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ADDRESS
ATOMIC ENERGY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (AERA)
2nd Floor, Chief M’mbelwa House,
Robert Mugabe Crescent, City Center
Private Bag 368
Lilongwe 3, Malawi
CONTACT DETAILS
Tel: +265 1 774 691
Tel: +265 1 774 694
Email: Info@aera.org.mw
Website: www.aera.org.mw
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The Individual Radiation Monitoring Service (IRMS) aims at monitoring potential ionizing radiation exposure to workers in fields such as medical, industrial and mining.
We are a government service also known as the National Dosimetry Laboratory (NDL) based in Lilongwe, which encourages clients to comply with the radiation safety requirements stipulated in the Atomic Energy Act of 2011 and its accompanying Regulations. AERA started providing this dosimetry service in 2018 working with a range of customers all over the country.
The Individual Radiation Monitoring Service (IRMS) aims at monitoring potential ionizing radiation exposure to workers in fields such as medical, industrial and mining.
We are a government service also known as the National Dosimetry Laboratory (NDL) based in Lilongwe, which encourages clients to comply with the radiation safety requirements stipulated in the Atomic Energy Act of 2011 and its accompanying Regulations. AERA started providing this dosimetry service in 2018 working with a range of customers all over the country
National Dosimetry Laboratory
NDL is recognized and certified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which provided most of the equipment being used. Our officers and technicians are well trained and qualified. Our processing machine (Harshaw TLD Reader Model 4500) regularly undergoes calibration with Tanzania SSDL which is traceable to both ISO and IAEA standards. It passed the performance test in the regional intercomparison exercise that was conducted in 2018 in Algeria Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL). A 2021 intercomparison exercise is underway in Morocco SSDL and NDL was accepted to participate. The lab usually engages IAEA experts in occupational radiation protection when faced by technical challenges that cannot be resolved by local expertise.
National Dosimetry Laboratory
Shows a picture of Harshaw 6600 PLUS TLD reader
Harshaw TLD Dosimeter & Holder Insert
Monitoring Requirement
If you work in a workplace where you may be exposed to ionizing radiation, you may need to be monitored. Regulation 40 in the Atomic Energy Regulations (2012) states that: A licensee and an employer shall arrange for the assessment of the occupational exposure of workers and ensure that adequate arrangements are made with appropriate dosimetry services under an adequate management system programme.
How to acquire the service
To register for this service, please complete this Agreement Form and Application Form. The completed forms can be submitted by hand or to by email
Obtaining dosimeters
Upon receiving the application forms, NDL assesses the suitability of the applicant for the monitoring service. If they qualify to be under monitoring, NDL issues an invoice accordingly and communicates to the applicant when dosimeters will be ready for collection. It should be noted that dosimeters are prepared within two weeks after submitting the forms. In the TLD dispatch form for individual monitoring, each wearer will be allocated a badge with a unique identification number. This will be used for identification when processing and assessing the dose received by the wearer. The wearer must ensure that they only wear the badge assigned to them. Currently NDL has no courier service, so clients physically visit the lab offices to collect and return the monitoring badges.
Monitoring Period
The monitoring badges issued to the clients are used on a monthly or quarterly basis depending on the level of radiation risk of the activity or practice of the client. Special arrangements for a specific monitoring period not provided can be made upon agreement between the client and NDL. Please note that the monitoring period starts at the beginning of each month.
Returning Dosimeters
The client shall return all TLD Badges, issued for a particular monitoring period, to NDL within five (5) days after the end of the monitoring period. The client is required to complete and submit this Return Form together with the badges.
Dose Reports
NDL issues a dose report to the client within thirty (30) days from the date a TLD Badge is returned to the lab. Special dose reports such as annual dose reports may be issued upon request in writing by the client.
Fees and charges
The fee for the monthly monitoring period is MWK15, 000 (fifteen thousand Malawi Kwacha) per person. The monthly monitoring fee shall apply to a special monitoring period that is less than one month. The fee for the quarterly monitoring period (three months) is MWK30, 000 (thirty thousand Malawi Kwacha) per person. The quarterly monitoring fee shall apply to any special monitoring period that is more than one month but less than three months. The Subscriber shall pay the charge of MWK100, 000 (one hundred thousand Malawi Kwacha) for any TLD Badge “lost” or returned in an irreparably damaged condition. Any payment made to the Service Provider is non-refundable. Get more details in this Fees and charges Regulations.
Amendment
When there has been any change in the details/information of the client (e.g. changes in facility address, personnel etc.), the NDL shall provide an Amendment Form to be completed by the client.
