In May this year the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) started a consultation with all its Associated Societies on its Draft Statement on ‘Reasonableness’ in Optimisation of Protection.  SRP consulted widely with its members and Partner Societies and has now submitted its response to IRPA.

We welcomed IRPA’s initiative to identify and develop generic approaches and lessons which underpin the process of optimisation of protection for all situations. A range of comments were made in our response to IRPA. In particular, it was noted that the subject of cut-offs/de minimus relating to ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) considerations elicited the most comments from members and Partner Societies. From these it was concluded that “the concept of de minimus value(s) has such potential benefits that we would recommend and support a concerted effort, initiated by IRPA, to investigate and develop options for adoption.”