The way forward in modernizing the system of radiological protection: achievements and outcomes of the CRPPH expert group (EGRP)

The considerations and proposals from the CRPPH Expert group, for refining and improving the present system of radiation protection are described. The EGRP considered and built on the foundation provided in the NEA/CRPPH publication 'A Critical Review of the System of Radiation Protection'. In particular it elaborated on the following priority areas: numerical guidance; concepts of regulatory control, exemption and triviality; justification and optimisation; and decision-making and decision aiding. The EGRP report 'The Way Forward is Radiological, Protection' was published in 2002 and has been offered to the wider radiation protection community and to ICRP as input to future recommendations. EGRP suggested that aspects of exclusion, exemption and clearance and triviality could better be addressed through a simplified, but comprehensive process of 'authorization' by regulatory bodies. Recognizing that successful modern decision making on radiation risks increasingly involves stakeholder participation, it would help to identify the circumstances where involvement of 'stakeholders' in decisions would assist, and to characterise the sources and doses where decisions would benefit from stakeholder involvement. These two new ideas should be subjected to 'Road tests' as a trial to see if they would improve the present system of protection. (author)