National Registry for Radiation Workers

Since 1980 the Ministry of Defence has been a major contributor to the National Registry for Radiation Workers (NRRW) database run by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). The NRRW is a database containing data on radiation workers and their associated radiation exposure. By correlating the data held on the NRRW with those held by the Office for National Statistics on causes of death and cancer registrations, the NRPB is able to determine those persons listed on the NRRW database who have died of different causes or developed cancer. Rates of cancer and other causes of death can then be compared with those within the UK for each disease and tested against the level of radiation exposure to see if any relationship exists. Such studies are openly reported in the peer-reviewed scientific literature.

The Ministry of Defence in partnership with the Department of Health and the Health and Safety Executive, and in collaboration with the NRPB is undertaking a project to computerise radiation dose data held by MOD for periods prior to 1979 and to transfer these data to the NRRW; currently this information is held in the form of paper records. The specific data will comprise the dosimetry service identity number, family name, forename, sex, name of employer, service/pay number, national insurance number, national health service number, entry date, birth date, birth place, dockyard number (if appropriate), job code, rank/title and accumulated annual radiation exposure for each year. There is no question of supplying any details of personal medical history.

These data are considered particularly important by the NRPB because radiation doses received in the 1960s and 1970s tended to be larger than those received more recently, and employees who started radiation work several decades ago would have had a longer time to accumulate doses than those who started work in the 1980s or 1990s. Moreover, because these early workers tend to be older than more recently employed workers, and mortality rates increase with increasing age, there will be more deaths in this group. Any effect of radiation exposure, if one exists, is more likely to be identified by the inclusion of this group of workers in the study population.

The Trade Unions were consulted on the details of the Scheme at its inception in 1980 and agreed that it would be in the interests of MOD employees to participate in it. However, anyone who was employed on radiation work before 1980, and who does not wish to have their data transferred, may opt out by writing to the Dosimetry Manager, Approved Dosimetry Service, DERA Radiation Protection Services, Institute of Naval Medicine, Crescent Road, Alverstoke, Gosport, Hants PO12 2DL requesting their name to be excluded. Data take on is expected to start in January 2000 and will continue until 2004. This will bring MOD in line with other employers who have already supplied their employees’ historical dose data to the NRRW.