The improved use of collective dose following the 2007 ICRP recommendations is studiedfor nuclear and radiological emergency situations. To study the accumulation of lowindividual doses to the collective dose the collective dose is calculated as a function ofthe minimum individual dose for three cases including nuclear as well as radiologicalaccidents. It is found that the use of collective dose in this way can have an added valuein nuclear emergency preparedness and response in particular related to decisions onoverall protective actions following an accident.