The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) played a key role at the International Radiological Protection (IRPA) European Congress, which attracted more than 1,100 delegates and professionals from across the world.
The event in Liverpool, hosted by the UK Society for Radiological Protection (SRP), was the largest radiological protection gathering in Europe this year.
ONR's Radiological Protection team delivered four formal presentations covering a wide range of topics including radiation dose quantities, inspector competency development, and a revised approach to proportionate regulatory control for delicensing UK nuclear sites.
There were also sessions on the UK's framework for deploying emergency workers during a radiation emergency, international crisis collaboration through the Heads of the European Radiological protection Association (HERCA) and Western European Nuclear Regulators' Association (WENRA) approach, and UK-US transatlantic regulatory cooperation.
ONR Transport Competent Authority staff participated in one of the congress's most popular workshops, focusing on the safe transport of radioactive materials and compliance with international and UK legislation, which received strongly positive feedback from participants.
A particular success was ONR's dedicated invitation side-event on radiological protection challenges for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), bringing together 20 regulators from 12 countries, to discuss topics structured around a recently published OECD Nuclear Energy Agency working paper on the topic.
Participants agreed that further international collaboration would be of significant benefit, laying important groundwork for future engagement.
Gareth Thomas, Head of Radiological Protection and Criticality at ONR, said:
"Events like this are vital for shaping the future of international radiological protection standards and ensuring that regulation keeps pace with the science.
"ONR's constructive and active participation in both the formal and Congress discussion sessions demonstrates our commitment to proportionate, evidence-based regulation and to building the international relationships that benefit the whole radiological protection and nuclear sectors."
