iaea training course on effective and sustainable regulatory control of radiation sources strategies...

IAEA Training Course on

Effective and Sustainable Regulatory Control of Radiation Sources

Strategies for Effective and Sustainable Regulatory Control – Part I

RIDM – Radiological Risk

Objective

The goal of this presentation is to introduce the concept of graded approach to the performance of the key regulatory functions. This means that the regulatory body performs its regulatory functions on a risk informed basis – allocating more effort where risks are greater

IAEA Training Course on Effective and Sustainable Regulatory Control of Radiation Sources


Contents

Regulating smarter

Graded approach requirements in GSR Part 1

Cross-cutting ‘Themes’ for the graded approach modules


Regulating Smarter!

Most regulatory bodies, especially those that are recently established or struggling to cope with a wide scope of responsibilities often attempt to perform all regulatory functions in a uniform way.

This means, for example, that there is one approach to authorization and all applications are

processed and reviewed in the same way; that low risk sources are inspected as frequently as high risk sources.

For our purposes we may call this ‘first generation’ regulation

Result: The regulatory body is swamped with tasks

Task priority is often based on what is the most overdue.


Regulating Smarter (cont’d)

By taking a graded approach the regulatory body maintains the regulatory framework and authorizes, inspects and enforces compliance on a risk informed basis

By taking a graded approach the regulatory body allocates more effort where risks are greater

A graded approach is equivalent to implementing risk-informed decision making

For our purposes, we may call this is ‘second generation’ regulation

Call it “regulating smarter”


Regulating Smarter (cont’d)

But there is also a third approach… In addition to the graded approach, the RB may

identify the most important problems that it faces analyze the problems on the basis of risk and address them in collaboration with the relevant sector of the

regulated industry.

For example by focusing on regulatory problems with the oil and gas or industrial radiography industries in consultation with each industry

This may be called ‘third generation’ regulation


What does GSR Part 1 say about a graded approach?

GSR Part 1 requires a graded approach in the implementation of all regulatory functions

Requirement 1: Establish national policy and strategy for safety“The government shall establish a national policy and strategy for safety, the implementation of which shall be subject to a graded approach in accordance with national circumstances and with the radiation risks associated with facilities and activities…”

Paragraph 4.3“The objective of the regulatory functions is the verification and assessment of safety in compliance with regulatory requirements. The performance of regulatory functions shall be commensurate with the radiation risks associated with facilities and activities, in accordance with a graded approach.”


GSR Part 1 Requirements (cont’d)

GSR Part 1 includes also requirements on the implementation of a graded approach to: Regulations and guides Authorization Review and Assessment Inspection Enforcement

Strategies for the application of graded approach to these regulatory function will be addressed in dedicated lectures


Themes of the “Graded Approach”

There are several cross-cutting themes in all of the lectures on strategies for the application of ‘graded approach’ : Theme 1: Regulatory resources are limited so you can’t treat all

regulatory tasks in the same way Theme 2: Risk-informed decision making provides a systematic

way of setting priorities Theme 3: Communication and consultation are a lot of work,

but they payoff in better decisions that are more defensible Theme 4: For moderate risk sources and practices, a

disproportionate amount of regulatory effort is often needed to come to decisions


Theme 1

Regulatory resources are limited so you can’t treat all regulatory tasks in the same way The RB needs to focus its limited resources on high risk sources

and practices and find ways of expending fewer resources on low risk sources and practices

The Regulatory Body can’t do everything…


Theme 2

Risk-informed decision making provides a systematic way of setting priorities. Most risk-informed decision making is not complex or time-

consuming; it is simple and intuitive. But a more systematic and complex approach to risk-informed

decision making may from time to time, be necessary.


Theme 3

Communication and consultation are a lot of work, but they payoff in better decisions that are more defensible. Ongoing communication with the public and the regulated

industry is a key activity of every regulatory body. Consultation is a more periodic activity than communication,

but consultation is essential to obtain industry ‘buy-in’ to regulatory initiatives and to obtain better information for use in systematic risk-informed decision making


Communication and consultation are key components of the risk management process

Generic Risk Management Process Informal and intuitive


Theme 4

Theme 4: For moderate risk sources and practices, a disproportionate amount of regulatory effort is often needed to come to decisions. There is seldom much disagreement about the need to regulate

high risk sources and practices Similarly, there is usually acceptance that less regulatory effort

needs to be devoted to low risk sources and practices. However, for moderate risks:

people who are risk averse will want to treat moderate risk items as if they were high risk.

people who are risk tolerant will want to treat moderate risk items as though they were low risk.

The RB needs strategies to help make such decisions!

Regulatory Decisions for Moderate Risks

A series of lectures are intended to help make decisions in the moderate region of the Risk Analysis Matrix

Likelihood Consequence

Negligible Minor Moderate Major Extreme

Almost certain M VH VH E E

Likely M H VH VH E

Possible L M H VH VH

Unlikely L M M H VH

Rare L L L M H



Exercise

Can you discuss your understanding of the graded approach?

What are its benefits?

How has your regulatory body implemented the graded approach in your country?


Summary

Graded approach to the performance of regulatory functions is incorporated into IAEA Safety Standards

Strategies for ‘graded approach’ help to ‘regulate smarter’ The use of RIDM enables a:

Systematic, consistent and transparent regulatory program Optimization and integration of regulatory effort and resources Regulatory burden on licensees is commensurate with their level of

compliance .

The regulatory body needs strategies to make regulatory decisions for moderate risks

Communication and consultation with the interested parties are key components of the risk management process.


More Information

GSR Part 1: Governmental, Legal and Regulatory Framework for Safety

The IAEA Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources

GS-G-1.5 Regulatory Control of Radiation Sources (Safety Guide)

IAEA-TECDOC-1526, Inspection of Radiation Sources and Regulatory Enforcement

iaea training course on effective and sustainable regulatory control of radiation sources strategies...

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