EURADOS Intercomparison 2010 for whole body dosemeters

Over the last decade EURADOS, through its Working Group 2 (WG2), has been carrying out a programme of work on harmonization of individual monitoring in Europe.  WG2 Subgroup 2 was established specifically to carry out a feasibility study for a programme of self sustained IMS intercomparisons in Europe with the aims of  improving the harmonization of individual monitoring and helping the IMS to comply with ISO 17025. Following the feasibility study, EURADOS established an Organization Group to start the programme.  The 2008 intercomparison for whole body dosemeters and the 2009 intercomparison for extremity dosemeters have been completed. EURADOS now has the pleasure of announcing the 2010 intercomparison for whole body dosemeters.

Scope

The 2010 intercomparison is for whole body dosemeters used for the assessment of H_p(10) and/or H_p(0,07). 

Irradiations, restricted to photons, will be carried out in an accredited or primary standard European irradiation facility in terms of H_p(10) and H_p(0,07) in the following ranges:

1.       Energy: 30 keV to 1,3 MeV

2.       Dose: 0,2 mSv to 1 Sv

3.       Angle of incidence: ± 60º

Intercomparison procedure

IMS wishing to participate will complete the application form which can be downloaded HERE. The coordinating laboratory will register each application and inform each participating IMS when their application has been accepted.

On acceptance of the application, the participants will receive an invoice from EURADOS and instructions for dosemeter labelling and dispatch.

The participation fee is 1250 Euro per dosimetry system. EURADOS sponsors will pay 1125 Euro for one system and 1250 Euro for any additional systems.  Fees must be transferred in advance to the EURADOS bank account (free of bank transfer costs) after receiving the invoice from EURADOS. Refunding will only be possible in the unlikely event that the intercomparison is cancelled by EURADOS.

The fees have been calculated on a non-profit base and any surplus money will be used to support the harmonization of individual monitoring and maintaining expertise in this field within EURADOS.

For this intercomparison a total of 26 dosemeters are required from each participant.  

1.       20 dosemeters for irradiation

2.       4 transit dosemeters for background control

3.       2 spare dosemeters

After the irradiations have been carried out, the coordinating laboratory will return the dosemeters to the participants for readout. Within one month from receiving the dosemeters the participants will send the results in terms of H_p(10) and/or H_p(0,07) to the coordinating laboratory. All results must be sent on the form supplied by the coordinating laboratory.

After the deadline to submit results to the coordinating laboratory, participants will be sent the irradiation data and their response values. Change of results after distribution of the irradiation data will only be possible in case of technical or administrative errors made by the irradiation laboratory or the coordinating laboratory.

After confirmation of the results, EURADOS will provide the participants with a “Certificate of Participation” including information on the irradiation qualities, doses, response values and overall uncertainties for all irradiations.

Intercomparison report

The Organization Group will prepare a report summarizing the results of the intercomparison. The report will include the names of the IMS that have participated and the types of dosemeter used but the results will be presented anonymously.

Intercomparison results will be treated by EURADOS as confidential data and IMS identity will not be disclosed.  Data used in technical and scientific studies will be anonymous. The Organization Group has agreed to ensure confidentiality and the participants results will be known only to a minimum number of persons within the Organization Group (OG).