ABSTRACT
The pandemic situation, originated due to the appearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, changed many aspects of our lives and jobs. This health crisis also affected the day-to-day work of radiation protection experts, including the wide range of areas involved in this sector. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of this pandemic on the Spanish radiation protection experts. For that purpose, a Google Forms online survey was developed with 39 questions. The survey covered different aspects related to the work developed by the Spanish professionals, taking into account three different time periods along the pandemic situation. According to this survey, the appearance of COVID-19 modified the labour conditions and modalities of many Spanish radiation protection professionals, especially at the beginning of the pandemic. Most on-site activities were related to the health sector and the nuclear industry, other sectors were more flexible, and the workload increased for half of the surveyed participants. Many operational activities suffered delays due to the pandemic, whereas the one-month wearing period of passive personal dosimeters was extended in most cases during the first Spanish alarm state (15th March 2020 up to the 21st June 2020). Finally, difficulties faced in terms of the working area have been identified and may be useful for the future.
ABSTRACT
Since its establishment in 2018, the Young Generation Network (YGN) has been dedicated, with support of the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA), to a variety of activities to promote communication, collaboration and professional development of students and young professionals in the area of radiation protection and its allied fields. This article reports our recent activities from the middle of 2018 to the beginning of 2021, with highlights on some important events: “Joint JHPS-SRP-KARP Workshop of Young Generation Network” (December 2019 in Japan);contribution to “Nuclear Energy Agency Workshop on Optimization: Rethinking the Art of Reasonable” (January 2020 in Portugal);survey on the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on radiation protection among IRPA YGN members (March 2020);and contribution to IRPA15 (15th International Congress of the IRPA;January–February 2021, online). The discussion and insight obtained from each activity are also summarized. The IRPA YGN will aim to achieve its on-going activities and continue to follow the ways paved in the Strategic Agenda and despite the challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. Namely, running an international survey (for example, on the usage of social media in radiation protection, and on the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic), engaging national YGNs, extending the network, finding new relationships with networks with an interest in the young generation and participation in (remote) events will be aspired for. Copyright © 2021 The Korean Association for Radiation Protection.
ABSTRACT
The measures implemented to limit the spread of Covid-19 have brought many challenges on the work organization, the radiation protection being no exception. The IRPA Young Generation Network has investigated through a collection of testimonies the impacts of these measures and how the continuity and consistency of radiation protection was ensured. This article presents the results of the analysis of the testimonies. The impacts of the Covid-19 for each of the radiation protection related sectors covered by the survey are presented from a young generation perspective. The impacts are never negligible and even more important in some sectors and for some type of work. The adaptations made to the radiation protection and how they were implemented are shown, as well as the lessons-learned from these unprecedented circumstances.