Certified Radiation Protection Officer (RPO)

Introduction

The applications of ionizing radiation bring many benefits to humankind, ranging from power generation to uses in medicine, industry and agriculture. One of the longest established industrial applications of radiation is the use of radiography for the non-destructive testing of items of equipment. Industrial radiography provides a means of verifying the physical integrity of equipment and structures such as vessels, pipes, welded joints, castings and other devices. The structural integrity of such equipment and structures affects not only the safety and quality of the products but also the protection of workers, the public and the environment.

The course provides all the necessary and up-to-date information about radiation protection and designed according to the requirements of FANR, International Atomic Energy Agency and International Air Transportation Association. The manual has been established for the reason to document organization minimum requirements as per local regulation. It provides a reference to Radiation Safety Officer and organization staff dealing directly or indirectly with radioactive material.

The course covers fundamentals and principles of non-ionizing and ionizing radiation, units of radioactivity, radiation protection principles (ALARA), in-depth knowledge of shielding of gamma and neutron sources, biological effects of radiation, basic RPO officer job responsibilities,  regulatory control, safe transportation of radioactive materials, storage and security of radioactive materials, leak test. The course contains practical exercises that learn how to apply systematic monitoring techniques and use dosimeters for radiation detection and measurement.

Objectives

Upon the successful completion of this course, each participant will be able to:-

• Get certified as a “Certified Radiation Protection Officer”
• Review the fundamentals of physics and mathematics used in radiation protection, the interaction of radiation with matter and sources of radiation
• Identify the quantities and measurements as well as the biological effects of ionizing radiation
• Discuss the principles of radiation protection and the international framework covering the conceptual framework, the role of international organizations in radiation protection and the development of safety culture
• Apply regulatory control including the legal framework for radiation protection and the safe use of radiation sources, regulatory system and assessment of the effectiveness of the regulatory programs
• Discuss the general regulations on protection from ionizing radiation including the general instruction on radioactive waste management and the safe transport of radioactive materials
• Assess external and internal exposures of radiation due to external sources of radiation and radionuclides and use the proper protection against occupational exposure
• Explain medical exposures in diagnostic radiology, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine including the scope and responsibilities, justification of medical exposures, optimization of protection for medical exposures, quality assurance and accidental exposures in medical applications
• Describe exposure of the public owing to practices, intervention in situations of chronic and emergency exposure
• Assess the training needs, presenting how to be a lecturer and setting up a training course

Training Methodology

This is an interactive course. There will be open question and answer sessions, regular group exercises and activities, videos, case studies and presentations on best practice. Participants will have the opportunity to share with the facilitator and other participants on what works well and not so well for them, as well as work on issues from their own organizations.

Who Should Attend?

This course provides an overview of all significant aspects and considerations of radiation protection for those who are willing to be a Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) such as safety officers, supervisors, engineers, inspectors, X-Ray technicians, and other technical and medical staff.

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction

Review of Fundamentals

• Basic Physics & Mathematics Used in Radiation Protection
• Interaction of Radiation with Matter
• Sources of Radiation

Quantities & Measurements

• Quantities & Units
• Dosimetric Calculations & Measurements
• Principles of Radiation Detection & Measurement

Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation

• Effects of Radiation at the Molecular & the Cellular Level
• Deterministic Effects
• Stochastic Somatic Effects
• Stochastic Hereditary Effects
• Effects on the Embryo & Foetus
• Epidemiological Studies & Issues
• The Concept of Radiation Detriment

Day 2: Principles of Radiation Protection & the International Framework

• Conceptual Framework
• The Role of International Organizations in Radiation Protection
• The Development of Safety Culture

Regulatory Control

• Legal Framework for Radiation Protection & the Safe Use of Radiation Sources
• Regulatory System
• Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Regulatory Programmes

General Regulations on Protection from Ionizing Radiation

General Regulations on Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials

Assessment of External & Internal Exposures

• Assessment of Occupational Exposure Due to Intakes of Radionuclides
• Assessment of Occupational Exposure Due to External Sources of Radiation

Day 3: Protection against Occupational Exposure

• Organization & Management
• Methods of Protection & the Safe Use of Radiation Sources; Optimization
• Individual & Workplace Monitoring
• Health Surveillance
• Potential Exposures
• Protection against Occupational Exposure in Industrial Radiography
• Protection Against Occupational Exposure in Industrial Irradiators and Accelerators
• Protection Against Occupational Exposure in the Use of Nuclear Gauges
• Protection Against Occupational Exposure in the Use of Tracers
• Protection Against Occupational Exposure in Well Logging Devices
• Protection Against Occupational Exposure in Diagnostic Radiology
• Protection Against Occupational Exposure in Nuclear Medicine
• Protection Against Occupational Exposure in Radiotherapy

Day 4: Medical Exposures in Diagnostic Radiology, Radiotherapy & Nuclear Medicine

• Scope and Responsibilities
• Justification of Medical Exposures
• Optimization of Protection for Medical Exposures
• Quality Assurance
• Accidental Exposures in Medical Applications

Exposure of the Public Owing to Practices

• Sources of Exposure of the Public
• Responsibilities & Organization
• Safe Transport of Radioactive Material
• Safety of Radioactive Waste
• Environmental Dose Assessment
• Source & Environmental Monitoring
• Consumer Products
• Dose Assessment
• Monitoring of Public Exposures

Day 5: Intervention in Situations of Chronic & Emergency Exposure

• General Principles & Types of Events
• Basic Concepts for Emergency Response
• Basic Concepts for Emergency Preparedness for a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency
• Developing a National Capability for Response to a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency
• Overview of Assessment & Response in a Radiological Emergency
• Monitoring in a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency
• Medical Management of Radiation Injuries
• Communication with the Public
• International Cooperation

Training the Trainers

• Training Needs
• Being a Lecturer
• Setting Up a Training Course

COMPETENCY EXAM