IAEAInternational Atomic Energy Agency

Responsibility for Radiation Safety

Day 8 – Lecture 4

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• To understand the role of the registrant or licensee in providing adequate safety; and

• How specific aspects of responsibility are delegated within authorized practices.

Objectives

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Responsibilities are held by:

• the registrant or licensee who holds a licence or registration;

Responsibility for Safety

• Radiation Protection Officers (RPO);• workers;• employers, in relation to occupational exposure;• suppliers;• qualified experts;• Medical physicists;• medical practitioners;• ethical review committees.

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Primary responsibility rests with:

• the registrant or licensee who holds the registration or licence; and

• employers of occupationally exposed workers.

Primary Responsibility for Safety

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Subsidiary Responsibility for Safety

Subsidiary responsibility

• The registrant or licensee may appoint other parties or people to carry out certain actions and tasks;

• However, overall responsibility for protection and safety always remains with the registrant or licensee.

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• develop, implement and document a protection and safety Program;

• ensure compliance with the requirements set out in the legislation and the regulations.

Responsibilities of Registrants and Licensees

Registrants and Licensees and employers shall:

• establish radiation safety objectives;

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• shall have sufficient resources (financial and personnel) to implement required safety requirements;

• should be verified at regular intervals to ensure that the radiation safety objectives are being achieved.

Responsibilities of Registrants and Licensees (cont)

The protection and safety Program:

• shall be subject to regular review of the measures needed to achieve radiation safety objectives;

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• will provide for consultation and cooperation between all relevant parties with respect to radiation safety;

• will ensure that appropriate records are maintained regarding the discharge of responsibilities.

Responsibilities of Registrants and Licensees (cont)

The protection and safety Program:

• shall identify, prevent and prompt corrective actions or any failures or shortcomings in the radiation safety measures;

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• radiation protection performance requirements;

Responsibilities of Registrants and Licensees (cont)

Registrants and Licensees are also responsible for:

• verification of protection and safety;

• occupational, public and medical exposure protection;

• management requirements;

• safety of sources.

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• be formally appointed by the registrant or licensee;

• be formally approved by the Regulatory Body;

• have appropriate authority within the registrant or licensee’s organization to take care of the allocated responsibilities and duties.

Responsibilities of the RPO

The RPO shall:

• have received radiation protection training in accordance with any qualification and / or training criteria required by the Regulatory Body for the type of radiation practice;

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• issuing instructions and ensuring that workers are trained to work safely;

• ensuring that appropriate protective equipment and radiation survey meters are available and used;

Duties of the RPO

• monitoring radiation protection and safety;

The RPO’s duties include:

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• ensuring that licence details and safety arrangements are updated as necessary;

Duties of the RPO (cont)

The RPO’s duties include:

• providing information and notifications to the Regulatory Body as may be required by the legislation;

• keeping the registrant or licensee informed.

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• appropriately use the monitoring devices, protective equipment and protective clothing provided by the employer / registrant or licensee;

• cooperate with the employer with respect to protection and safety and the operation of radiological health surveillance and dose assessment Programs;

Responsibilities of Workers

• follow applicable rules and procedures for protection and safety;

Workers shall be directed to:

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• report to the employer, RPO or registrant or licensee any observed circumstances that could adversely affect compliance with regulations or safety.

• accept information, instruction and training concerning protection and safety;

Responsibilities of Workers (cont)

Workers shall be directed to:

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• ensure that radiation sources are transferred only to persons / organizations holding an appropriate license;

Responsibilities of Suppliers

Suppliers shall:

• maintain records of source transfers;• ensure that sources are supplied with:

relevant certificates; user, maintenance and transport instructions; radiation protection and safety instructions.

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• responsible for tasks related to assessing radiation protection of workers, the public and patients.

• appointed to advise the registrant or licensee or the employer on the observance of regulations;

Responsibilities of Qualified Experts

Qualified experts may be:

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• protection shall be optimized e.g. use of guidance levels;

• medical practitioners are responsible for ensuring overall patient protection related to medical exposures.

Responsibilities of Medical Practitioners

Justification of medical exposures

• medical exposures shall be prescribed by a medical practitioner;

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• to assess the consequences of possible over exposure and to deliver opinion on the continuity of work;

• the medical treatment of persons who have received high radiation doses.

Responsibilities of Medical Practitioners (cont)

Health surveillance of workers

• to ensure initial and continuous fitness of workers for their intended tasks;

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• the justification of screening procedures (e.g. chest screening, mammography screening);

Responsibilities of Ethical Review Committees

• the justification of, and define dose constraints for, medical research purposes not producing a direct benefit to exposed individuals;

An Ethical Review Committee shall assess:

• the justification of examinations undertaken for occupational, legal or health insurance purposes.

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• Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards. General Safety Requirements Part 3. SR (IAEA Safety Standard Series No. GSR Part 3 (Interim)), Vienna 2011.

• Governmental, Legal and Regulatory Framework for Safety. General Safety Requirements Part 1 (IAEA Safety Standard Series No. GSR Part 1). Vienna 2010.

References