RPO and RPS roles

The Radiological Protection Act, 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 30 of 2019) defines a radition protection officer to be an individual who is technically competent in radiation protection matters relevant for a given type of practice to supervise or perform the implementation of the radiation protection arrangements

Role of Radiation Protection Officer
34. (1) The undertaking (NUI Galway) shall provide the radiation protection officer, as provided for in Regulation 80, with adequate information and facilities for them to discharge their functions.
(2) The radiation protection officer shall report directly to the undertaking.
(3) Depending on the nature of the practice, the tasks of the radiation protection officer in assisting the undertaking, may include the following: –
(a) ensuring that work with radiation is carried out in accordance with the requirements of any specified procedures and working instructions;
(b) supervising the implementation of the programme for workplace monitoring;
(c) maintaining adequate records of all radiation sources;
(d) carrying out periodic assessments of the conditions of the relevant safety and warning systems;
(e) supervising the implementation of the personal monitoring programme;
(f) supervising the implementation of the health surveillance programme;
(g) providing new workers with an appropriate introduction to specified procedures and working instructions;
(h) giving advice and comments on work plans;
(i) establishing work plans;
(j) providing reports to the local management;
(k) participating in the arrangements for prevention, preparedness and response for emergency exposure situations;
(l) information and training of exposed workers; and
(m) liaising with the radiation protection adviser.
(4) The task of the radiation protection officer may be carried out by a radiation protection unit established within an undertaking or by a radiation protection adviser.

Radiation Protection Officers
80. (1) The Agency (Environmental Protection Agency) shall set out the minimum training requirements for radiation protection officers.
(2) The Agency shall determine in which practices the designation of a radiation protection officer is necessary to supervise or to perform radiation protection tasks within an undertaking.
(3) The Agency may require employers of outside workers to designate a radiation protection officer as necessary to supervise or perform relevant radiation protection tasks as they relate to the protection of their workers.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of the general duties of the Radiation Protection Officer, as given by the EPA

Ensuring that all relevant regulations and licence conditions, including radiation safety procedures, are upheld.
Assisting in the preparation and amendment of radiation safety procedures.
Ensuring that radiation surveys and quality assurance tests are carried out, such as regular testing and calibration of monitoring equipment and regular operational checks of safety and warning systems.
Reporting to the management, the Radiation Protection Advisor (where such a person has been appointed) and to the RPII any incident that could give rise to a radiation hazard.
Arranging individual dose assessment for exposed workers.
Assisting the licensee in the classification of controlled and supervised areas.
Ensuring the safe keeping of all records required by the conditions of license.
Acting as the contact person with the EPA, as appropriate, on all licensing matters and matters generally relating to radiological protection.

The NUI Galway "Local Rules for the Protection of Persons Exposed to Ionising Radiations" also defines the role of the RPO, in section 3 of the Rules

3.1 He or she will act as executive officer and secretary of the Committee on Radiation Safety. He or she will, therefore, be an ex-officio member of the Committee and should attend all its meetings.
3.2 The primary duty of the University Radiation Protection Officer is, with the Committee on Radiation Safety, and in co-operation with the Radiation Protection Supervisors, to ensure that these agreed Local Rules for the Protection of Persons Exposed to Ionising Radiations are followed.
3.3 It is a duty of the Radiological Protection Officer to attend such courses on Radiation Protection etc. as are necessary for him or her to undertake the responsibilities and exercise the duties as laid out in this section.
3.4 On becoming acquainted with any deviation from good practice he or she must take appropriate action as follows:

Stop the work resulting in the abuse and issue any necessary instructions to the person in charge.
Report the matter to the Committee on Radiation Safety.
If necessary, directly advise the relevant University Officer on action to be taken.

3.5 He or she must classify the areas which are set aside for work with sources of ionising radiation.
3.6 He or she will ensure that Radiation Protection Supervisors and, where necessary, individual workers, receive any special training in radiological protection necessary to their work.
3.7 He or she will supervise the drafting of specialised rules by Radiation Protection Supervisors.
3.8 He or she will monitor the receipt and distribution of radiation protection film and thermoluminescent badges and will maintain all dosage records, as well as record of accidents etc. and these will be kept for a period of not less than 30 years.
3.9 He or she will record the ordering and reception of all radioactive materials.
3.10 He or she will control the disposal of all relevant materials (or control their storage in a safe place pending disposal) and will keep or oblige to be kept, full records of all such transactions. This includes the disposal of equipment containing radioactive material.
3.11 He or she will ensure that monitoring equipment is available to all relevant laboratories and that it is regularly maintained and calibrated.
3.12 He or she will advise the relevant bodies when decision related to the future use of radiation sources in the University are being taken.
3.13 He or she will mediate (as executive officer of the Committee on Radiation Safety) with relevant authorities outside the University (e.g. the EPA Office of Radiological Protection) and must report any accident or incident having a bearing on radiological safety to the RPII.
3.14 He or she must advise heads of department on the appointment of Radiation Protection Supervisors and seek the approval of the EPA Office of Radiological Protection for their appointment.

The University covers a large and divided campus area, and research/teaching with radioactive materials is carried out in different buildings, by different research groups and schools. As such it is necessary that in each School or building using ionising radiation, one or more Radiation Protection Supervisors will be appointed to be responsible for ensuring that the local rules are complied with and for the purpose of securing compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2019 in respect of work carried out in an area which is subject to Local Rules.

The RPSs represent areas and buildings rather than research groups to avoid duplication of effort. The current names are in the Radiation Safety Committee page.

The duties of the Radiation Protection Supervisor are given in section 4 of the Local Rules for the Protection of Persons Exposed to Ionising Radiations.

4. Duties of Radiation Protection Supervisors

4.1 The efficient operation of proper safety regulations depends largely on the diligence of the Radiation Protection Supervisors. They are responsible for day-to-day matters of radiological safety within their own areas.

4.2 They must ensure that each person in their respective area carrying out work involving exposure to ionising radiation is acquainted with the hazards and the precautions necessary.

4.3 They must keep a register of all radiation sources in their respective areas together with periodic contamination or leakage checks (monitor surveys, swab tests).

4.4 They must keep an account of the use of unsealed sources - see Section 9.

4.5 They must keep records and perform swipe tests on all sealed sources

4.6 They must make available copies of all records to the University Radiation Protection Officer.

Further examples of duties include, with the help of the RPO:

• Provide support and advice to assist staff in the day to day control of activities using ionising radiation.

• Assist in carrying out risk assessments for work involving radioactive sources and assist in writing Local Rules.

• Make sure staff are provided with information, instruction and training on safe working with substances and equipment capable of emitting ionising radiation.

• Supervise keeping of source records for radioactive sources.

• Undertake physical stock checks of radioactive sources.

• For their area of responsibility, set up a regular scheme for monitoring and recording of contamination levels and/or radiation dose rates.

• Arrange for the immediate repair of any defective safety or warning system associated with equipment which emits ionising radiation.

• Co-ordinate the periodic testing of radiation monitoring equipment.

• Co-ordinate the periodic leak testing of sealed radioactive sources

• Make sure that contingency plans exist in the event of an accident or incident, particularly if a person is accidentally exposed to ionising radiation or there is damage, theft or loss of a radioactive source.