Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Co-hosts Fall 2018 Radiation Protection Computer Code Analysis and Maintenance Program Users’ Group Meeting
Résumé
Du 29 octobre au 2 novembre, la Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire (CCSN) et la United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) ont coanimé l’édition automne 2018 de la rencontre internationale des utilisateurs du programme d’entretien et d’analyse du code informatique en radioprotection (RAMP), à Ottawa. L’édition 2018 de la rencontre était l’occasion unique pour les participants de recevoir une formation utile et de partager différentes approches et expériences dans les domaines de la gestion des urgences, de la radioprotection et de l’évaluation de doses pour humains et pour biotes non humains.
From October 29 to November 2, 2018, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) co-hosted the fall 2018 Radiation Protection Computer Code Analysis and Maintenance Program (RAMP) Users’ Group Meeting in Ottawa.
RAMP is led by the United States NRC and is designed to train, develop, maintain, and distribute radiation protection, dose assessment, and emergency response computer codes. Currently, RAMP has 1,000 users from 13 countries. Membership provides access to current versions of 13 computer codes, a forum to resolve code errors, and periodic training on codes.
The fall 2018 RAMP meeting brought together 75 participants from seven countries:
- Canada
- United States
- Australia
- China
- South Korea
- South Africa
- United Arab Emirates
Training courses were offered on codes related to emergency management, radiation protection, and human and non-human dose assessment.
The meeting included a two-day technical meeting on applications of the VARSKIN computer code. VARSKIN is used for calculating occupational dose to the skin following exposure. VARSKIN developers provided background information on the code as well as useful guidance and tips on using the code. VARSKIN users made presentations on their past, present, and future applications of VARSKIN. Meeting participants also provided feedback to code developers on what they like about the code and what they would like to see in future versions.
Meeting participants were given a tour of CNSC’s Emergency Operating Centre and had an opportunity to ask questions about emergency management and preparedness in Canada.
On October 31, a special one-day symposium took place on dose to the lens of the eye. The meeting attracted regulators and members from industry, research, academia, and other federal departments to discuss proposed changes to dose limits recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). CNSC and the Canadian Radiation Protection Association (CRPA) have jointly held two webinars on this topic and a third webinar is tentatively scheduled for spring 2019.
The 2018 RAMP meeting was a unique opportunity for members to receive valuable training and share different approaches and experiences in the areas of emergency management, radiation protection, and dose assessment for human and non-human biota. The next RAMP meeting is scheduled for spring 2019 in Washington, DC, at the United States NRC’s headquarters.
Nana-Owusua (Nana) Kwamena
Nana-Owusua (Nana) KwamenaNana-Owusua (Nana) Kwamena is senior project officer at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) in Ottawa. She joined RAMP in 2015 as the main point of contact for CNSC. She is involved with registering new RAMP members within the organization and increasing staff use of the program’s codes.
Nana-Owusua (Nana) Kwamena est agente principale de projets à la Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire (CCSN), à Ottawa. Elle s’est jointe au RAMP en 2015 à titre de point de liaison principal pour la CCSN. Elle est impliquée dans l’adhésion de nouveaux membres RAMP au sein de l’organisation et dans la hausse du recours aux codes informatique du programme par les membres du personnel.
Adelene Gaw
Adelene GawAdelene Gaw is a dosimetrist at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission currently on an interchange, working as a radiation specialist at Health Canada. She was the first to join RAMP as a VARSKIN user.
Adelene Gaw est spécialiste en dosimétrie à la Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire, et participe présentement à un échange par l’entremise duquel elle travaille comme spécialiste de la radioprotection à Santé Canada. Elle a été la toute première participante de RAMP à utiliser le logiciel VARSKIN.
