History
The European ALARA Network (EAN) was established in 1996 by the European
Commission. In June 2005, after 9 years spent within the scope of the European
Commission research programs, EAN became self-sustainable. It was registered as
a legal entity under French law in July 2005 as a non-profit making
association.
Objectives
- To promote a wider and more uniform implementation of the ALARA principle
for the management of public, patient and worker’s exposures.
- To provide a focus and a mechanism for the exchange and dissemination of
information from practical ALARA experiences and good radiation protection
practice.
- To identify and investigate topical issues of common interest to further
improve the implementation of ALARA.
Management
EAN has a Steering Group consisting of organizations from 20 different
European countries, which have signed the EAN “Terms and Conditions”. The budget
of the network is managed by an Administrative Board, composed of Members
financially supporting EAN. The technical and administrative management of the
network is organised by a Coordination Team, composed of CEPN (France) and HPA
(UK) staff members.
The countries represented in EAN are the following: Austria, Belgium,
Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Main activities
Workshops
Topical ALARA Workshops are organised at least every 18 months on challenging
ALARA issues. For example: “ALARA and decommissioning” (1st Workshop, 1997),
“Industrial radiography: improvements in radiation protection” (5th Workshop,
2001), “Occupational exposure to natural radiation” (9th Workshop, 2005), “ALARA
in safety and security of radioactive sources” (12th Workshop, 2009), “ALARA in
the medical sector” (13th Workshop, 2011).
Newsletter
Since 1996, the European ALARA Newsletter has been published twice a
year
Website
www.eu-alara.net
Forum
The EAN Forum is a mailing-list, which allows participants to post questions
and requests for information, undertake reviews and surveys, and exchange
information. Topics have included: the implementation of European BSS in
national regulations; Diagnostics Reference Levels in Europe; and national
policies to manage radon.
European sub-networks and working group
EAN sub-network on research reactors (2002 - not active at the
moment)
ERPAN - European Radioprotection Authority Network: for regulatory
authority inspectors (2005) EAN Working group on ALARA culture (2009)
For more information, please
go to the EAN website