ISO 24434:2024

Overview - ISO 24434:2024 (Radiological protection)

ISO 24434:2024 provides general principles for radiological monitoring of emergency workers and the public following nuclear or major radiological incidents. Focused on the early response phase, the standard guides rapid, accurate screening, triage, monitoring and dose assessment for people potentially affected by internal and/or external contamination. It supports preparedness and decision‑making in events involving significant release of radioactive materials, radiological dispersal devices (RDD), improvised nuclear devices (IND) and nuclear weapons. Incidents with only external exposure from Radiation Exposure Devices (RED) are outside the main scope, although some guidance may still be useful.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Incident information collection: description of the event, source term, weather and modelling, exposure pathways and affected population demographics.
• Organizing a population screening centre: site selection, staffing, modular organization, scalability, sustainability and practical logistics.
• Screening, triage and monitoring procedures: protocols for initial sorting, contamination screening stations, post‑decontamination screening and PPE requirements.
• Decontamination: station setup, partial‑body decontamination, handling clothing and personal belongings.
• Internal exposure monitoring: sample collection, monitoring methods for non‑penetrating and penetrating radiation, radionuclide mixtures and methods for initial and detailed internal dose assessment.
• External exposure assessment: measurement devices, procedures and calculations for emergency workers and the public, plus clinical/biological dosimetry techniques (haematology, cytogenetics, EPR).
• Special populations: guidance for children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
• Recording and reporting: principles for registering results and rapid data transmission to inform decision makers.
• Supporting services: medical, mental‑health (psychosocial), security, communication and transport considerations.

Practical applications - who uses ISO 24434:2024

ISO 24434:2024 is intended for organizations responsible for emergency preparedness and response, including:

• Radiation protection professionals and emergency planners - to develop operational screening and monitoring plans.
• Public health and medical authorities - to set triage, clinical monitoring and follow‑up procedures.
• First responders and emergency workers - to implement contamination screening, PPE and dose assessment processes.
• Hospital and laboratory personnel - for sample collection, biological dosimetry and reporting.
• Regulatory bodies and policymakers - as guidance for national preparedness, interoperability and public communication.

Related guidance and use in practice

ISO 24434 complements national and international emergency response guidelines by providing standardized principles for contamination screening, dose assessment and population screening center management. Implementing this standard supports faster, more consistent monitoring, better protection of vulnerable populations and improved data for decision makers during radiological emergencies.

Keywords: ISO 24434:2024, radiological protection, emergency monitoring, contamination screening, dose assessment, population screening centre, internal exposure, external exposure, emergency workers.