ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL DOSE REGISTER AND A DOSIMETRY SERVICE APPROVAL SYSTEM IN IRELAND

Area of Science:

• Radiation Protection
• Occupational Health
• Public Health

Background:

• The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) previously managed personal dosimetry services and national dose statistics.
• The RPII dosimetry service ceased operations at the end of 2012.
• A need for a centralized National Dose Register (NDR) and a robust approval system for dosimetry services was identified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the establishment of a formal National Dose Register (NDR) in Ireland.
• To detail the implementation of a new system for approving dosimetry services.
• To outline the operational experience gained during these transitions.

Main Methods:

• Introduction of a formal NDR to collect annual data from Approved Dosimetry Services.
• Development and implementation of a new system for approving dosimetry services based on European Commission recommendations (Radiation Protection No. 160).
• Data collection from medical, industrial, education, and research sectors.

Main Results:

• A formal NDR was successfully established in Ireland for the first time.
• A new system for approving dosimetry services, aligned with European standards, was implemented.
• Operational experience in establishing these new radiation protection infrastructure components was gained.

Conclusions:

• Ireland has established a sustainable system for national radiation dose monitoring and dosimetry service oversight.
• The new NDR and approval system ensure continued compliance with radiation protection standards.
• These developments are crucial for worker safety in various sectors across Ireland.