Current Status of ALARA Programs - STD-1128-98master0088

DOE-STD-1128-98

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities

Although there is, and has been since the 1940s, a series of official established dose limits, they do

not represent ALARA. ALARA is a continuous process of controlling and managing radiation

exposure to workers, the general public, and the environment. Although ALARA is based upon

protection of people and the environment, the philosophy is also grounded on sound economic and

operating principles. The responsibility for maintaining radiation exposures ALARA is not a

unique responsibility of management or health physics personnel. It is a responsibility of everyone

involved in managing, supervising, or performing radiation work. It is imperative to teach

administrative personnel to support the principles and practice of ALARA, and to train all radiation

workers to consider ALARA as they prepare for and perform their work.

10 CFR 835 Subpart K "Design and Control" contains specific requirements relating to ALARA

considerations for facility design and modification. Also, DOE Order 5400.5 "Radiation Protection

of the Public and Environment" (DOE 1993c) contains environmental ALARA requirements.

3.8.1 Current Status of ALARA Programs

Currently, it is common practice in a DOE facility to have a well-structured ALARA plan

for the entire facility, with more detailed plans in the various buildings or functional

subunits of the facility. There is ordinarily a facility coordinator who administers the overall

ALARA plan and reports to top-level management of the facility. Coordinators for the

various buildings or subunits of the facility receive guidance from the overall facility

coordinator and report the results of their ALARA programs to that individual.

3.8.2 Achievement of Goals

The standard, Radiological Control (DOE, 1999a), provides guidance to contractors

(facility) to provide documentation of the ALARA process. To ensure improving

radiological performance, at the beginning of each fiscal year, each facility prepares and

submits Radiological Performance Goals. At least quarterly, the contractor (facility)

provides the contractor senior site executive with an interim status report of the goals. At

the end of the calendar year, an Annual Goal Status Report is issued.

Identifying specific ALARA goals in plutonium facilities requires close coordination

between the facility ALARA team members (operations, maintenance, and health physics

personnel) made up from a cross-section of personnel representing the various work

elements of the facility. ALARA goals may be formulated as qualitative or quantitative

types of goals, but must be measurable and achievable, with clearly defined endpoints.

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