Alert

Due to a lapse in appropriations, the NRC has ceased normal operations. However, excepted and exempted activities necessary to maintain critical health and safety functions—as well as essential progress on designated critical activities, including those specified in Executive Order 14300—will continue, consistent with the OMB-Approved NRC Lapse Plan.

Health Physics Questions and Answers - Question 135

Question 135: 10 CFR 20.1206 permits a planned special exposure (PSE) only if the alternatives that might avoid the higher exposure are unavailable or impractical. Under certain conditions, the collective dose for a task could be reduced if it could be performed by one worker receiving a PSE, rather than by a series of several workers each receiving a dose less than the limit. Under these conditions would the NRC consider the alternative of using the series of workers to be unavailable or impractical?

Answer: No. Reductions in collective dose should be accomplished while keeping workers within the dose limits. Planned special exposures cannot be justified solely on the basis that they will reduce collective dose; however, reduction in collective dose may be part of the justification.

(Reference: 10 CFR 20.1206)

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, November 01, 2017