The working group formed to carry on the EURADOS work package 3 "Forming a group dealing with the harmonisation of individual monitoring in Europe and information on new techniques in this field" can be considered to be a continuation of the action group on "Harmonisation and Dosimetric Quality Assurance in Individual monitoring for external radiation". This action resulted in three reports that were published in a special issue of Radiation Protection Dosimetry (Radiat. Prot. Dosim 89 (1-2) 2000) and the "Workshop on Individual Monitoring of External Radiation" held in Helsinki from 4 to 6 September 2000. Harmonisation appeared to be not fully achieved and it was strongly recommended to continue the efforts in this respect.

The new working group with members from all countries of the European Union forms a network sharing information between its members and provides a liaison with colleagues in the dosimetry, metrology and regulatory communities in their respective countries. The network is also extended to the candidate Member States of the European Union.

At their first preliminary meeting at the PTB in Braunschweig on 26 January 2001, candidate members of the new working group discussed the programme of the WG starting from the objectives defined in the EURADOS network contract. The objectives currently under discussion focus on:

Implementation of standards by dosimetric services. The EU wide use of the basic safety standards of the EURATOM Council Directive 96/29 and of the new operational quantities, the implementation by dosimetric services of other international standards and guides like the ISO 4037 standards for reference radiation for calibration, the ISO 17025 standard for good laboratory practice are considered. It was seen to be useful to compile information on the use of these standards and to disseminate it through the EURADOS web site.

Electronic dosemeters for individual monitoring and other new developments. Information on how electronic dosemeters can comply with existing standards and practises will be reported.

Quality assurance, quality control and reliability of dosimetric systems. In addition to a catalogue of dosimetric systems, the compilation and dissemination of more detailed information on quality assurance and quality control in individual monitoring is considered.

Other themes relevant to individual monitoring such as the harmonisation and policies for the management of dose data including other aspects of individual exposure (radon exposure, internal dosimetry) are considered within the framework of EURADOS areas of expertise. The first step was discussed in a meeting (Vienna, 9 Sep 2001) on the exchange of information on internal dosimetry projects carried out within the EU (download the report as pdf file, 294 kB).