Current Status of ALARA Programs - doe-std-1128-98

DOE-STD-1128-98

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, Ch. 1. (DOE, 2004), 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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