Occupational Dose Collection, Registration and Reporting (ODCRR)

Heads of Radiation Protection Authorities (HERCA) was created in 2007 as an initiative of the French Nuclear Safety Authority to exchange knowledge and experiences that facilitate practical and harmonized solutions to important regulatory issues in radiation protection. The members of HERCA are the European Radiation Protection Authorities  represented by the heads of the authorities. HERCA has over 50 participating partners representing more than 30 European countries.

In 2008 the first Working Group on the development of an electronic passbook was established, which  submitted its outcome in 2016. Subsequently, the Working Group was transferred to a Network and reactivated in 2019 as the Network on Occupational Dose Collection, Registration and Reporting (ODCRR). The ODCRR Network brings together around 30 members with a key responsibility in the management of their national dose register.
 

The objective of the ODCRR Network is twofold:

1. To share experiences and best practices in the field of collection, registration and reporting of occupational doses.
2. To share statistical dose information from HERCA Network members and to perform analysis and interpretation of this information.

The management structure of HERCA consists of:

• A Board (Board of HERCA)). The Board meets in a plenary session twice a year. It is presided by a Chair, or a Vice-Chair in the HERCA Chair’s absence.
• The members of the Board are expected to be Heads of their organizations or, if that is not possible, senior managers, authorized to take decisions on behalf of the Radiation Protection Authority, and to attend the Board meetings regularly.
• Working groups, Networks  and Task Forces  established by the Board to address issues of common interest.
• A Technical Secretariat supporting the Board and the HERCA Chair, ensuring overall coordination and facilitation of all activities of HERCA.
• Organisation of thematic Workshops 

The HERCA ODCRR network has a Chair and Secretariat responsible for the execution of the activities mandated by the Board. In addition to the 30 members the Network also has associated observers representing e.g. the European Commission and IAEA.
 

Key activities of interest to the HERCA network are: 

• Gaining understanding on the current practise of dosimetry and dose collection in all fields of occupational dose exposure, and to collect information on the challenges and open ends with regard to occupational exposure and dose registration.
• Analyses of national statistical dose information for the interpretation of for example trends, national and European developments, and evaluation of the impact of national regulatory frameworks. These include trends in number of exposed workers and exposure levels in different sectors across European Union member states.
• Exploring possibilities to use tools for statistical dose information and other kind of information exchange related to occupational exposure

For more information visit the HERCA: Heads of the European Radiological protection Competent Authorities website.