DOE O 5480.15, DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program for Personnel Dosimetry

.,, U.S. Department: of Energy ORDER Washington, D.C. ., m, 12-14-87 SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY LABORATORY ACCREDITATION PROGRAM FOR PERSONNEL DOSIMETRY 1. PURPOSE. To establish requirements for evaluating Departmental and contractor dos imetry progrfims. 2. SCOPE. The provisions of this Order apply to al 1 Departmental Elements and contractors performing work for the Department as provided by 1 aw and/or contract and as Implemented by the appropriate contracting officer.. . . 3. APPLICABILITY. The requirements of this Order apply to all Department of Energy (DOTFederal activities and contractor activities for which the DOE exercises safety responsibilities defined in DOE Acquisition Regulations 48 CFR 923.70, 48 CFR 370.23, or other contractual provisions where DOE has elected to enforce environment, safety, and health requirements by specific negotiated contract provisions. 4. BACKGROUN~. a. The Department of Energy Laboratory Ikcreditation Program for personnel dosimetry is established to ensure the integrity of dosimetry results. Accreditatfin is based on the results of a performance testing laboratory evaluation of the dosimeter against established criteria and an onsite assessment of the quality assurance, documentation, and technical adequacy of the system. ..- -. b. The Department’s Accreditation Program is managed through the Office of Nuclear Safety, EH-33, by a designated program administrator who establishes accreditation program procedures, selects a pool of technical experts who may serve as onsite assessors or members of the Oversight or Appeals Boards, and designates the Performance Evaluation Administrator and performance testing laboratories. The Performance Evaluation Administrator is responsible for conducting the performance testing and site assesslnents. Results of the performance test and the site assessment are submitted by the Performance Evaluation Administrator to the Oversight Board which reviews this documentation and makes recommendations concerning accreditation to the Program Administrator. The Program Administrator reviews the recommendations and makes the final decision regarding accreditation. Should accreditation be denied, appeals are reviewed by the Appeals Board. .- . ,.-A,.. -. .- —— DISTRIBUTION: INITIATED BY: All Departmental Elements Assistant Secretary for Erwjronmentj Safety, and Health I- - -.* “ ‘ ‘“ . . f _ .,. 2 DOE 5480.15 I 12-14-87 5. EXCEPTIONS. The following exceptions apply: 1 a. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Naval Reactors is responsible for all personnel dosimetry requirements and practices within the Pittsburgh Naval “ Reactors Office and the Schenectady Naval Reactors Office, including administering and monitoring compliance with such requirements and practices. These responsibilities and actions are excluded from Environment, Safety and Health responsibility and authority as set forth in this Order. b. Activities involving contracts (e.g., small university contracts) containing the Radiation Protection and Nuclear Criticality clause (48 CFR 952.223-72) may choose to obtain accreditation from either the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program or the National Voluntary Accreditation Program, administered by the National Bureau of Standards, if the contractor does not perform in-house dosimetry and does not routinely report significant doses received by personnel. 6. REFERENCES. a . Title 48, Part 952.223-72, which defines contractual clauses related to environment, conservation, and occupational safety.

b. “Department of Energy Standard for the Performance Testing of Personnel Dosimetry Systems” (DOE/EH-0027) which provides the performance testing criteria used to accredit personnel dosimeters. q c. “Handbook for the Department of Energy Laboratory Accreditation Program for. Personnel Dosimetry Systems” (DOE/EH-0026) which provides operating procedures for the program. d. “Quality Assurance Manual: DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program for Personnel Dosimetry Systems” (DOE/ID-12105) which applies to the quality assurance program for the performance testing laboratories. 7. DEFINITIONS. a. b. c. Accreditation. The process of evaluating a program which, through the use of radiation dosimeters, measures and records dose equivalents received by radiation workers. The accreditation process consists of performance tests of personnel dosimeters and site visits by assessors. Accredited. The status conferred upon DOE and DOE contractor dosimetry programs that have undergone the accreditation process and met or exceeded the applicable criteria of DOE/EH-0026 and DOE/EH-0027. Programs are accredited for a period of 2 years from the date of notification. Performance Testing Laboratory. A calibration laboratory designated by the DOE Laboratory Ikcreditation Administrator (see paragraph 9b) to test dosimeters. ● I I I 1- \ ,. . . DOE 5480.”15 3 @b 12-14-87 d. Personnel Dosimetry Program. Aprogramus’ng personnel dosimeters to dose equivalents received by e . f. determine, record, report, and archive the personnel. Personnel Dosimeter. A device containing one or more radiation-responsive elements=, film, thermoluminescent, nuclear track detector) and possibly one or more absorbers. For the purposes of this Order, personnel doslmeter means the type of dosimeter mrn to assess “whole body” dose equivalents. Specifically excluded are dosimeters expressly designed for extremities such as finger ring or wrist dosimeters.,— . .—, . Technical Ex ert. A technically trained individual with professional +experience n ~rsonnel radiation dosimetry (programmatic or research) for a minimun of 5 years who may serve as a site assessor or as a member of the Oversight or Appeals Boards. Technical experts are nominated by Managers of Operations Offices and selected by the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program Administrator. 8. POLICY. DOE shall: a. Provide’ personnel safety protection, including adequate dosimeters in the working environment; b. Establish and maintain an accreditation program consistent with the applicable requirements of DOE/EH-0026 and DOE/EH-0027; c. Ensure that DOE and DOE contractor dosimetry programs are accredited at 2 year intervals according to DOE/EH-0026 and DOE/EH-0027; and 9. d. Establish and maintain a DOE performance testing capability consistent with DOE/ID-12105. RESPONSIBILITIES A~D AUTHORITIES. a. The Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety, and Health (EH-1) has overall resporitsiblllty for the overview and coordination of the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program and shall, through the Office of Nuclear Safety: (1) Establish and communicate the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program policy to the Heads of Departmental Elements; (2) Review requests and make recommendations for specific exceptions to provisions of the Order; (3) Inform appropriate Departmental Elements of findings and planned actions; and (4) Appoint the DOE Laboratory kcreditation Administrator. . . . . . -... . .

4 DOE 5480.15 12-14-87 b. The EH Headquarters designated DOE Laboratory Accreditation dmlnlstrator snail: (1) Recommend detailed policy, including administration, protocols, and standards. (2) Select technical experts from a list of nominees submitted by Managers of Operations Offices. (3) Approve recommendations concerning accreditation and communicate results to dosimetry program personnel through appropriate field elements. (4) Maintain a list of accredited programs. (5) Establish DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program procedures. (6) Appoint members to the Oversight and Appeals Boards from among the pool of technical experts. Note: A technical expert shall not Serve . on the Oversight and Appeals Board at the same time nor be employed in the personnel dosimetry program of the organization being reviewed or filing an appeal. (7) Designate the DOE Performance Evaluation Administrator. f a1 (8) Review and evaluate recommendations from the Performance Evaluation Administrator for improvements in quality and efficiency of the m program. (9) Designate the lead and alternative performance testing laboratories which meet the appropriate requirements of DOE/EH-0026, DOE/EH-0027, and DOE/ID-12105. c. Performance Evaluation Administrator designated by the DOE Laboratory Accreditation dministrator shall: (1) Establish site assessment procedures and administer the performance evaluation process, the lead performance testing laboratory, and site assessments. (2) Ensure that all irradiation techniques performed in accordance with appropriate sections of DOE/EH-0026, DOE/EH-0027, and DOE/ID-12105 are traceable to the National Bureau of Standards and are approved by the DOE Oversight Board. (3) Arrange, if necessary, for the use of alternative performance testing laboratories that meet the appropriate requirements of DOE/EH-0026, DOE/EH-0027, and DOE/ID-12105 and that have been approved by the DOE Headquarters Laboratory Accreditation Program Administrator. 5 DOE 5480.15 12-14-”87 Select ancl train site assessors from the pool of technical experts, coordinate their site visits through cognizant field offices, and evalualte their reports. Review and evaluate the results of the dosimeter performance test and the site assessment in accordance with DOE/EH-0026 and DOE/EH-0027. Using this information, recommend accreditation of dosimetry programs to the Oversight Board. Recommend changes for improving the quality and efficiency of the program to the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program Administrator. (4) (5) (6) \ ‘1 Heads of Headquarters Elements shall ensure: (1) That all DOE elements and contractors under their jurisdiction conducting personnel dosimetry programs maintain an accredited dosimetry program and are re-accredited every 2 years; and (2) Dosimetry programs identified as deficient by the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program are upgraded. Managers of Optirations Offices and Administrators of the Power Marketing_ Administration shall: (1) Ensure that personnel dosimetry programs under their jurisdiction are initially accredited, and re-accredited every 2 years. (2) Communicate information concerning accreditation to their contractors. (3) Ensure that personnel dosimetry programs under their jurisdiction select proper OOE Laboratory Accreditation Program irradiation categories.

(4) Review applications for accreditation for dosimetry programs under their jurisdiction and, after concurring, forward them to the Performance Evaluation Administrator. Applications must be submitted within 6 months of the date of this Order or within 6 months of the inception of a new program. Applications are contained in DOE/EH- 0026. d. e. (5) Ensure implementation of proposed plans to effect necessary changes in equipment, procedures, and/or personnel. (6) ~? ~~st exceptions to provisions of this Order, pursuant to paragraph 7 . The Oversi ht Board (appointed by the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program - 5 .dmlnlstrator shall review: f. , 0 - . -r k >.. — . . —- . -4 . .:” ‘--, . —.- ., r 6 DOE 5480.15 12-14-87 , I (1) Accreditation recommendations made by the Performance Evaluation ● \ Administrator and advise the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program J Administrator regarding approval; . (2) Evaluations of the performance testing laboratories for traceability . of equipment and standards to the National Bureau of Standards and conformance with operating procedures; # (3) Plans that mitigate any deficiencies in dosimetry programs identified through the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program; and (4) DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program procedures, and recommend appropriate changes to the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program Administrator. 9* The Appeals Board shall review: (1) Appeals and recommend to the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program Administrator the affirmation or reversal of decisions concerning accreditation and selection of site assessors; and (2) The DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program procedures and recommend appropriate changes to the the DOE Laboratory ikcreditation Program Administrator. h. Heads of DOE and DOE Contractor Personnel Dosimetry Programs. or their Designated Representatives shall: ● 1 (1) Complete and submit an initial application for a DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program performance evaluation through the Head of the appropriate Field Element who must concur on the application (paragraph 9e(4)). Applications are contained in DOE/EH-0026. (2) Submit dosimeters for testing upon request of the Performance Evaluation Program Administrator. Each test requires three separate submissions of dosimeters at intervals of approximately one month. (3) Evaluate irradiated dosimeters in terms of the units specified by DOE/EH-0027 and report the values to the Performance Evaluation Program Administrator. (4) Allow site assessors to examine all aspects of the program, including facilities, equipnent, dosimeters, procedures, notebooks, records, reports, position descriptions, personnel qualifications, and training documentation. (5) Respond in writing within 45 days of receipt of the site assessment report to any recommendations. Responses should be sent to the . ,1—– 4. !. .-. . . . . .: .-. ” .:” :“ j.,. . .“ , .-4 .=- —h:; ,-. . . ——. . DOE 5480.15 7 (and 8) 12-14-87 Performance Evaluatio; Program Administrator, with the concurrence of the Head of the appropriate Field Element. The response shall include. corrective action (as appropriate) and completion dates.~, . . . . . . (6) (7) . :..,-. . . . . . . Within 60 days, identify and implement plans ‘to make appropriate changes” in equipment, procedures, and/or personnel to achieve a program capable of receiving accreditation in the event that accreditation is denied. Plans shall have the concurrence of the Head of the appropriate Field Element. Apply aid complete testing procedures and onsite assessment for re-accreditation before each 2-year anniversary of the initial accredi~ation. BY ORDER OF THE SE~RETARY OF-ENERGY: ,.. . ,; : . .- ,,.! .:. . . . : , - . . . -:.@ A:t “ .!- 1./.- .,.. . : ., . ,. . ,, ! .— . . - ..:. . ., . . . . ., . . - . ,. -? ,“-. , --- I ~o . .’ - . .- . . . . ,.:. . . -r+ ., . . LAWRENCE F. DAVENPORT Assistant Secretary Management and Administration