Who needs awareness training?
Awareness training for operators / users
Awareness training aims to put radiation risks in perspective and provide the incentive to follow procedures to keep doses as low as possible. Awareness training is particularly important for classified radiation workers and others who routinely work in controlled areas.
The legal requirement
"Every employer shall ensure that those of his employees who are engaged in work with ionising radiation are given appropriate training in the field of radiation protection and receive such information instruction and training for them to know:- The risks to health created by exposure to ionising radiation
- The precautions which should be taken
- The importance of complying with the medical, technical and administrative requirements of the Regulations
Regulation 14(a)
Re-assurance
Training can also provide re-assurance that operators are safe from the effects of exposure to radiation. This may be the case for low risk applications such as mail inspection systems, use of calibration sources, benchtop laboratory analytical equipment or routine work around other well shielded, well controlled sources.
The benefits of awareness training
Radiation Awareness training provides:
- knowledge of the risks associated with the work;
- understanding of how individuals' actions can restrict exposures or prevent incidents;
- skills such as competent radiation monitoring;
- the motivation to take positive steps to minimise doses, including following systems of work; and
- re-assurance when the risk is adequately controlled, and it is safe to carry out certain tasks.