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Group 1 Report« Keep it Simple and Remember the Past»

2nd Workshop on Radiation Protection Culture

Charleston, South Carolina, USA

10-11 February 2011

International Radiation Protection Association

Q1: What are the important elements of RP culture?

A pattern of knowledge (scientific, technical, ethical, historical, practical…) and behaviours (questioning attitude, personal accountability, integrity, modesty, engagement with SH, openness, adaptable, transparent, exemplar …)

A narrative in common language Conditions : basic training and continuous learning, support of

management,…

Remarks:

No basic differences between sectors (medical, nuclear, industry, …

Independent of the cultural context. The local and regional contexts are part of the narrative not in the elements structuring RP culture (science, values, experience) 2

Q2: What are the criteria of success and how to assess RP culture?

Criteria of success : combine soft and quantitative assessment

criteria (relative performance is as important as absolute one) General improvement of classical RP indicators

Implementation of ALARA in all domains

Increase of voluntary public commitment (ex: pledges, quality labels,…) as an

indicator of rising awareness

Increase of public awareness

Assessment tools Programme for identifying and resolving problems (Corrective action programme)

Questionnaire

Self assessment

Independent external audit

Proposal: Develop an IRPA RP Culture Audit Tool 3

Q3: How to engage Stakeholders in the IRPA initiative on RP culture?

Give visibility to the IRPA initiative (meetings, media, web site,…) Follow the NRC approach to develop the Policy Statement on Safety

Culture : invitation of stakeholders in the process (meetings, public comments…)

Remarks: All stakeholders including patients and the general public should be

involved The initiative on RP culture must be developed in accordance with

the Guiding Principles on stakeholder involvement A condition for success is transparency of the process Proposals:

Question to be debated in IRPA 13: “How to engage SH in the IRPA initiative

Motto of IRPA 14 : “Enhancing RP Culture Worldwide” 4

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Q4: What is the role of RP professionals and IRPA AS with regard to RP culture?

To promote RP culture by contributing to the development of a narrative on radiation protection in all exposure situations keeping in mind the two slogans:

“Keep it simple”and

“Remember the past”

Proposed Roadmap

2nd Workshop (February 2011) IRPA 13 (May 2012): Draft document 1 discussed with

AS 3rd Workshop (Spring 2013): Draft document 1

discussed with stakeholders IRPA Regional Congresses (Spring and Fall 2014):

Draft document 2 discussed with AS 4th Workshop (Spring 2015) : Version 2 discussed with

Stakeholders IRPA 14 (May 2016): Adoption by AS of the Guiding

Principles for Radiation Protection Professionals for the Promotion of RP Culture

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Elements for a definition of RP culture

Radiation Protection Culture is a pattern of knowledge and behaviors…

Acting “like a good parent” (personalization)

Considering risk and the characteristics associated with the exposure situation at stake (commensurate, proportionate to risk)

Keeping everything simple and practical

Working together with modesty

Acting naturally and banally (second nature)

Acting consistently

Self policing and self propagating