Current Status of Radiation Protection in Vietnam Beijing, China 7-11 June 2004

1. 1 Current Status of Radiation Protection in VietnamBeijing, China 7-11 June 2004 By Dang Thanh Luong Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear safety & Controls (VARANSAC)

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3. 3 Overview of National Activities 4.Establishing the Public Exposure Control 5. Safe Management of Radioactive Waste; Safety and Security for disused Sources and radioactive materials 6.Establishing the Emergency Response and Preparedness 7. Developing the calibration facilities 8. Manpower development and Public Information 9. License, inspection for Dalat Research Reactor

4. 4 1. Developing & improving the regulatory system 1.1 Restructuring and Strengthening the Regulatory body and radiation protection infrastructures 1.2 Implementing The Ordinance “Radiation Protection and Control” and relevant Decrees 1.3 The first Draft of the amended ORSC was be completed in 2003 1.4 The Atomic law is now being taken for drafting and its first draft will be submitted by the end 2004

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29. 29 2. Establishing the Occupational Exposure Control The internal individual monitoring has been set up by using the bioassay-method (Urine samples) at Dalat Nuclear research institute. The internal individual monitoring was carried out for radiation workers producing nuclear isotopes.

30. 30 2. Establishing the Occupational Exposure Control The personal radiation monitoring service performances are following the IAEA guides and manufacture procedures as well Both of two laboratories carrying out the personal radiation monitoring services have been accredited by the MOST via VARANSAC The staff of both of two laboratories are well trained

31. 31 2. Establishing the Occupational Exposure Control Personal dose monitoring services are intent to cover all radiation workers with the high potential of occupational exposure such as in radiotherapy, isotope production, irradiation facilities, NDT practices and at the nuclear reactor. It is found out that the most critical groups are radiation workers in NDT and isotope production. It is about 76% of radiation workers have been monitored by TLD The Attention should be paid more to the workplace monitoring

32. 32 2. Establishing the Occupational Exposure Control Both of two Laboratories have been participating in RCA intercomparison exercise, In 2002, 2003 a national intercomparison programme on determination of Operational personal dose equivalents quantities was carried out. The program will be running regularly The good results of intercomparison have been recorded

33. 33 2. Establishing the Occupational Exposure Control The ISO / IEC quality assurance Programme are being considered to be established in the appropriate time

34. 34 3. Establishing the medical Exposure Control For controlling medical exposure, the following regulatory standards and guides are available: Vietnam Standards- TCVN : The Safety Standard TCVN 6561:1999: Radiation protection for medical installations using X-ray machines was enacted in 1999 Radiation Protection- Medical exposure-General provisions TCVN6869:2001

35. 35 3. Establishing the medical Exposure Control Guides on Radiation Protection in Radiotherapy Radiation Protection in Diagnostic Radiology Radiation Protection in Nuclear Medicine

36. 36 3. Establishing the medical Exposure Control The guides on authorization of radiation facilities are available for medical practices (Radiotherapy, diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine departments). The special radiation practice license will be granted for persons who are involved in radiotherapy treatments including maintaining Radiotherapy facilities.

37. 37 3. Establishing the medical Exposure Control Interaction between regulators and professionals using ionizing radiation: For harmonizing radiation protection in medical practice the Ministerial Circular on Radiation protection and control in medical Practices was issued in 28.Dec.1999 by the Ministers of the Ministry of Science Technology and Environment and Ministry of Health

38. 38 3. Establishing the medical Exposure Control For strengthening radiation safety in medical practices, the Advisory Council on Radiation Protection was established in MOH. The functions of this council are to assist the Minister of MOH in relevant maters such as setting up radiation protection programmes for specific practices, drafting the guides… Maintain close relations between MOST and MOH

39. 39 3. Establishing the medical Exposure Control Regarding to establishing QA/QC Programme the following guides are available: DLVN 40:1999: Cobalt -60 teletherapy equipment-Methods and means of verification DLVN 41:1999 X-ray general diagnostic radiography and direct fluoroscopy--Methods and means of verification DLVN 42:1999 X-ray intensifier fluoroscopy--Methods and means of verification DLVN 42:2000 Computerized Tomography -Methods and means of verification Diagnostic X-ray equipment compliance testing book

40. 40 3. Establishing the medical Exposure Control Quality assurance in diagnostic and therapeutic uses of radiation For implementing QA/QC in diagnostic and therapeutic uses of radiation the series of DLVN Vietnam Verification Metrology on Diagnostic radiological devices were issued for General -x-ray machine, Intensifying Fluoroscopy, Computerized Tomography as well as for Cobalt-60 radiotherapeutic unit.

41. 41 3. Establishing the medical Exposure Control The pilot QA Audit for dosimetry in Radiotherapy using postal TLD has been established. 08 radiotherapy departments have been participating in this programme. All beams in use have been checked regularly

42. 42 3. Establishing the medical Exposure Control

43. 43 3. Establishing the medical Exposure Control The similar program was also taking places for dose-calibrators used in the Nuclear medicine, the 07 Nuclear medicine departments are involving in this programme Guidance levels for diagnostic examinations The guidance levels for diagnostic examinations have been introduced to radiographers and radiologists

44. 44 3. Establishing the medical Exposure Control Action plans Establishing the QA/QC network for radiodiagnostic : Establishing a pilot QA/QC programme Establish step by step the in-house QA/QC programme for radiodiagnostic departments Patient dose survey MOH has a plan to build 02 Cyclotron in next years

45. 45 3. Establishing the medical Exposure Control Establishing the QA/QC network for Nuclear medicine: National intercomparision for dose calibrators Manpower development: To conduct the training courses on radiation protection and QA/QC for medical practitioners To conduct the training courses or post-graduated course on Medical physicists

46. 46 4. Establishing the Public Exposure Control Environmental Monitoring The three radiation monitoring stations have been established for monitoring radioactive isotopes in air, water and soil

47. 47 4. Establishing the Public Exposure Control Food Monitoring: Three laboratories are carrying radiation monitoring in food stuff Consumer Products The circular on detail direction on implementation of Decree 11/1999/ ND-CP on business and trade of radioactive consumer products, radioactive materials/sources and devices was drafted

48. 48 4. Establishing the Public Exposure Control Action plan Establishing and maintaining operation of the environmental radiation monitoring stations Upgrading of Food Monitoring Programme Establishing the national database Dose assessment, modeling

49. 49 5. Management of Radioactive Waste, Radiation Safety and Security for disused Sources and radiation materials Radioactive waste A large number of spent radiation sources are being kept at the end-user storages. These sources were registered. However the security measures have to be more strengthened.

50. 50 5. Management of Radioactive Waste, Radiation Safety and Security for disused Sources and radiation materials Radioactive waste The purposes of the Workshop is to enable the regulatory body as well as all relevant agencies to develop and take a necessary actions to maintain and improve the safe uses of radiation sources and the security of radioactive materials over their life cycle. The public aware has been addressed to regaining control over orphan sources Taking a measure to monitor scrap metals

51. 51 5. Management of Radioactive Waste, Radiation Safety and Security for disused Sources and radiation materials Radioactive waste Regarding to spent radiation sources, particularly Radium -226 radiation sources ( more than 520 items) the MOH has requested the VAEC to submit a proposal to the IAEA for assistance to condition all Radium sources.

52. 52 5. Management of Radioactive Waste, Radiation Safety and Security for disused Sources and radiation materials Action Plan The following issues will be considered: Setting up the clearance levels, discharge level to environment Selecting site for long term storage Conditioning spent sources ( Radium sources) regaining control over of orphan source Spent fuel Discommisioning Dalat research reactor Norm and Tenorm

53. 53 5. Management of Radioactive Waste, Radiation Safety and Security for disused Sources and radiation materials Action Plan The effective management of disused sources, focusing on conditioning of all radium sources used in medical practices. Establishing the national database Submit a proposal for implementing the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources Preparing a necessary documentation regarding regulatory aspects of the return of disused sources. Conditioning all unused Radium sources and the other

54. 54 5. Management of Radioactive Waste, Radiation Safety and Security for disused Sources and radiation materials Categorization of sources. Developing, selecting and setting up monitoring equipment at suitable nodal points such as scrap metal yards and waste management facilities as well as ports of entry and exit. Setting up a system of information exchange between national and international agencies. Establishing education and training programmes on radiation protection as well as a public information programme.

55. 55 6. Emergency Response and Preparedness The Emergency Response to Radiological and nuclear accidents/incidents have to be linked to National Emergency Response System The Emergency Response and Preparedness Plans are required for: Research Reactor and Radioisotope Production (Dalat) Irradiators (3 Industrial & 2 Research) radiotherapy units(Cobalt-60 and LINAC), Nuclear medicine NDT Facilities, Transportation of Radioactive materials Waste Storage Facilities...

56. 56 6. Emergency Response and Preparedness Action Plan The development of technical capabilities for preparedness and response to radiation emergencies are great and essential issue. Many governmental agencies should be involved in these activities so It is necessary to establish a national coordinating system Asking the assistance from IAEA and other sources The National workshop on preparedness and response to radiation emergencies will be organized in November 2004

57. 57 7. Developing the calibration facilities Updating the calibration facilities: development of the neutron calibration facilities Development of the beta calibration facilities Development of the reference low radiation dose rate field

58. 58 8. Manpower development and Public Information Sustainable training mechanisms The training materials were prepared in 2001 and 2002. The materials were produced based on IAEA training modules Three training centers have been established in Hanoi, Hochiminh and Dalat with supporting from Japan, IAEA and India More than 2000 persons have been attending TC on Radiation protection for the last 3 years

59. 59 8. Manpower development and Public Information Training trainers Establishing training programme for RPO, radiation workers conducting the courses for radiation protection and radiation measurements Conducting training courses on Licensing and inspection for 128 staffs from 64 DOST, who are in charge of radiation protection in provinces/cities

60. 60 9. License for Dalat Research Reactor The Dalat Research Reactor has been licensed

61. 61 Working Plan in 2004 National Workshop for evaluation of the regulatory activities for the last 5 years planned in August 2004 National Workshop for Emergency Preparedness on Radiological incidents in November, 20004 02 manpower Training course for Staff from the DOST in September and October,2004

62. 62 IAEA assistance under RAS 9/029

63. 63 Thank you for your attention !