The radiation protection register in Germany records data on occupational radiation exposure. Since 4th of November 2024, those responsible for radiation protection or affected persons must use the digital information portal of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection to request dose information (https://ssr-auskunft.bfs.de). Affected private individuals can still do this by letter, fax or email. Anyone who has to wear a radiation dosimeter for professional reasons now needs the national dose register number (SSR). This is also issued by the Radiation Protection Register and replaces the previous radiation passport number. With the personal SSR number, individual dose values from occupational radiation exposure should be easier to allocate and account for.

In Germany, around 420,000 people were monitored for radiation protection in 2020, around three quarters of whom worked in the medical sector. Of these, around 42,000 people were detectably exposed this year. This means that at least one dose value determined for these people was above the detection limit during the monitoring period.¹

National dose register number for occupationally exposed persons
The national dose register monitors compliance with the limit values for occupationally exposed persons (annual dose and occupational lifetime dose) and provides information on the recorded data.² This now requires the personal SSR number, which must be applied for by the person responsible for radiation protection. It is generated from the national insurance number and other personal data of the employee(s) to be monitored.

In order to use the digital information portal, a user account must first be set up. Dose information has generally been subject to a fee since 4th of November 2024. The fee is made up of a basic fee (€78.52) and a processing fee (without additional research €12.72, with database query and plausibility check €228.93). Additional research Information to competent authorities, statutory accident insurance institutions and private individuals (right to information) is, however, free of charge.²

This information is required to apply for the SSR number:

- Social Security Number
- Family name
- First name(s)
- Maiden name
- Academic degree (optional)
- Date of birth
- Place of birth

After the application, the SSR certificate will be sent electronically as a pdf file.

Optimisation of radiation exposure
In addition to the monitoring of occupational radiation exposure and the corresponding provision of information, the systematic statistical evaluation of exposure data is a central task of the radiation protection register. This is because even if the radiation exposure is below the legal limits, the optimisation requirement also applies. This states that radiation exposure must always be kept as low as reasonably possible.³

If necessary, certain radiation protection measures can be taken on the basis of the data collected. This can play a role, for example, if new diagnostic or therapeutic procedures lead to a change in the radiation exposure of medical staff.

Decline in average values
According to the data from the national dose register, occupational exposure is at a low level compared to the naturally occurring radiation exposure of the overall population (2.1 mSv per person per year): in 2022, measurably exposed employees in the medical field had an average effective annual dose of around 0.3 mSv.¹ The data also show that the average exposure values have tended to fall over the past few years.¹ This is presumably due to various factors, such as optimisations in radiation protection and the reduction in the radiation used due to technical progress.

Sources

1 Federal Office for Radiation protction. Die berufliche Strahlenexposition in Deutschland 2022, Bericht des Strahlenschutzregisters. Online availiable: urn:nbn:de:0221-202402074144

2 Federal Office for Radiation Protection. National Dose Register. Online availiable: https://www.bfs.de/EN/topics/ion/radiation-protection/occupation/register/register_node.html

3 Federal Office for Radiation Protection. What principles are used in radiation protection? What is ALARA? Online availiable: www.bfs.de/SharedDocs/FAQs/BfS/EN/ion/ion/alara.html