International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA)

1. International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) IRPA – the International Voice of Radiation Protection Professionals Renate Czarwinski IRPA President Presented July 29, 2013 Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Ottawa, CANADA

2. From left to right, front row: Christopher Clement, Publications Director – Thiagan Pather, Vice President for Congress Affairs – Bernard Le Guen, Executive Officer – Renate Czarwinski, President – Roger Coates, Vice-President – Richard Toohey, Treasurer From left to right, back row: Eduardo Gallego – Richard Vetter – Anna Maria Bomben – Alfred Hefner – Sigurður Magnússon – Jong Kyung Kim IRPA Executive Council From left to right, front row: Christopher Clement, Publications Director – Thiagan Pather, Vice President for Congress Affairs – Bernard Le Guen, Executive Officer – Renate Czarwinski, President – Roger Coates, Vice-President – Richard Toohey, Treasurer From left to right, back row: Eduardo Gallego – Richard Vetter – Anna Maria Bomben – Alfred Hefner – Sigurður Magnússon – Jong Kyung Kim

3. What is IRPA? 49 Associate Societies 62 Countries Nearly 18,000 individual members IRPA is… THE international association of radiological protection practitioners, joining through national or regional Associate Societies

4. Value & Strength Nearly 18,000 individual members from • regulatory bodies, • industry, • medicine, • research, • education • ………….. Enormous resource of practical knowledge and experience in radiation protection and related specialist fields

5. IRPA’s Vision IRPA is recognized by its members, stakeholders and the public as the international voice of the radiation protection profession in the enhancement of radiation protection culture and practice worldwide. The Principal Challenge: Making this Vision a reality

6. IRPA up to date Paradigm for Radiation Protection ICRU NCRP SCIENCE PRINCIPLES UNSCEAR ICRP IARC NEA/OECD PAHO UNEP NERIS WHO EAN ISO PRACTICE STANDARDS ILO ISOE IEC FAO IAEA, EC IRPA WENRA EURADOS IOMP

7. Social, Political and Ethical Issues Practicability of RP system scientific stringency in accordance with accepted ethical value political and social values "Radiation protection is not only a matter for science. It is a problem of philosophy, and morality, and the utmost wisdom." The Philosophy Underlying Radiation Protection Am. J. Roent. Vol. 77, N° 5, 914-919, 1957 From address on 7 Nov. 1956

8. Radiation Protection in a changing society • Challenges in the application of the system of protection • society demands holistic approach in justification and its resulting decisions – radiological risks should not considered isolated • Forward-looking evaluation of risks of new technologies, techniques, practices is necessary – radiation protection is quite often behind the technical progress Challenges regarding to legal provisions of the system of protection How responsibly are we handling scientifically proven risks (protection) and not finally and completely scientifically proven risks (precaution)? Design of the communication for the mediation of risks – public perception Gaining competence in an aging scientific generation

9. Strategic Priorities 2012-2016 • Effective and focussed engagement with other international organizationse.g. ICRP, IAEA, ILO, UNSCEAR, NEA, EC, IOMP….. • Embed the sharing of good practice and professionalism in Associate Societies and individual members through the development of Guiding Principles, the support and coordination of education and training and the convening of effective Congresses • Foster communication, the sharing of knowledge and the building of competence concerning global safety matters between and within Associate Societies • Support young practitioners and scientists in their work in radiation protection, in their education and training, and in their efforts to become members of the radiation protection community • Establishment of effective Associate Societies and associated practices, with particular emphasis on less-developed countries

10. Radiation Protection Strategy and Practice Committee Objective To lead and focus IRPA’s interactions with the principal International Organisations and the Associate Societies in order to ensure that the experience of radiation protection practitioners is effectively applied in the development of the System of Protection, and to ensure that the practitioners are informed of current issues and outcomes. • Scanning the current and forward work programmes of IO’s • Identifying other current key issues which warrant further discussion and development at the international level • Taking into account of the ‘Outcomes’ of IRPA Congresses in helping to determine the views of the profession Specific issues dealt with through specific Task Groups e.g. Revision of the BSS, ICRP recommendations….

11. System of ProtectionFukushima Fukushima showed that some elements of the System of Protection need review: • A recent ICRP Report identifies 18 issues Our system needs to be more easily understandable and based on sound ethical and social principles Further development of the system needs better input from the practitioners Glasgow 2012

12. System of ProtectionEthical and Social values Key Issue: Practicability of the System of Protection Scientific stringency aligned with ethical, social and political values cross cultural dimension Cooperation between IRPA and ICRP in investigating the ethical and social values underlying the System of Protection Essential: engagement and involvement of practitioners

13. System of Protection Ethical Dimensions Workshops with Associated Societies KARP Daejeon/ Korea 27-28 August 2013 AIRP, SFRP Milan/Italy 16-18 December 2013 HPS, CRPA USA 2014 Sessions in Regional and International IRPA Congresses • Consideration of scientific uncertainty, • Differences in terms of requirements for the protection of workers and the public, • Rationality of dose limits • Exposure of future generations • Place to be give to stakeholders in RP

14. Task Groups / Activities • Public understanding of radiation risks • Radiation Protection Culture • Implementation of the revised dose limits for the lens of the eyes • Security of radioactive sources • Education and Training • Young professional network • RP Certification and Qualification Goal of document for IRPA 14, 2016

15. Societies Admissions and Development Committee Objective To encourage and support radiation protection societies, which have not yet done so to apply for Associate Society status in IRPA according to the rules of IRPA and to be responsible for advising the Executive Council on the merits of each such application, received. To support and encourage the development of professionalism in all Associate Societies through the identification and sharing of good practices in the operation and activities of societies, and to support collaborative working on the development of additional relevant practices and activities.

16. Montreal Fund Committee Objective To provide oversight and recommendations on the management of IRPA’s Montreal Fund, including recommendations on the amounts of funding to be made available to support attendance of young professionals from developing countries and/or countries without an IRPA Associate Society at IRPA International and Regional Congresses.

17. Commission on Publications Objective To establish and manage the official publications of IRPA, including the IRPA website, other on-line tools, the IRPA Bulletin and other communication routes such as Facebook and Twitter. • New IRPA website, more focused on users • IRPA Facebook Page • IRPA Twitter account soon • Planning quarterly bulletin by members for members • Seeking volunteers! • Website Manager • Social Media Manager • Bulletin Editor • Associate Societies Liaison • Several Media Reviewers

18. IRPA Leaflet

19. Upcoming IRPA Congresses

20. Thank you for your attention Invitation to visit the IRPA website www.irpa.net

21. Task Group on Public Understanding of Radiation Risk Objective To encourage and support the Associate Societies in the development of effective means of enhancing public understanding of radiation risk through the sharing of good practice, ideas and resource material. Library of good practice activities: • Position Papers • Web site information • Ask-the-Expert questions and answers • ‘Talking Heads’ • Press releases and media liaison • Schools Events and wider education programmes….. Code of Ethics Established 2004 Stakeholder Engagement Guiding Principles 2008 Education and Training Developing a shared web-based database

22. Radiation Protection Culture 3-4 year IRPA work programme Draft Guidance Document is available OBJECTIVES: • foster a belief in the success of cultural approaches • provide guidance to help equip radiation protection professionals to promote RP culture organisations and workplaces WHY? Because embedding RP at a cultural level within an organization is by far the most effective way of delivering the performance to which we all aspire.

23. Task Group on Security of Sources Loss of control over a radioactive source anywhere in the world can result in harm or a threat, locally or in any other location. IRPA is developing a programme to address this concern: To support and encourage the development of a strong responsibility and suitable level of knowledge amongst radiation protection practitioners regarding the security of radioactive sources.

24. Task Group on Eye Lens Dose Limit The BSS process which introduced a new eye lens dose limit was perhaps rushed? • Were the implications for application properly considered? Many practitioners are concerned. • IRPA has established a Task Group A draft report is produced on the principal issues faced by practitioners regarding the implementation of the new limit. • The report is aimed to make recommendations on the appropriate course of action for IRPA to engage in the on-going international discussions on the implementation issues.

25. Task Group on Education and Training(ToR published soon) Objective To develop ideas and establish priorities for the implementation of E&T activities (action plan) Three main lines: • Cooperation with international and regional organizations dealing with E&T in Radiation Protection: IAEA, ETRAP conference, ENETRAP/EUTERP, AAHP • E&T actions within IRPA: Refresher courses Discussion forums during IRPA Congresses Webpage: with announcements and resources database • Support to E&T actions organized by Associate Societies: Share, Coordinate, Networking, Young generations

26. Young Practitioners and Scientists • Young Professional Awards at IRPA 13 • Establishing IRPA Young Professionals Network Glasgow 2012