Country Report on Status of Radiation Protection in Malaysia

1. Country Report on Status of Radiation Protection in Malaysia MOHD YUSOF MOHD ALI

2. Outline of Presentation Introduction Legislative and Regulatory Infrastructure Activities of Regulatory Authorities Control of Occupational Exposure Control of Medical Exposure Control of Public Exposure Transport Safety Planning & Response to Radiological Emergencies Training Peer Review Mission

3. Introduction Malaysian population ~ 23 millions Economic activities are industrial base Nuclear & Radiation used mainly in industry, medicine research and education No nuclear power, but there is 1 research reactor used for research and isotope production Industry � nuclear gauges, radiographic devices, industrial irradiators Medicine � nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and diagnostic equipment Research & education � less amount, low activity and short-lived radioactive materials

4. Legislative and Regulatory Infrastructure Two-tier system Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 Regulations Codes of Practice & Technical Guidance AELA Formation of AELB under MOSTI Define functions of AELB Empowerment of AELB Form a secretariat Fund provided by MOSTI

5. List of current regulations and supporting documents

6. Revision Process

7. Revision of documents in 2003-2004

8. Organizational structure of AELB

9. Activities of AELB On the way to full implementation of the Act to both private and public sectors Full application of notification and authorization Establishment of complete source inventories by AELB and MOH Establishment of a master inventory of sources by AELB Establishment of inspection priorities, frequencies, and schedules Development of inspection procedures and checklists Take enforcement actions on licensees based on finding of inspections

10. List of radiation sources- AELB

11. List of radiation sources - MOH

12. Control of occupational exposure Radiation workers are individually required to wear a personal dosimeter while in control areas. The dosimeters are currently provided 100% by MINT�s SSDL The service covers environmental, protection and high level of x-rays, gamma rays, beta and neutron MINT�s SSDL ISO 9002 version 1994 in Jan 2002 ISO 9001 version 2000 in May 2003 QC/QA Participate in inter-comparison on Measurements of the Quality Personal Dose Equivalents HP (10) in mixed n - ? fields organized by IAEA in June 2003

13. Control of occupational exposure (2) Results good for gamma very good but out for neutron Participate in inter-comparison at regional level (Phase 3 Round 2) for deep dose and skin dose using TLD and the results are -6 and 3% Total dosimeters provided (2003) films � 10,500 TLD � 800 TLD 6&7 � 200 Dosimtery for internal exposure down because of maintenance, spare parts and calibration nuclides problems

14. Control of occupational exposure (2) Use of AELB individual dose records Results of personnel monitoring (2003) < 0.2 mSv ~ 84 % > 20 mSv ~ 0.6% > 50 mSv ~ 0.1 % MINT also provides calibration services Covers x rays, gamma, beta and neutron The number increases every year � 1986 (2003) In the process to get ISO/IEC 17025 (Jun 2004) Participate in IAEA inter-comparison for gamma calibration facilities. Results within � 5 %

15. Instruments calibrated by MINT

16. Control of medical exposure New regulations are being drafted Control is supported by Codes of practice Ministry circulars to GP (1999), private hospitals (2000) Establishment of QA/QC systems for evaluation, review and monitoring of medical facilities, equipment and procedures Qc tests on radiation equipment must be performed annually by certified medical physics expert. Requirement for RPO Requirements for medical physicists for higher risk facilities All operations are done by trained personnel

17. Control of public exposure Sources Radioactive discharges Transport of radioactive materials Waste disposal Decommissioning of NORM contaminated plant Most practices are involved with low activity and short half-lived radioisotopes Establishment of a discharge limit for a licensed practice Monitoring of discharges Monitoring capability available at a number of facilities. Facilities in MINT participated in inter-comparison quite some times ago.

18. Control of public exposure (2) No radon problem but there is on-going project to assess the risk and population exposure. Prepared a national policy on radioactive wastes based on IAEA SS No. 111-F Preparing standard procedures for waste characterization and segregation Wastes are grouped into two: Man-made wastes � small volume, varied half-lives and activities. Generated by industries, hospitals, research and education centers NORM wastes � big volume and low activities. Produced by mineral sands and oil industries

19. Control of public exposure (3) Waste storage in MINT for man-made wastes ISO 9001 Version 2000 Classification of wastes is done according to IAEA SS 111-G-1.1 Inventory of rad wastes is beng established using Rad Waste Management Registry software TC project on conceptual planning for national waste repository (3 years) Established repository for NORM wastes

20. Control of public exposure (4) Transport � new draft regulations Radiological emergency Training Domestic training conducted by MINT External � RCA and Model Projects Peer Review Mission

21. Domestic Training Courses

22. Peer Review Mission

23. Thank you