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Date: 22 May 2012
Time: 18:31
Personal Radiation Monitoring Service (ADS)
The RRPPS has been recognised as an approved dosimetry service by the HSE ever since the introduction of the Ionising Radiations Regulations in 1985. Experience in personal monitoring dates back to 1949.
The service has a history of performing well in dosimetry inter comparisons and performance tests at national and international level and is continually evolving to take account of new legal requirements, new dose quantities and improved technology. The service satisfies the requirements of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999.
The RRPPS currently issues personal dosemeters to some 13,000 radiation workers nationwide and is the largest approved dosimetry service in the NHS.
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) approval for dose assessment
- HSE approval for co-ordination and record keeping
- Database for dose records and analysis
- Administrative and technical support
- Contact us
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) approval for dose assessment
RRPPS monitors over 13,000 workers across the country. The whole body dosimetry service operates a thermoluminescent system manufactured by Panasonic. Dosemeters have a colour coded label with the wearer’s name, wear period and are bar coded.
The HSE has approved the RRPPS for the measurement and assessment of doses to the whole body arising from external x-ray and/or gamma radiation in the energy range 15 keV to 7 MeV, and/or external beta radiation from beta particle emissions of maximum spectral energy in the range 0.4 MeV to 4.5 MeV.
The service has 2 Panasonic UD-7900 TLD Reader’s each holding up to 500 dosemeters. Dose assessment is carried out daily on two readers with dose reporting done in weekly batches.
HSE approval for co-ordination and record keeping
The HSE has approved the RRPPS for the co-ordination of dose assessments for each individual for whom dose records are maintained. This approval includes the making and maintenance of dose records from information supplied by other approved dosimetry services, the keeping of dose records and the provision of copies, suitable summaries and extracts of dose information as required.
Records are kept for all wearers (non-classified or classified) on a computer database. Any dose record from previous years and/or other approved dosimetry services can be entered on to the database when necessary. The details contained in the dose record comply with the HSE requirements ("RADS - part 3").
Database for dose records and analysis
Dose reports produced after each monitoring period list measured doses against named individuals and include any comments on the use of the dosemeter. Other information is provided on overdue, lost or damaged dosemeters, for example.
In addition to the regular reports of routine dose assessments, a departmental summary is issued at least once a year. Also, the computerised records system will produce a "Personal Dose History" which contains the cumulative lifetime doses. Detailed dose data for the current year or previous years can also be produced as a full "Statutory Dose Record" or (especially for non-classified staff) in the more concise format of the "Personal Dose Summary". All documents are produced by laser printer on A4 paper for convenience and clarity.
The database contains records for over 70,000 people, accumulated since 1974 when RRPPS became fully computerised. As many of these people move around the country, a search can be carried out whenever anyone joins the system in order to establish if their past record is already held.
The data has been used by the Health Protection Agency (NRPB) for general reviews of UK exposures and by the Imperial Cancer Research Fund for epidemiological studies of particular exposed groups. The computer system has been designed to maintain all dose records to a high standard well into the future and to meet all the new requirements of the HSE.
A particular feature is the ability to analyse data relating to individual groups of NHS staff according to their type of work.
Administrative and technical support
Customers receive the benefit of a helpful and courteous response to all queries, whether on the interpretation of a dose assessment or on the administrative details relating to a particular person or a department. All these are dealt with from a single base, and three direct telephone lines ensure a speedy response.
Dosemeters can be despatched to any number of separate departments to ease the burden of distribution. Reports are sent to a named person, with - if required - a duplicate copy to the Radiation Protection Advisor (RPA), for example.
To assist RPAs and Radiation Protection Supervisors, the database automatically flags wearers who exceed various action levels and produces letters to send at the same time as the dose report.
For classified persons the full requirements of the Central Index of Dose Information (CIDI) are met, and all the mandatory procedures and documentation are complied with, including registration, statutory dose records, annual returns, termination records, etc.
Contact us
For further information, please contact:
Lesley Jones
RRPPS
63 Melchett Road
Kings Norton Business Centre
Birmingham, B30 3HP
Telephone: 0121 627 2091
Fax: 0121 627 2057
Email: Lesley.Jones@uhb.nhs.uk or ads@uhb.nhs.uk
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