Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/3078

Title

Accreditation in ionising radiation safety within Australia and New Zealand

Author(s)

Budd, R.;  Stroud, D. B.;  Wakelam, M.;  Wood, Andrew W.

Abstract

For many years it has been recognised that there is a need within Australia for accreditation schemes in radiation safety. This need has been regularly discussed at conferences of the Australasian Radiation Protection Society (ARPS) and the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM). An attempt was made about ten years ago by a group in Sydney led by Ron Rosen to establish a scheme, but their attempts were thwarted by moves towards competency based standards by the then Commonwealth Government. The committees of ARPS and the ACPSEM raised the issue again in 1997 and this has led to the formation of the Australasian Radiation Protection Accreditation Board Inc (ARPAB) which incorporated under Victorian law. Its members are appointed by the three Sponsoring Societies, ARPS, ACPSEM and the AIOH (Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists Inc). Various accreditation schemes have been suggested covering both ionising and non-ionising radiation, and at various levels of experience. Following the lead of the Rosen Committee, the Board has chosen to start with an accreditation scheme in ionising radiation safety intended for new graduates entering the work force. Candidates are expected: * to be graduates in a suitable discipline, * to have 12 months relevant experience, * to submit a written report describing a relevant project, * to study specified textbooks and reports, * to pass a written 2 hour theory examination (pass mark = 70%), * to pass a practical examination on the use of detection equipment, and * to be interviewed by the examiners. The purpose of this paper is to inform members of the three Sponsoring Societies that ARPAB has been established and now offers Accreditation in Ionising Radiation Protection. Examiners are available in Melbourne and they will be available shortly in Sydney. A mechanism is available for establishing examiners in other locations and for adjusting the syllabus to the needs of candidates who are employed in mines and elsewhere. Full details of the requirements are given in the Candidates Kit which will be available from the web sites of the Sponsoring Societies (or from d.stroud@southernhealth.org.au). We wish to acknowledge the efforts of all those who have contributed to this work.

Publication type

Conference abstract

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences

Source

Proceedings of the Annual Australasian Radiation Protection Society Conference, September 2001, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Publication year

2001

Publisher URL

http://www.arps.org.au/AbstractsARPS26.PDF