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27 Aug 2014
A Regional Workshop on occupational radiation protection and ALARA in waste management was organized by the IAEA, with the funding support from the European Commission under the IAEA-EC joint partnership agreement, and in cooperation with the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety and the Asia Region ALARA Network (ARAN). Altogether 27 participants from 17 Member States in the Asia and the Pacific region, including experts, attended the workshop. The participants were from the following Member States and Territories: Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, territories under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority. and Thailand. The experts were from Belgium, India, Japan (cost-free experts), Republic of Korea, and the IAEA.
The main purpose of this workshop was to review the progress of national activities in relation to occupational exposure control in waste management activities; to discuss and suggest methods to improve the optimization of protection and safety in radioactive waste management, including the remediation of contaminated sites with a focus on protection of workers; and to discuss how the ARAN and other regional ALARA networks could contribute in reducing exposures.
The workshop consisted of lectures, national presentations, working groups and open discussions. A technical visit to the nuclear facilities at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute was organized. The participants visited a research reactor and the facility for beyond design basis accident studies.
At the end of the workshop the participants prepared findings and recommendations. It was observed that countries in the region have comparable problems in the practical implementation of optimization in waste management activities. Participants acknowledged the support of IAEA in the creation of networks such as ARAN. Continuity of support was necessary for reaching sustainability in the future. Participants welcomed the possibility of sharing experiences with people having similar problems.
One participant commented the following on the workshop: "I earned new experience and information regarding ALARA on radioactive waste management that I can share when I go back to my country; it was very useful for me to exchange knowledge and information with other participants."
The workshop considered ARAN as an important activity for fostering exchange of information, harmonization of radiation protection, promoting implementation of Basic Safety Standards, dissemination of ALARA practices, and encouraging contacts between regulatory bodies, operators and the workforce in the region's Member States.
It was stressed that priority is needed to be given to the management of large volumes of radioactive waste generated from decommissioning and remediation activities.
It was also recognized that safety issues as well as security issues need to be considered in the management of radioactive waste.
As part of a larger European Union initiative to enhance nuclear safety around the world, the EU supports several IAEA technical cooperation (TC) activities through the Nuclear Safety Cooperation Instrument (NSCI) including five TC projects in Asia and the Pacific related to safety issues.
The workshop, supported by funds provided by the European Union (EU), was held as per the approved work-plan and within the framework of the IAEA's regional TC project RAS/9/064, 'Strengthening and Harmonizing National Capabilities for Response to Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies'.
 | Project RAS/9/064 is carried out with funding by the European Union and the IAEA. |
