Welcome to our general questions and answers section, we hope you find it helpful and informative. Click on any of the questions below to view its answer. Should you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

 

RPA

Is it a legal requirement that I have an RPA?

The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (IRR99) apply to any organisation carrying out work with radioactive substances or X-ray generators. The IRR99 can also apply to organisations working with materials that contain natural radioactivity, such as mineral sands.

In most cases the regulations require organisations working with ionising radiation to consult with a 'suitable' Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) as to what they need to do to comply with the law.

Will I see my RPA and how often?

If you are a client of our RPA service, a nominated member of our RPA team will visit your facility and assess your source(s) of radiation. However, we take a risk-based approach and the frequency and duration of our visits will be driven by the nature of your work with radiation and how much assistance you require from us.

If you are a client of our Dental RPA service, you will still have a nominated RPA contact within HPA, but you will usually receive all the advice you need by correspondence. This will be by e-mail, telephone and by exchange of documents, although a visit may be made to your facility if necessary.

Will I see the same RPA every visit?

Generally, yes, as you will be assigned a 'primary contact' so we can build up a good working relationship with you. However, from time-to-time we may involve other RPAs because they may have specialist knowledge and to provide a fresh perspective.

Contractual and Financial

Do I need to pay in advance for my RPA service?

This depends on your contract. If you receive RPA advice on a 'fixed price' basis, you will be required to pay the fixed price within the first quarter of the contract year. Usually, you will have received a significant amount of advice from your RPA by the time payment is due.

If your contract is costed according to the time we spend working for you, you will be billed quarterly in arrears.

If I change my mind is it easy for me to cancel without incurring costs?

Yes if you decide to cancel our contract we simply require a month's notice. We will only charge you for work done up to time when you cancel, plus our annual standing charge.

If I require more than one of your services can these be combined together?

Yes, we pride ourselves on being able to offer a 'One Stop Shop', meeting all your radiation protection needs. For example, it is very common for customers to combine our RPA and instrument testing services together into one simple arrangement.

If I decide to take up this service what do I need to do?

Just get in touch with us through the online enquiry service of by call our customer helpline. We just need a few details about you and your work with ionising radiation so we can provide the right scope of services and provide you with an accurate quotation for the work. If you are happy, we then send you a formal agreement for you to consider.