA-1), (Phase II) Country: ESTONIA 19-20 March 2009 IAEA, Vienna.

RER/9/096 Regional Planning Meeting
“Strengthening National
Infrastructures for the Control of
Radiation Sources”
(TSA-1), (Phase II)
Country: ESTONIA
19-20 March 2009
IAEA, Vienna
Legislation
Regulations and Guidance
occupational protection, public protection, medical exposure, radioactive waste,
and the transport of radioactive materials.
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Radiation Protection Action Plan – planning for coming years, however some
actions are not followed
Preparation of amendment of Radiation Act and regulation concerning
transport of radioactive waste
New authority – Environmental Board with Radiation Safety Department
Need for regulations in medical area – responsibility of the Ministry of Social
Affairs
The Regulatory Body
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Environmental Board has around 420 staff members.
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Radiation safety department has 15 professional staff including:
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radiation protection for licensing, source register, inspections etc
(6),
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monitoring and emergency (2),
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personal dosimetry (2),
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laboratory (3) and
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administration (2).
New system, it takes some time before it is possible to evaluate the strengths
and weaknesses
The Environmental Board has sufficient technical and office support equipment
(including access to computers) and access to Internet and a library with current
literature
Funding through state budget (several budget cuts this year) + service providing
Regulatory Body Staffing and Training
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15 staff members in Radiation Safety Department of Environmental Board
Strength - Almost all staff members are with university degree
Lot of young staff members, several continuing their master studies
Staff training is provided through internal training courses, but with the assistance
of external experts
Several bilateral trainings
Training requirements for staff are assessed annually
Weakness – budget cuts, especially concerning the training possibilities, which
also makes difficult to follow the continues training pattern
Notification - Authorization – Licensing - Inspections
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Licence is provided by Environmental Board
For low and medium risk activities the licence is signed by the head of the
department, for high risk by the director general of the Environmental Board
Notification is not used, however it is forseen to start using it for example for
dentist in coming years
Weak points – co-ordination of the inspections between Environmental Board and
Environmental Inspectorate, actually double use of staff members
Strong points – well worked out licensing procedures, several of which are also
documented. Information available on web-page, also several electronical forms
Strong points – good communication with licensees
Enforcement part needs more attentions
Management System
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Public relations department (X) of Environmental Board is responsible for
information management
Strength - A lot of information is available on the web page
Strength - Several publications
Weakness – need for more PR cover for everyday activities
Strength - Laboratory of Environmental Board has quality management system
Weakness - quality management manual for the department is under preparation
for several year
Plans
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Main need - training of the regulatory body staff members
Working out the new regulatory system
Changes needed in the legislation
Development of registries
More information about nuclear safety
More efforts about the security of the radioactive sources
Risks – cuts in the budget
Strength – small turn over among the staff members
Weak - radiation safety is a small part of big authority