HERCA Workshop Implementation of Radiation Protection Expert (RPE) & Radiation Protection Officers (RPO)

The Heads of the European Radiation protection Competent Authorities (HERCA) have organised on 6-8 July 2015, a workshop kindly hosted by the French nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) in its premises in Montrouge (France) on the implementation of Radiation Protection Expert (RPE) and Radiation Protection Officer (RPO).

This workshop is part of the HERCA Action Plan in relation with the transposition and implementation of the Directive 2013/59/Euratom (Euratom BSS). It has been organised by the HERCA Task Force on Education & Training in Radiation Protection on behalf of HERCA in collaboration with the Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS), the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (EEAE) and the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN).

The objectives of this workshop were:

• to explore a common understanding of the new requirements on RPE/RPO;
• to exchange national approaches relating to the implementation of the BSS on RPE/RPO. Whenever possible, to identify good practices with national implementation of RPE/RPO;
• to develop recommendations, to be approved by HERCA, to facilitate implementation of BSS on RPE and RPO. To be sent to national authorities;
• to comment on the draft guidance from ENETRAP III;
• to develop a joint vision on future ambitions of HERCA on RPE/RPO : duties, harmonisation (registration, other).

This workshop has provided a platform of exchange for having a common understanding on the new requirements for RPE/RPO and then facilitating the implementation of BSS on RPE and RPO at national level and the way towards a better harmonisation on this issue.

Experts from 17 European regulatory countries participating in HERCA plus experts from international organisations such as EC, IAEA, and IRPA participated in this workshop. The event has also been the occasion to exchange with members of the ENETRAP Network (European Network on Education and Training in RAdiological Protection) with a view to coordinate efforts.

This workshop has allowed to propose some common understanding on specific issues of the BSS requirements and specific recommendations for those cases where flexibility is allowed for transposition. In particular it has allowed to identify that radiation protection authorities share in general terms a common understanding of the relevant requirements on RPE/RPO in the new Euratom BSS. The presentations on the different national approaches have shown that if existing regulations need to be updated, there are not serious issues in the participating countries as regards the transposition activities in this field.