Thailand committed to strengthen occupational radiation protection programme

“Thailand routinely monitors around 56 000 exposed workers,” said Rungdham Takam, ORPAS National Coordinator and Expert of Radiation Safety at Thailand’s Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP).

Thailand is committed to strengthening its national programme for occupational radiation protection, according to the first IAEA radiation safety review of the country.

“Thailand’s commitment to improving occupational radiation protection arrangements, in line with the IAEA safety standards, is well demonstrated by the proactiveness of all organizations involved,” said Hildegarde Vandenhove, Director of the IAEA Division on Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety after the review.

The Occupational Radiation Protection Appraisal Service (ORPAS) review team noted the comprehensive regulatory framework for the radiation protection of workers, as well as the sophisticated radiation monitoring technologies used in a range of facilities. They recommended improved sharing of information between the two regulatory authorities, through effective coordination, harmonization and consultation.

“Thailand routinely monitors around 56 000 exposed workers,” said Rungdham Takam, ORPAS National Coordinator and Expert on Radiation Safety at Thailand’s Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP). “The mission identified necessary elements for Thailand to further strengthen its radiation protection programmes and keep those workers safe.”

The mission took place from 11 to 19 March 2024 upon invitation from the Government of Thailand, hosted by OAP in Bangkok, to appraise the legislative and regulatory infrastructure for occupational radiation protection, as well as the related technical services, such as the calibration of monitoring and measuring equipment and licensed operators.  

“Thanks to the extensive preparation and dedication of all national counterparts, the ORPAS mission was conducted in a very efficient and transparent manner,” said ORPAS team Leader Mette Nilsen, Senior Regulatory Adviser at the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority.

The team comprised international reviewers from Australia, Belgium, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines and Singapore and two observers from Singapore and Viet Nam, who carried out site visits and interviews with representatives from regulatory bodies, technical service providers, operators, and research, education and training institutes.

They visited several facilities including a research reactor, radioactive waste management centre, non-destructive testing company, irradiation centre, individual monitoring and calibration services and hospitals. For the first time, ORPAS reviewers also visited a research and training institution containing a synchrotron — a particle accelerator used study the chemical properties of collisions between high energy particles.

The ORPAS mission report, including recommendations, suggestions and good practices identified during the appraisal, will be provided to the host county within two months after the mission.

ORPAS has become an internationally accepted process for strengthening occupational radiation protection programmes in IAEA member countries since its establishment in 2001. The first guidelines published in 2002 with an update in 2020. To date, 25 ORPAS missions and 8 follow-up missions have been conducted.  

ORPAS is appropriate for the review of all types of facilities and activities dealing with ionizing radiation. It also covers technical and scientific support services or organizations for protection and safety in respect to the assessment of occupational exposure from external sources of radiation and due to the intake of radionuclides. It includes individual monitoring, as well as workplace monitoring and advisory services, and promotes self-assessment and management systems at facilities and activities.