Task Group 71
Protection in Security Screening

The scope of this Task Group is the protection of the public and workers in the use of ionising radiation in screening activities applied to persons and cargo for security purposes.

The Task Group will examine how the radiation protection principles ICRP should be interpreted and applied within the context of security screening. While it is not the role of the ICRP to state whether such systems are justified or not, it is appropriate to take a view on the contributions of radiation protection within the larger process of justification. It is also important to discuss how the principles for planned exposure situations, including optimization with the use of constraints and the concept of limitation apply within a security screening context.

The Task Group will also examine the application of the Commission’s recommendations to groups of individuals who may be exposed as a consequence of cargo screening. These groups may include the occupationally exposed individuals in set up for use start, operation and maintenance of the screening equipment, individuals such as drivers, who have been permitted in the cab of the vehicle, and other individuals who may unintentionally be exposed as a “stow-away” in a cargo container.

Some of the items that the TG report needs to consider:

• Justification
  • Non-radiological benefits in justification
  • Alternative technology availability in justification
  • Provisions for alternate option to screening
  • Effectiveness of detecting security concern
  • Intrusiveness (perceived or real)
  • Privacy
  • Legal issues of data retention, documentation
• Exposure
  • Occupational Dose
  • Public Dose (bystanders)
  • Frequent Scans
  • Collective dose from screening
  • Stow-away exposure
• Optimization:
  • Machine Selection
  • Maintenance
  • Calibration
  • Consensus Standards
• Dose Limits and Constraints
• Additional Issues
  • Communication of risks
  • Stakeholder Interaction and involvement
  • Unique circumstances