Dose Management Practices Plan

DOE-STD-1121-98

facility failure, or from loss of vendor services. For instance, a site that relies on a contracted laboratory

for radiochemistry analysis for bioassay samples could suddenly find itself in a crisis if the contracted

laboratory were to close or the contract were canceled. Without timely support and re-establishing

capabilities, site operations could be significantly impaired. A contingency plan with another DOE site to

provide some limited, short-term support could allow normal site operations to continue.

The intent of this discussion of bioassay contingency plans is not to recommend establishment of a

formally documented plan with implementing procedures, but that some clear thought be given to

appropriate actions. The actual "plan" may be simply a paragraph or subsection in the technical basis

manual or procedures identifying the contact point at another site for such support, and some indication of

what would be needed (for example, a contract or inter-contractor order) to begin the support. A

documented letter of agreement or understanding would be desirable.

3.2.2 Dose Management Practices Plan

The IDG describes a "Dose Management Practices Plan" (Section IV. H.). Since DOE's radiation

protection program is based on total effective dose equivalent, dose management requires coordination

between a site's internal dosimetry program and its external dosimetry program. For example, during an

evaluation of an internal dose case, it may be important to restrict a worker's external dose. Similarly, if

lifetime dose controls (as given in the RadCon Standard) were being used, a periodic reassessment of the

internal doses could influence lifetime occupational dose decisions.

The dose management practices plan may be a part of the internal dosimetry procedures manual.

Alternatively, the plan may be part of a higher echelon manual or contained in external dosimetry or other

procedures.

3.2.3 Action Plan for Medical Response

This plan should describe the coordinated response when a medical injury is combined with

potential internal dose concerns or when an intake may be sufficiently large to warrant therapeutic

medical intervention for dose reduction. Medical response requires coordination between the radiation

protection and medical organizations. The coordination can become even more complex when multiple

contractors or subcontractors are involved and in situations where some medical services are provided by

onsite personnel and some are provided by offsite sources. For example, onsite services usually include

some kind of first aid response and may even involve nursing and medical doctor or physician's assistant

staff. At the same time, emergency medical services (ambulance and medical trauma support) may be

provided by offsite private or public organizations. A clear understanding and delineation of

responsibilities and authorities in the treatment of contaminated injuries or for dose reduction therapy

ought to be included in the action plan. This medical response action plan may be part of the internal

dosimetry procedures or an element of other site documents.

Some examples of combined medical response and internal dose concern scenarios are provided in

Section 10. Technical guidance for internal dosimetry efforts in support of medical response is also

provided in Section 10.

3.2.4 Quality Assurance Plan

All steps in the activities that control or evaluate worker internal doses should be covered by written

procedures that provide appropriate quality control and quality assurance. The quality assurance plan may

be a section in technical basis documentation. More information is provided in Section 11.