Representatives of several international organizations, intergovernmental organizations, and professional societies met at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, 15 through 17 December, to discuss the WHO proposal on Radiation Safety in Healthcare Settings. This is an operational approach to mobilize the health sector towards safe and effective use of radiation in health care by developing and implementing a long term integrated quality and safety initiative. The initiative will bring together health authorities, international organizations, professional bodies, scientific societies, academic institutions, NGOs and experts in concerted action to improve implementation of radiation safety standards in medical settings. It seeks to complement the activities developed under the International Action Plan for Radiation Protection of Patients and the International Action on Plan on Occupational Radiation Protection established by the IAEA. It will establish initial priority areas including risk assessment, risk management and risk communication. A summary of the meeting drafted by IRPA E.C. Member, Bernard Le Guen, can be found on the IRPA Report and Documents page.

The International Labour Organization is responsible for establishing the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO), which includes the definitions of those occupations. In November, the ILO published the new draft definitions of Occupations in Health. Radiation Protection Expert is now included in the group of occupations covered by the definition of Environmental and occupational health and hygiene professionals. This definition can be found on page 23 of that document, and is now available on the International Organizations Publications page of this Web Site for use by IRPA Associate Societies.

An international array of some 250 dignitaries and government experts in the field of nuclear energy gathered in Paris in October to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). In the course of a special anniversary meeting, distinguished guest speakers and government ministers will present their countries' view on the use of nuclear energy and its future prospects as well as comment on the Agency's ongoing contribution to the safe and environmentally friendly use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

The NEA was conceived from the outset as a flexible tool of international co-operation, capable of adjusting to changes in the political, economic, social and energy contexts, and hence to the needs of its members. Its standing as a recognized actor on the intergovernmental nuclear energy co-operation scene reflects its success in fulfilling this mandate over the past five decades.

The NEA has been at the centre of a wide range of international joint projects and overseen the implementation of a number of international recommendations, conventions, and agreements. The Agency produces state-of-the-art reports, policy statements and “collective opinions” reflecting the views and recommendations reached among its member countries. A continuing objective of the NEA has been the framing of common understandings on national practices in such areas as reactor safety, protection against radiation, radioactive waste management, as well as nuclear law and regulatory applications.

More information can be found on the NEA Web Site:www.nea.fr/html/general/50th.

The IRPA 12 International Congress in Buenos Aires, October 19 to 24 drew 1,336 radiation protection specialists from 90 countries. These set IRPA Congress attendance records for both national representation and total attendance. This success is due, in part, to significant support for participation of young scientists, particularly those from developing countries, by the IAEA and several IRPA Associate Societies.

IRPA 12 was opened with a welcome to Buenos Aires by the Vice President for Congress Affairs, Abel Gonzales. His greeting was underscored by welcome messages from Ana Maria Bomben, Argentine Society for Radiation Protection (SAR); Raul Racana, Argentine Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN); Eugenio Curia, Argentine Ambassador to the International Organizations in Vienna; and Francisco Spano, (ARN). The traditional Congress opening was declared by IRPA President, Phil Metcalf with the ringing of the Polvani bell. Eduardo Gallego, Chairman of the International Program Committee, outlined the highlights of the Congress schedule and Eliana Amaral, Head of the IAEA Division of Radiation and Waste Safety brought greetings from the Agency.

The highlight of the IRPA International Congress opening is always the presentation of the Sievert Lecture. This year’s award winner was Christian Streffer, Germany, who presented an excellent lecture titled Radiological Protection: Challenges and Fascinations of Biological Research. Prof. Streffer began by outlining the limitations faced by epidemiological studies in providing low dose radiation effects information. He went on to provide an excellent review of recent biological studies at the molecular level that are extending dose effects information to lower levels than is currently possible through statistical studies.

The opening session concluded with a touching tribute to former ICRP Chairman and Argentina native, Dan Beninson.

IRPA 12 had a very rich technical program with 1491 contributed papers. The program featured Special Plenary sessions with presentations by representatives from UNSCEAR and WHO on the Status of Levels and Effects of Radiation; ICNIRP, ICRP, and ICRU on Harmonization of Recommendations; and members of the Inter-Agency Committee on Radiation Safety (IAEA, EC, PAHO, WHO, ILO, NEA) on Radiation Safety in Practice: Towards an International Safety Regime. Additional Special Plenaries were devoted to Low Dose and Low-Dose-Rate Effects and Models (NCRP), the Epistomology of Radiation Protection, Radiation Protection Paradigm and Stakeholder Involvement in Decision Making.

Education and training was a key element of the Congress, which offered 20 Refresher Courses. The courses drew 1,050 participants, including multiple course attendance. A contributing factor to the success of the training program for IRPA 12 was the award of Continuing Education Credits for the courses by the American Academy of Health Physics.

The four year International Congress is the one occasion for IRPA to conduct its business. This began with the Associate Societies Forum. Phil Metcalf opened the Forum with a presentation of the Status of the Association, followed by a review of a draft guidance document on Stakeholder Engagement. Treasurer, Brian Dodd presented his report and outlined the proposed budget for 2008 to 2012. He gave an overview of a proposed revision of the Constitution – the first since the founding of IRPA. The French Society introduced a proposal to establish an IRPA Working Group to develop an IRPA guidance document on improving radiation protection culture. The work of this working group would be particularly aimed at assisting younger professionals.

The formal business of IRPA is conducted during the General Assembly (GA), with decisions made by the delegates of the Associate Societies. The IRPA 12 GA took the following actions:

• Adopted the budget for 2008 to 2012, including a dues increase of $0.50 per Society member.
• Approved the Constitution revision and three of four amendments. Amendment 2, which would require balanced regional representation on the Executive Council (E.C.), was not approved and referred to the new E.C. for further review.
• Selected Glasgow as the venue for IRPA 13, May 13-18, 2012. The South African Society was asked to prepare a bid for IRPA 14 in 2016.
• The International Congress is also the occasion for selecting new Executive Council officers and members. The new IRPA President is Ken Kase, USA, and Renate Czarwinski, Germany, was selected as Vice-President. With the selection of Glasgow for IRPA 13, Roger Coates, U.K., became the new Vice-President for Congress Affairs.

Three Executive Council positions are appointed by the E.C. and endorsed by the General Assembly – Treasurer, Executive Officer and Publications Director. Treasurer, Brian Dodd had announced his resignation, and Dick Toohey, USA, was appointed to replace him. In addition, Jacques Lochard, France, was reappointed as Executive Officer and Dick Griffith, USA, as Publications Director to serve until IRPA 13, 2012.

Four Executive Council members left the E.C. as of IRPA 12 – Phil Metcalf, South Africa; Bobby Corbett, U.K.; Rodolfo Touzet, Argentina; and Christian Wernli, Switzerland. They have been replaced by Eduardo Gallego, Spain; Bernard Le Guen, France and Jong Kyung Kim, Korea. The fourth new E.C. member is Alfred Hefner, Austria who was elected to complete the remaining four year term of Ms. Czarwinski who moved up to V.P.