Current Situation and Future Challenges on Occupational Radiation Protection in Latin America Rodolfo Cruz Su

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Current Situation and Future Challenges on
Occupational Radiation Protection in Latin
America Rodolfo Cruz Suárez Raul Ramirez
HPS Annual Meeting
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IAEA Technical Cooperation

• US 253 million approved for the next three
  years,
• The funds will cover national projects in
  approximately 115 countries and territories.

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IAEA Technical Cooperation

• For the 2009-2011 cycle, human health remains
  the single largest area of importance.
• This programme cycle also reflects an increased
  emphasis on food and agriculture.
• A growing area of continued interest concerns
  projects relating to energy assessment and the
  use of nuclear power for electricity generation

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ORP in Member States
End User
Regulator
Technical Services
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RLA/9/066 Regional Project

• Strengthening and Updating Technical Capabilities
  for the Protection of Health and Safety of
  Workers Occupationally Exposed to Ionizing
  Radiation in Latin America

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Expected outcomes

• To establish and develop a national programme for
  occupational radiation protection
• To improve individual and workplace monitoring,
• To harmonize and streamline national capabilities
  for occupational exposure control.

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Occupational radiation protection 2006
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Occupational radiation protection 2008
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Activities 2007 2008

• 3 training courses with total 85 participants
• 2 coordination meetings.
• 5 fellowships in external dosimetry, internal
  dosimetry and RPO in medical facilities
• 9 expert visits in external dosimetry, internal
  dosimetry and RPO in medical facilities .
• ORPAS appraisal in one country.

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Equipment and Sources

• Maintenance and repair of TLD readers, provision
  of dosimeters.
• Reference calibration sources delivered
• Thyroid measurement system delivered.

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Possibilities for improvement

• Practices (end-users) Many cases of
• Lack of appropriate Radiation Protection
  Programme.
• Financial considerations limiting full coverage
  of the individual monitoring.
• Limited workplace monitoring programme in place
  at many facilities.
• Lack of Quality Management System.
• Lack of RP Training programme.

  
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Possibilities for improvement

• Service Providers many cases of
• No clear requirements for approval of services.
• Monitoring of external exposure limited for the
  whole body. Neutron monitoring is very limited.
• Facilities for monitoring of internal exposure
  very limited.
• Lack of Quality Management System.

  
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