RER/9/096 Regional Planning MeetingRER/9/096 Regional Planning Meeting““Strengthening National Infrastructures for Strengthening National Infrastructures for

the Control of Radiation Sources”the Control of Radiation Sources” (TSA-1), (Phase II) (TSA-1), (Phase II)

Country: Country: LatviaLatvia

19-20 March 2009IAEA, Vienna

ContentContent• Main activities since 2008Main activities since 2008• SWOT analysis:SWOT analysis:

– evaluation of the user’s infrastructureevaluation of the user’s infrastructure

– evaluation of the national infrastructure for the evaluation of the national infrastructure for the control of radiation sourcescontrol of radiation sources

• Facts & figuresFacts & figures• Changes:Changes:

– successessuccesses

– unresolved problemsunresolved problems

EEvaluation of user’s infrastructurevaluation of user’s infrastructureStrengthsStrengths WeaknessesWeaknesses Proposed ActionsProposed Actions

1)1) Individual Individual work with all work with all key personskey persons

2)2) Update of Update of information information on needs for on needs for radiation radiation safetysafety

3)3) Modernisation Modernisation of equipment of equipment and and technologiestechnologies

4)4) Enhancements Enhancements for the for the trainings trainings

NeedsNeeds

1)1) External External expertiseexpertise

2)2) Positive Positive economical economical changeschanges

3)3) Cooperation is Cooperation is vitalvital

1)1) Single RBSingle RB

2)2) Within EUWithin EU

3)3) Networking Networking experiencesexperiences

4)4) Still Still developmentdevelopment

1)1) Economical Economical situationsituation

2)2) Not clear futureNot clear future

3)3) Decreasing of Decreasing of fundsfunds

OpportunitiesOpportunities ThreatsThreats

1)1) Self Self assessments assessments

2)2) Possibilities to Possibilities to optimise the optimise the structurestructure

3)3) To change for To change for the futurethe future

1)1) Reorganisation Reorganisation without proper without proper justificationjustification

2)2) Lost of Lost of capabilitiescapabilities

3)3) Lost of Lost of competencecompetence

Evaluation of regulatory infrastructureEvaluation of regulatory infrastructureStrengthsStrengths WeaknessesWeaknesses Proposed ActionsProposed Actions

1)1) To implement To implement RASSIA RASSIA follow-up follow-up mission mission recommen-recommen-dationsdations

2)2) Individual Individual work with all work with all key personskey persons

3)3) Update of Update of information information on needs for on needs for RBRB

4)4) Update of Update of information information about impact about impact of RB to the of RB to the safety safety

NeedsNeeds

1)1) Understanding Understanding by by international international organisationsorganisations

2)2) Positive Positive economical economical changeschanges

3)3) Cooperation is Cooperation is vitalvital

1)1) Single RBSingle RB

2)2) Within EU and Within EU and NATONATO

3)3) Networking Networking experiencesexperiences

1)1) Economical Economical situationsituation

2)2) Not clear futureNot clear future

3)3) Public attitudePublic attitude

OpportunitiesOpportunities ThreatsThreats

1)1) Self & external Self & external assessments assessments

2)2) Possibilities to Possibilities to optimise the optimise the structurestructure

3)3) Will remain Will remain only who can only who can and whish to and whish to workwork

1)1) Reorganisation Reorganisation without proper without proper justificationjustification

2)2) Lost of Lost of competencecompetence

3)3) Lost of Lost of independenceindependence

4)4) New types of New types of external threatsexternal threats

LegislationLegislationRegulations and GuidanceRegulations and Guidance

occupational protection, public protection, medical exposure, radioactive waste, and occupational protection, public protection, medical exposure, radioactive waste, and the transport of radioactive materials.the transport of radioactive materials.

• Updates of the framework Law:Updates of the framework Law:– October 2008, changes for implementation of the HASS directive:October 2008, changes for implementation of the HASS directive:

• mainly new definitions related to SNF managementmainly new definitions related to SNF management

• Implement changes related to the framework for the State dutiesImplement changes related to the framework for the State duties

• Minor modifications of the regulations related to the Minor modifications of the regulations related to the emergency preparedness:emergency preparedness:– To reflect institutional changesTo reflect institutional changes

• New regulations for emergency preparedness training New regulations for emergency preparedness training activitiesactivities

• The comprehensive reports were made available for RASSIA The comprehensive reports were made available for RASSIA missionsmissions

Facts & FiguresFacts & Figures

• More than 900 licensed operatorsMore than 900 licensed operators

• 450 inspections per year450 inspections per year

• More than 3000 radiation workers receiving TLD servicesMore than 3000 radiation workers receiving TLD services

• Legal framework:Legal framework:– The framework Law (1994/2000)The framework Law (1994/2000)

– 24 main regulations24 main regulations

• Main “developments”Main “developments”– ““optimisation of the structure:optimisation of the structure:

• less for support and general functionsless for support and general functions

• what can be what can be not not done (or at least postponed)?done (or at least postponed)?

– to meet “targets” - from 34 to 31, 29, 26to meet “targets” - from 34 to 31, 29, 26

The Regulatory BodyThe Regulatory Body

• A single regulatory body since mid 2001 A single regulatory body since mid 2001

• 3 main divisions and 1-2 support divisions3 main divisions and 1-2 support divisions

• To implement Management System:To implement Management System:– PHARE projects in 2004-2007 (more than 50 guides)PHARE projects in 2004-2007 (more than 50 guides)

– Further developments (up to end of 2008):Further developments (up to end of 2008):• From quality management to management systemFrom quality management to management system

• More technical and procedural guides (more than 150)More technical and procedural guides (more than 150)

• Effective independence – target reached in 2001:Effective independence – target reached in 2001:– First RASSIA conclusions – issue is under the questionFirst RASSIA conclusions – issue is under the question

– Opinion froOpinion fromm Latvia – misinterpretation of the legal system Latvia – misinterpretation of the legal system

– RASSIA follow-up:RASSIA follow-up:• RDC is an effectively independentRDC is an effectively independent

• Further “developments” could weaken capabilities to ensure Further “developments” could weaken capabilities to ensure implementation of effective independenceimplementation of effective independence

The Regulatory BodyThe Regulatory Body (cont.) (cont.)

• Funding:Funding:– Up to 2008 available resources partly met the needs (except to Up to 2008 available resources partly met the needs (except to

maintain the staff)maintain the staff)– Since late 2008 the trends are not satisfactory ~ RDC trSince late 2008 the trends are not satisfactory ~ RDC triesies to to

maintain its capabilities, but further cuts can prevent fulfilment of maintain its capabilities, but further cuts can prevent fulfilment of the obligationsthe obligations

• Recommendations by RASSIA follow-up:Recommendations by RASSIA follow-up:– RDC, regulatory body RDC, regulatory body is is responsible for radiation safety, must responsible for radiation safety, must

remain an effectively independent regulatorremain an effectively independent regulator::• stand-alone orstand-alone or• as a significant part of a larger effectively independent institutionas a significant part of a larger effectively independent institution

– The licensing, inspection and early warning should remain at The licensing, inspection and early warning should remain at least at their present sizesleast at their present sizes

– Any transition of the current arrangements for radio-analysis and Any transition of the current arrangements for radio-analysis and personal dosimetry services must be managed responsibly so that personal dosimetry services must be managed responsibly so that essential services and standards are maintained essential services and standards are maintained

Regulatory Body Staffing and TrainingRegulatory Body Staffing and Training

• Number of Number of sstaff – 25/26 (March 2009):taff – 25/26 (March 2009):– future not yet clearfuture not yet clear– Changes, but also more applicants for considerationsChanges, but also more applicants for considerations

• Education:Education:– availability of skills:availability of skills:

• ““old” staff members had the chance for trainingsold” staff members had the chance for trainings• skills are regularly assessedskills are regularly assessed• newcomers – need to be treated separatelynewcomers – need to be treated separately

– access to training and development:access to training and development:• less projects, less cooperation activities directed to the trainingsless projects, less cooperation activities directed to the trainings• more enhancement activities e.g. exchange of information/knowledge in more enhancement activities e.g. exchange of information/knowledge in

conferences and expert group activitiesconferences and expert group activities• changes of the attitude ~ “you are already developed”changes of the attitude ~ “you are already developed”

– training needs:training needs:• but we still have newcomers, thus somebody should attend trainingsbut we still have newcomers, thus somebody should attend trainings• more sub-regional activities more sub-regional activities

Notification - Authorization – Licensing - Notification - Authorization – Licensing - InspectionsInspections

• There are no major changes since 2000There are no major changes since 2000

• Licensing:Licensing:– RDC performs assessment of the applicationsRDC performs assessment of the applications

– Licensing Commission provides opinionLicensing Commission provides opinion

– RDC issues licensesRDC issues licenses

• Validity period – is under considerations, might be increased, but Validity period – is under considerations, might be increased, but then inspections and regular reporting shall be enhancedthen inspections and regular reporting shall be enhanced

• Risk based procedures – the frequency for inspections adjusted to the Risk based procedures – the frequency for inspections adjusted to the risksrisks

• There could be changes in approach for planned inspections:There could be changes in approach for planned inspections:– optimisation of complex (comprehensive) inspectionsoptimisation of complex (comprehensive) inspections

– to choose ratio of complex and task oriented inspectionsto choose ratio of complex and task oriented inspections

PlansPlans

• Main plans – how to maintain the system, when still Main plans – how to maintain the system, when still constant changes and political decisions prevailconstant changes and political decisions prevail

• Main needs for 2009-2011:Main needs for 2009-2011:– access of the trainingaccess of the training

– to maintain the networkingto maintain the networking

– integration of different data management systems (web integration of different data management systems (web based RAIS is very welcome)based RAIS is very welcome)

• Some changes in legislation will be needed, but Some changes in legislation will be needed, but after clarifications on plans to revise arrangements after clarifications on plans to revise arrangements for all public organisationsfor all public organisations