Application of the ALARA principle

The proper interpretation of the dose limit is that higher doses (and their associated risks) from controlled sources are regarded as unacceptable, meaning intolerable. Thus, the dose limit normally must be met in routine exposures to controlled sources regardless of cost or other circumstances. Application of the ALARA principle to further control of exposures takes into account, for example, the cost of reducing radiation doses in relation to the benefits in health risks averted and other societal concerns. 

X 10 3. Annual effective doses in the range of 0.25 to 1 mSv from all man-made sources combined are acceptable if they are ALARA. However, doses toward the upper end of this range are regarded as only barely tolerable (ICRP, 1991), and doses below this range are expected to be justifiable and achievable in most cases, based on site-specific application of the ALARA principle. Therefore, lifetime risks from routine exposure to all man-made sources combined usually should not exceed about 1 X 10 3. 

The optimization of protection and safety measures, or the application of the ALARA principle (to keep doses as low as reasonably achievable, economic and social factors being taken into account), should be carried out at aU stages during the lifetime of the equipment and installations, fri the optimization, aU relevant factors should be taken into account, such as ... 

Generally in the nuclear industry, circumstances vary so much that a structured approach to the RPP and the RWMP should be adopted in which the objectives are stated and the specific organizational structures, procedures and tools necessary for application of the ALARA principle are specified. 

This section should provide a description of the operating organization s policy and the operational application of the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle. It should be in line with the conceptual description, as outlined in para. 3.51, and should demonstrate that as a minimum the recommendations for the application of the ALARA principle, as described in Refs [40,41], have been followed. 

The overall application of the ALARP principle to the overall APIOOO design is considered in Chapter 8 of this report. The application of ALARA/ALARP principle to operational radiation exposures is specifically considered in Section 12.1 of the EDCD (Reference 12.1). Asaresultof this process, the APIOOO is expected to have significantly reduced occupational radiation exposures, in the range of 219 man-mSv/year. This exposure is less than the current best practice for Westinghouse plants of the same power rating. 

A negligible dose would be generally applicable to all man-made sources of radiation and would define a dose below which further control of sources by regulatory authorities is deemed to be unwarranted. If all doses were below a negligible level, no further reductions in dose using the ALARA principle would be attempted (see... 

Below this level, application of ALARA principle to further risk reduction depends on the level selected as de minimis... 

In addition, it is DOE s policy that exposure to radiation resulting from DOE operations be maintained As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA). The application of ALARA to DOE nuclear reactors has two principle divisions occupational exposure and public exposure. 

Radiation exposure to the public and the operating personnel shall be ensured in the design and operation to be as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA), social and economic factors being taken into account. This requirement implies that the hazardous consequences from the practice of radioactive waste incineration should be reduced by suitable protective measures to a value such that further reductions become less justified in relation to the additional expenditure required. The dose equivalent to individuals shall not exceed the applicable dose limits set by the competent authority. Further guidance on radiation protection principles may be found in Ref. [6]. 

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