ARE HPS N13.11-2001 TEST CONDITIONS AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA APPROPRIATE FOR EVALUATING PERSONAL DOSIMETRY SYSTEMS?

摘要

The personal dosimetry proficiency testing programs operated by, NVLAP (National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program) and DOELAP (Department of Energy Laboratory Accreditation Program) have made a significant positive impact on the quality of personal dosimetry in the United States. The programs were developed during a time when there were questions about the consistency and traceability to national standards of worker dosimetry measurements being performed at nuclear facilities. These two programs addressed problems in two different areas. NVLAP tested and accredited dosimetry processors serving Nuclear Regulatory Commission facilities, whereas DOELAP tested and accredited dosimetry programs at Department of Energy facilities. NVLAP used as the basis for their testing program, an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Health Physics Society (HPS) standard, N13.11, and DOELAP relied on the use of a DOE-specific standard that was similar to N13.11. Recently, the N13.11 standards was revised, and the resulting revision is now used by both DOE and NRC facilities. Along with this improvement in the compatibility of the standards were a number of changes in the specific tests. It is probably fair to say that the tests became more difficult, but based on the past performance of participants in the testing programs it is also fair to say that the participants were doing a good job. And, it may go without saying that when tests are administered over a long time period, the content of the tests are usually changed in the direction of greater difficulty. This debate considers not only the degree of difficulty of the proficiency tests described in N13.11-2001, but also examines the relevance or appropriateness of the tests themselves. Do they present the participants with exposure tests that are a reasonable representation of conditions that may exist in an actual facility?