Organization and Implementation of National Dose Registry (NDR)

Abstract

ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL DOSE REGISTRY (NDR) The legislation establishing the NNRA stipulates in Section 26 that “Every emergency or accidental exposure to radiation doses and accidental intake of radioactive materials shall be recorded together and clearly distinguished from normal exposure”, sub-section 2 of section 26 also states that in “An emergency or accidental exposure to radiation doses shall be reported immediately to the Authority with a report of the investigation of causes and consequences of the exposure”. Pursuant to this, Section 45 of the Nigerian Basic Ionizing Radiation Regulation (2003) requires every employer to designate, as classified persons, his employees who are likely to receive an effective dose in excess of 6mSv per year or an equivalent dose, which exceeds three-tenths of any relevant dose limit and shall forthwith inform those employees that they have been so designated. The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) is in the process of establishing a national dose registry which is a centralized system for recording occupational exposures in the country. The NDR would make use of the Regulatory Authority Information System (RAIS), software developed by the IAEA for recording Occupational doses. The NDR was established in September/October 2017 and functions as a record keeper of occupational doses which can be used to keep track of registered workers cumulative dose based on data provided by the authorized holder and would assist in minimizing the possibility of workers receiving doses of radiation greater than the dose limit. Among some of the necessary requirements for authorization is that of the authorization holder informing each employee of the results of individual monitoring and possessing electronic mechanisms and systems in place to keep and maintain records of occupational exposure. The NDR also has the unique feature of allowing for various occupational categorizations such as diagnostic radiology and radiotherapy. As regards dosimetry services there are six dosimetry services currently licensed by the NNRA. The dosimetry service is characterized by quarterly and annual external dosimetry monitoring periods and uniform calibration procedures. However, in spite of these upbeat reports, some factors which might stand in the way of a cohesive NDR and which have been identified as characteristics of the NDR include the cost logistics of establishing and maintaining an NDR which at the time of this presentation could not yet be ascertained as the process was still ongoing, the software development was also a major roadblock which the authority faced. But by far, the greatest challenge came from irregularities in submission of dose records, capital generation, inadequate manpower and manual report of mechanism to workers. To impede the effects of some of these challenges which the NDR faces it is necessary for the Authority to consider some recommendations like ensuring operators adhere to quarterly submission of radiation workers dose records in due time, sending relevant staff to fellowship programs to countries with a well established NDR structure and expediting action on uploading IAEA software application through collaboration with the IAEA and other relevant bodies amongst other recommendations that would aid an all round NDR policy. Seminar presented by Ikyuu Gabriel Akiiga