How do you solve a problem like conservatism?

The International Commission for Radiological Protection (ICRP) has commenced a review of the system of Radiological Protection. This review commenced with a discussion paper, Keeping the ICRP Recommendations Fit for Purpose, and workshop in October 2021. The review, planned to take ten years, is an opportune time to rethink the way we do radiation protection. Members of the Australasian Radiation Protection Society work at the leading edge of implementation of ICRP recommendations. As practitioners, we know there can be undue effort applied at low doses (< 1 to 5 mSv y −1 ). This effort may, at times, divert resources from more significant radiation protection or workplace safety matters. Proactive consideration of the transition from reasonable protection measures to excessive conservatism will help to maximise benefit in radiation protection. This paper proposes practical approaches to the application of LNT for radiation protection at doses in the range of natural background levels. The proposals consider the IRPA position on reasonableness and aim to be consistent with the IAEA graded approach to regulation of radiation.