Occupational Radiation Exposure Report released

February 20, 2023

ORISE prepared the 2021 DOE Occupational Radiation Exposure Report that was released to the public in January 2023. The document presents the results of analyses of occupational radiation exposures at DOE National Nuclear Security Administration facilities during 2021, including occupational radiation exposure information for DOE employees, contractors, and subcontractors, as well as members of the public who have worked or entered controlled areas monitored for exposure to radiation.

Data contained in the 2021 report come from DOE’s Radiation Exposure Monitoring System (REMS), a key asset in examining the occupational radiation exposure received at DOE facilities. Rule 10 CFR Part 835 “Occupational Radiation Protection” specifies the requirements for monitoring and recording, and DOE Order 231.1B requires the reporting of monitoring results to the REMS repository.

ORISE staff supporting REMS annually collect and process more than 75,000 exposure records from more than 100 organizations that report data for 35 DOE sites. With data for more than 775,000 workers and more than 4.7 million radiation records, REMS is a comprehensive database of occupational radiation exposure monitoring for all DOE monitored individuals since 1986, and many legacy records back to the 1940s Manhattan project. An online query tool is available for individuals and sites to examine trends in key indicators in the summarized REMS data. The REMS website contains the series of annual reports since 1974, a dashboard and historical interactive presentation tools (“e-products”), and a secure dose history request module as well as links to regulations, guidance, and software tools to assist in the reporting of monitoring records to the REMS repository.