Regulatory Guide 8.8, Information Relevant to Ensuring that Occupational Radiation Exposures at Nuclear Power Stations Will Be as Low as Is Reasonably Achievable

Information Relevant to Maintaining Occupational Radiation Exposure as Low as Practicable (Nuclear Reactors)

ML13350A229
Person / Time
Issue date:	07/31/1973
From:	US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
To:
References
RG-8.008
Download: ML13350A229 (4)

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July 1973 Owl U.S. ATOMIC ENERIGY COMMISSION

tIREGULATORY UL :Y G UIDE

DiRECTORATE OF REGULATORVY SAD-ARDS

REGULATORY GUIlDE4.8:.8 IONAL RAD IATION

INFO )RMATION RELEVANT. TO MAINTAINING*OCCUPAT LOW-AS.PRACTICABLE

-

EXPOSURE AS

(NUCLEAR REACTORS)

The:

. i*.-ssumplion of lineatity bv wcen do.se -,rid A.:INTiODUCTION respornse,"recmmnended again by the Biulogical Effects of loni7ing Radiation .(BEIR) committee." mdi-alcs lPalgraph. 20.() of.:10 CFR Part 20-states that:.. concern, about :both population 'dose and individwlk"

licensees should, in* addition to complying with the doses. This it is; not. sufficiei nierulyv to control th*

dose to the limits set forth in :that part,. ake every reasonable maximum dose to individuals; the total radiation exposures, and releases: of in .man-rem) must be kept as low as effort to maintain group (melasured

"raioactive, materials 'in :effluentS.tO unrestricted areas, It. would be inappropriate it) hold the practicable.

it.

as - far below the limits specified in that part as individual doses to a fraction of the applicable limitund people practicable. This'guide outlines the information needed this . resulted in the irradiatiun of more

in .license applications and safety analysis reports increased the total. man-remi dose.

(SAR)for nuclear reactors concerning the maintenance

..of oc'cupational doses as low as practicable (ALAP). Effective contrul of: radiation exposure involves the .foll*wing major considerations*

B. DISCUSSION

1. 'Management.cOmniitment and support;

2.. Careful:design of facilities and equipment: and.

The objective o f efforts to 'ensure that 3:.. Good radiation protection practices, including occupational exposures, are ALAP is to further ,reduce good planning and the proper use .of appropriate

avoidable exposurcs and therebyjreduce. the:low risks equipment by qualified, well-trained personnel.

that are presumed to result from small, doses. It.thas long, been recognized by radiation control professionals

C. REGULATORY POSITION

that iti.is prudent to avoid unnecessary. -exposure: and is to .hold doses ..as :low0.as practicable. Piacticability 'Detailed information, as outlined in subsequent and the license determined.. by the- state, of techuiologY sections of tils guide,.should be provided in the economics of. improvements in raIlationi to the'benefits about, each of the above major application from, these improvemen s. considerations.

i. 'Management Philosophy and Organization.

The": available data suggest..that past efforts have been.. relatively successful. in' that,- enerallys in

.AEC Maintaining occupational exposure

s. at the lowest A

l-,icensed activities, occupational' exposures haie. been Part 20.' ,2 practicablie level requires management commitment.

applicable.limnits..of 10 CFR of operating philosophy regarding wellibelow0 the clear statement in Thus,. the provisions of this.guide are not intended to occupational radiation exposure should be included'

past practice. SAR) and reflected in the

.,precipitate dramatic departures from the license application (or Rather, they are intended to promote a more formal licensee's facility design, policy documents, and written approach to keeping doses ALAP, to identify, and operating procedures and close and continuing

" of. good practices, and to management followup.

promote continuance promote further improvements where practicable.

the divitsont Coone of pubtihil guides may be obtained by fequett indicating D.. 20545.

, Washlrolal desired to the. US, Atomic Energy Co.,iuon, USAEC REGULATORY GUIDES Attention: Director of R4egulC01fY.Stadthls.

Commenfts be and sent tuggirstiontfor to the Secretary end thould Inp ostte nts in theta guide are encouraged t de..t...b and' uakes avaihele' to'the public Commission. Washinton. DC. 20545.

Reguist" Gulden toietheInued' AEC PlegulatofY stall of implemenlting specific Part$ ofIn of the Commission, U.S. Atomic Energy Attaenion: Chief. Public Proceedings Staff.

nmanhodgtcteptable .used by the staff.

t'.Com* * ton'ts reguliaonsl. .to dellineate tchnique'

avelultn*,c1iCprof l .em.aostustad'acidents; of to prOVt, guidance to

.snot' Wterlitutal for raegulatioi and complialnc ae.., WuSltO*f*iO*u41

,tpU.k with tem.h-not rquired-.. Meth)= and solutions different from thosa Wtut In 8. ProduJct tinn beth for the findingll "quISIt to 1.P0V~tRa dO

th" *lldetyttl be **c*lable If they pr6owide a by the Commision. '2.' Sneirch andt Test Re~ti.orn 7. Tramnc.-ti the hauntta or tontituefla o

f. s permit or lictnse

6.cjccufrt'n WL. etv-

2. 'uels andlMaterials IF.-Xlties

10. cervill asapitaO.Ojwrvdatt 5; Materials arsdPlant Proiect~o llauttieftd ' pidet wioltbe- rose..d periodically, comments mid to reflect row information r experience*

AI

A specific individual (i.e., the health physics chief preliminary and periodic design reviews by competent or manager) should be given explicit responsibility and health physicists (with the support of other specialists)

authority i'or ensuring that exposures are ALAP. He before and during construction specifically to ensure should be directly responsible to someone at a high that occupational exposures will be ALAP.

management level. The health physics group should not be a part of operations- or production-oriented Since a major portion of the occupational divisions. radiation dose is received during niaintenance, inservice inspection, refueling, and nonroutine operations A nmember of upper management should be given (including activities complicated by leakage and spillage responsibility for ensuring that the ALAP policy is of raý oactive materials), these activities warrant special implemented. He should conduct periodic reviews of attention during design. Also, decommissioning can procedures and practices for achieving ALAP

involve serious radiation exposures and should be exposures, considered during design. Designs should be reviewed

2. Personnel Qualification and Training to ensure that provisions have been included to achieve The individual responsible for recommending ALAP exposures in these situations. Specifically, the and license application (at the PSAR stage) should provide implementing the radiation control program (i.e., the information demonstrating that:

healdt physics chief or manager) should be a professional of recognized competence in this field, preferably with power reactor experienc,. Where this a. Equipment which may require servicing will individual does not have qualifications equivalent to be designed and located to minimize service time;

those required for certification by the American Board b. Instruments requiring in situ calibration will be of' Health Physics. he should be supported by and have located in the lowest practicable radiation fields- available immediate access to one (or more) consultant c. Equipment and components requiring servicing and/or staff member who is so qualified and who is in will be located in or designed to be movable to the the facility at least once a month. Company lowest practicable radiation fields- commitment to this principle should be stated in the d. Best available valves, Valve packing, and license application. gaskets will be used to minimize leakage and spillage of radioactive materials- Any person whose duties entail entering restricted e. Penetrations of shielding and containment areas or directing the activities of others who enter walls by ducts and other openings will be designed to restricted areas should be instructed in the minimize exposure and that shield design specifications fundamentals of health physics and should be made will limit void content;

aware of, and given the authority to implement, the f. Radiation sources and occupied areas will be licensee's commitments for maintaining doses ALAP in separated if possible (in particular, pipes or ducts his areas of responsibility. His training should be containing potentially highly radioactive fluids will not commensurate with his duties and responsibilities as pass through occupied areas),

well as the degree of radiation hazard anticipated. g. Precautions will be provided (1) to minimize Personnel policies should include screening to ensure the spread oh' contamination and (2) to facilitate that radiation workers are responsible and decontamination in the event spillage occurs;

conscientious and qualified to perform their duties h. Interior surfaces as well as the layout of ducts safely. and pipes will be designed to minimize buildup of contamination;

Personnel whose duties do not entail entering t. Systems which may become contaminated will restricted -.reas should be (1) made aware of the be designed to include provisions for flushing or reasons for keeping out of restricted areas and (2) remote chemical cleaning prior to servicing;

denied access to restricted areas. j. The ventilation system will be designed to ensure control of airborne contaminants, especially Personnel responsible for the design or approval of during maintenance operations when the normal air facilities including restricted areas or equipment for use flow patterns may be disrupted (e.g., open access in restricted areas should (I) receive instructions in the portals);

fundamentals of health physics including the k. Wherever practicable, radiation and airborne importance of maintaining doses ALAP and (2) have contamination monitoring equipment with remote ready access to and use a competent professional readout will be *included in areas to which personnel health physicist. normally have access (where special conditions warrant,

3. Facility and Equipment Design portable instrumentation may be substituted);

1. The ventilation system will be d&signed for Radiation exposures may be minimized by proper easy access and service to keep doses ALAP during design of facilities and equipment. This requires a alterations, maintenance, decontamination, and filter definite commitment by the applicant to provide changes;

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• 1 e. Ensure that the task is completed with the etween sources andshielding radiationpracticable, m. Where which areas to will be personnel provided least practicable time in . the radiation field (the availability and use of all appropriate tools and may have normal or routine access, and shielding will be designed for maintaining doses ALAP; equipment, as well as the conduct of "dry runs." are n. Movable shielding and convenient means for especially important);

its utilization will be available for use where permanent f. Complete the task with the fewest people in shielding is needed but impractical; the radiation field consistent with safe operalion o. Adequate shielding will be provided for g. Cope as expeditiously as possible with fires.

radioactive wastes; spills. equipment failure, and oilier accidents which p. Remote handling equipment will be provided may occur;

wherever it is needed antl practicable: h. Use remote handling equipment and other q. All design features for radiation control will special tools which can help reduce external dose:

be designed to accommodate maximum expected i. Provide adequate supervision and monitorinig (technical specification limit) failures such as fuel to ensure (hat procedures are followed. that the element cladding and steam generator failures; and planned and proper precautions are taken, and that all r. Sampling sites will be located so exposures the radiation hazards are identified;

will be ALAP during such routine operations as j. Provide personnel monitoring eqti.pmeint such sampling offgas, primary coolant, and liquid waste. as direct reading pocket dosimeters or pocket aliarm meters, which will permit early evaluation of individual

4. Plans and Procedures doses and the association of personnel exposure with Considerable dose reduction may be achieved specific operations (see Regulatory Guide 8.4);

through a carefully conceived and properly k. Provide contamination control procedures to implemented planning and procedures program. As achieve ALAP exposures;

stated previously, a major portion of the occupational 1. Ensure that radiation and contamination radiation dose is received during the activities of monitoring instruments are tested and calibrated maintenance, inspection, refueling, and nonroutine correctly and frequently enough to provide a high operations. It is therefore essential that approaches to degree of confidence in the data they provide (see Atlese activities involve a program of careful planning Regulatory Guide 8.6);

d preparations, use of well.trained and qualified m. Conduct postoperational debriefings to prsonnel, and utilization of spec,-ific exposure improve plans, identify shortcomings, and determine reduction techniques as circumstances allow. whether ALAP was achieved:

Procedures governing implementation of such a n. Maintain records including exposure data.

program should be developed and included as routine contamination problems, airborne hazards, and internal operating procedures. As such, the license applications exposure data as shown by bioassay analyses and should include (1) at the PSAR stage, a commitment whole body counters that will be helpful in providing to and guidelines for providing these procedures and guidance for future similar operations (see Regulatory

(2) at the FSAR stage. a description of the procedures Guide 8.7);

to be utilized for maintaining exposures ALAP. The o. Perform as much work as practicable outside procedures proposed in the applications should project radiation areas;

exposures for various groups as well as identify p. Minimize personnel radiation exposures by sources, source strength, radiation levels, and planning for access to and exit from work areas and by contamination levels and include plans to: providing service lines and work area communications a. Minimize source strength and contamination prior to beginning the work;

levels by flushing tanks, lines, etc., prior to performing q. Consider the use of special tools or jigs which the operation; could reduce radiation exposure through simplification, b. Minimize radiation levels in the work area by reduction in time, or reduction of mistakes;

use of permanent and/or movable shielding; r. Post radiation levels in the work area so that c. Minimize airborne contamination by proper the areas of highest and lowest radiation level are use of the ventilation system, including purging area clearly identifiable;

before entering temporary ducts into the work area, s. Minimize disconifort of workers so that and other modifications as appropriate; efficiency will be increased and less time will be spent d. Further minimize inhalation of radioactive in radiation areas; and materials by the proper use of state-of-the-art t. Estimate total man-remn to be expended on respiratory protection: large jobs and set man-rem goals.

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REFERENCES

I. A. W. Klemenm. Jr.. C. R. Miller. R. P. Mluix and Repository of Individual Radiation Exposure U. Shleicn. "Estimates of Ionizing Radiation Doses Inf'ormalion," USAEC Report. September 1972.

in the United States I*960-2000.` Environnetital Protection Agency Report ORP;CSI) 72-1, August 3. C. L. Comar, Chmn. NAS-NRC 1EIR Committee.

1072. '"he Effects on Populations of txposure Io Low I.evels of Ionizing Radiation." National Academy of S,'iences-National Research Council,

2. "Fourth Annual Report of the Operation of the Washington. D.C. 1972.

US. Atomic Energy Commission's Central

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