Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety Training
Education and Training in Radiation Safety, Transport Safety and Waste Management
Background - The statutory safety functions of the International Atomic Energy Agency cover the establishment of and provision for the application of safety standards for protection of health, life and property against ionizing radiation. The International Basic Safety Standards for Protection against Ionizing Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources (the BSS) are based on the presumption that a national infrastructure is in place enabling the Government to discharge its responsibilities for protection and safety. Education and training is an essential element of the infrastructure and is one of the main IAEA's mechanisms of the provision for the application of safety standards.
A Strategy for Sustainable Education and Training in Radiation and Waste Safety, developed and approved by the General Conference resolution GC(45)/RES/10C in 2001 aiming at establishing, by 2010, sustainable education and training programmes in Member States is being implemented. The Steering Committee on Education and Training, monitors and advises the Agency on the implementation of the Strategic Plan. The strategy aims at:
- developing and updating of appropriate training aids and materials
creating a network of regional, national and collaborating centres - establishing a procedure which facilitates the development of trainers in radiation protection and safety
- encouraging all Member States to develop and implement strategies for building competence
In line with the General Conference resolutions, IAEA has developed a number of different training mechanisms.
Training Packages
The IAEA has developed over 25 training packages for specialized training courses. These include packages for:
- Regulatory inspections covering medical and industrial applications
- Occupational radiation protection covering individual monitoring
- Safety and security of radiation sources
- Medical exposure control
- Safe transport of radioactive material
- Emergency response and preparedness
- Waste safety
Presenter’s material for most of the PGEC modules are completed. These packages when finalised and validated will be disseminated to training centres.
Further information on publications related to training can be found on the IAEA's publications site, while training packages are disseminated on request
Future Activities
Work is underway to establish networking between IAEA and regional, collaborating and national training centres to facilitate information exchange, improve communication and for dissemination of training material.
In order to assist those Member States wishing to strengthen their provisions for education and training, and to confirm the effectiveness of the training centres and training activities, the IAEA proposes to carry out education and training appraisals. The appraisal will be performed by both the IAEA team and self appraisal by Member State. A document describing the appraisal methodology is being developed.
To create a sufficient pool of competent lecturers on radiation protection within each member state, the IAEA has been organising effective Train the Trainers workshops and this activity will be continued.
Implementation of the Action Plan from the International Conference on Occupational Radiation Protection, Geneva, August 2002, and International Conference on National Infrastructures for Radiation Safety, Morocco September 2003 includes developing training packages for occupationally exposed workers and establishing a network between training centres for an effective education and training programme.
For further information please contact G.Sadagopan
