What does a Radiation Protection Adviser do ?
Rebecca Fannin is an RPA and RWA at the UK Health Security Agency ( UKHSA ). In this article she tells us about her role and its real life impact .
Starting out I got into the world of radiation protection when I started a graduate training scheme in the nuclear industry . My initial training involved work placements in different operational areas , taking time out to study for an MSc in Radiation and Environmental Protection and attending on-site training sessions . I moved out of the nuclear industry and initially worked for a private consultancy firm , then joined UKHSA over 15 years ago .
A Radiation Protection Adviser ' s role is to advise an employer working with ionising radiation on how to restrict exposures in the workplace and implement regulations that keep staff and others safe . UKHSA provides this advisory service to hundreds of organisations throughout the UK , including universities , research institutes , factories , vets , dentists and airports . This could be because they ' re working with security X-ray units , diagnostic X-ray sets , industrial radiography sources , radiochemicals , radioactive waste , gauges , or other pieces of equipment that contain either radioactive material or X-ray generators .
involving radiation , my role would be to provide monitoring and support to protect the public .
As well as being a certificated Radiation Protection Adviser , I ' m also a Radioactive Waste Adviser , meaning I can advise on how radioactive material and radioactive waste should be controlled to avoid polluting the environment right now and for future generations .
Utilising my skills and experience I do have a scientific background , but what I do is more about interpreting practical information and using my knowledge of the regulations to provide practical solutions to restrict exposures in the workplace . I spend a lot of my time talking to people in these workplaces , helping them to understand why I ' m advising them to implement certain improvements . This also involves liaising with other departments within UKHSA when needed – this could be to determine the most appropriate radiation detector to use in a specific workplace , the suitability of personal monitors , or potential radon exposure scenarios in specific environments .
My job involves visiting these companies to discuss and review their work , usually inspecting sources and monitoring for radiation , then assessing the level of risk in the workplace and potential staff exposure . Ultimately , it involves determining whether enough is being done to keep doses to a minimum , and , if not , advising on how to improve . That ' s my ' day job ' but in the unlikely event of a national emergency
Rebecca ' s job involves visiting clients to discuss radiation safety .
20 Radiation Protection Today www . srp-rpt . uk