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)