Accreditation of a personal dosimetry service in Switzerland: practical experience and transition from EN 45004 to ISO 17025.
In compliance with the Swiss legislation on radiological protection, the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) operates a dosimetry service that is approved by the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate. In 1997, the dosimetry service was also accredited by the Swiss Federal Office of Metrology and Accreditation as an inspection body for legal personal and environmental dosimetry, according to EN 45004. The accreditation covers determination of personal dose equivalent for photon, neutron and beta radiation, and ambient dose equivalent for photon and neutron radiation, by means of thermoluminescence and solid state track detection techniques. Within this formal accreditation it was confirmed that the relevant requirements of ISO 9002 are also fulfilled. The first re-accreditation will take place in 2001 and work is going on to achieve the transition from EN 45004 to ISO 17025. Accreditation is a feasible, practicable and acceptable way to achieve harmonisation in the field of dosimetry. However, before starting on the path to formal accreditation, a careful analysis should be made, taking into consideration not only cost-benefit aspects but also national legal requirements.
Boschung
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Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland. markus.boschung@psi.ch
Wernli
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C
D000068:Accreditation; D005062:European Union; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D011786:Quality Control; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000592:standards*; D013557:Switzerland