Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards Radiation Protection Division

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Second EUTERP WorkshopSummary of presentations
Richard Paynter Radiation Protection Division,
Health Protection Agency, UK
Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental
Hazards Radiation Protection Division formerly
the National Radiological Protection Board
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1st Workshop Desired outcomes

• Definitions of roles of QE and RPO
• Development of core competencies
• Mutual recognition based on harmonised
  recognition requirements
• Development of common accreditation systems and
  infrastructures
• Standardised qualifications and training for RSO,
  QE, workers
• Mandatory requirements for length and depth of
  courses
• Flexible approach to harmonisation/mutual
  recognition each countrys approach assessed on
  a case by case basis
• Need for specialised training courses for RPOs

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Preferred European approach

• EU standardised approach
• Italy, Finland, Romania, Poland, Latvia, Germany,
  Spain
• Flexible approach
• UK, Sweden, Belgium
• Harmonisation rather than standardisation
• Bottom up approach rather than detailed Directive
  requirements

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Topics to be covered

• National views on the proposals for definitions
  and competence requirements for RPEs, RPOs, as
  well as their roles, duties and responsibilities.
• Requirements for training and education of RWs.
• National views on the impacts of the
  implementation of the proposals.

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Medical Physics Expert

• Agreement over role and training!
• Can act as RPE in medical sector, subject to
  national legislation and RPE arrangments
• Not the primary focus of EUTERP!

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Definitions and competence requirements for RPEs,
RPOs, roles, duties and responsibilities.

• Czech Republic - currently have RPOs that fit the
  definition of RPEs. Use of supervision persons.
  RPEs should be regulated.
• Finland - Broad agreement with definitions. Add
  risk assessment to RPE duties. Currently license
  training providers.
• France - Supportive of approach. Current rigorous
  approach to Competent Persons. Mandatory RPE,
  RPOs?
• Greece - has equivalent posts to RPE and RPO. MPE
  acts as QE.
• Latvia - Similar structure. Proposed definitions
  very useful.

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• Italy 3 levels of QE. Proposed RPE is a high
  level professional training/experience. Would
  like the word Qualified to be used. No
  equivalence to RPO. Interaction between RPE and
  RPO should be clarified.
• Netherlands Existing system for RPEs, currently
  introducing a registration system. National
  Workshop RPE definition an improvement. Would
  like RPE to be assigned technical responsibility
  for the tasks of radiation protection of workers
  and members of the public.
• RPE add emergency arrangements. Must be able to
  speak and write language.
• RPO definition clarity needed over the level of
  post.

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• Portugal Currently developing a system similar
  to RPE/RPO proposals.
• Romania New definitions clearer. Some issues
  with medical exposure. RPE recognition should be
  linked to area of expertise. RPO designation
  should be linked to controlled areas. Specify
  where RPO is mandatory.
• Switzerland Radiation Protection Specialist
  similar to RPO. No defined RPE equivalent.
• UK Agree with definitions. Developing an RPE
  recognition process for waste management.
  Concern over excessive competency requirements
  and recognition of RPO.
• CONCLUSION General agreement to approach but
  details very different in each country. Still
  some uncertainty over RPE/RPO roles, and
  advisory/responsibility functions. Further
  guidance on the role and education of the RPO
  needed.
• Possibility of common core competencies.

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Requirements for training and education of RWs.

• Finland -competencies and training of RWs should
  also be defined.
• Czech Republic licensing of supervision
  persons, detailed requirements.
• Training organisations should be approved
• Italy Must be suitably trained. No specific
  requirements.
• Latvia Regulatory requirements for further
  education in radiation safety. Well established
  training arrangements.

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• Bulgaria not possible to control the
  qualification of all persons license training
  organisations, who issue qualification. License
  specifies training criteria. State monitors
  training quality.
• Netherlands Development of training programmes
  will be required.
• Romania General training requirements.
• Switzerland -
• UK not specified goal based approach.
• CONCLUSION Very different approaches to the
  specification of education and training make
  common agreement to detailed RW training very
  difficult.

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National views on the impacts of the
implementation of the proposals.

• Bulgaria - ?
• Czech Republic - ?
• Finland - 5 y renewal of RPE recognition
  challenging, Passbook?
• France Implementation of RPE will require
  significant changes to training requirements.
  Disagree with training durations. Support formal
  recognition requirements. RPO possible in some
  areas. Compromises needed.
• Greece Generally able to implement.
  Inconvenient to implement where MPE carries out
  RPE functions.
• Italy Possible details need to be worked out.

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• Latvia - could be readily implemented. Similar
  requirements already applied. Will introduce
  greater clarity.
• Netherlands Potential increase in
  administrative burden.
• Portugal Proposals can be implemented with
  current developments.
• Romania Similarities in definitions make
  implementation relatively straightforward.
• Switzerland Implementation of RPE proposals
  could be problematic.
• UK Current system closely reflects RPE
  proposals. Difficulty with recognition of RPOs.
• CONCLUSION Possibility of implementation, but
  differences in existing systems could be
  problematical, and some requirements (e.g.
  recognition of RPOs) could result in significant
  administrative burden and expense.

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Key questions

• Roles and competencies of QE, RPO?
• Would introduction of RPO into Directive
  introduce unnecessary administrative burden?
• Licensing of training providers?
• Extent of regulation?
• Boundaries
• Core competence

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What can we achieve?

• Agreed definition and role of RPE
• Guidance on functions of RPE
• Baseline competencies for recognition of RPE
  (function of regulators?)
• Guidelines on education and training for RPE and
  RPO.

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Evolution not revolution!
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