Radiation protection officers play a central role in ensuring that work in medical or industrial facilities that use radiation sources is carried out safely. They also contribute to training other radiation protection officers.
To strengthen the competence of these key persons in the Asia and the Pacific region, the IAEA organized a Train the Trainers course for 18 radiation protection officers working in medical and industrial facilities from 2 to 6 October 2017, in Bangkok, Thailand. The course was designed to facilitate the training of radiation protection officers and to create a pool of instructors in the region.
Building competence through education and training in radiation safety is fundamental to the establishment of a comprehensive and sustainable national infrastructure for radiation safety, which in turn is essential for protecting people from the harmful effects of radiation. Especially important to the effectiveness of such an infrastructure is the high-level education and training of regulators, future decision makers, as well as key personnel such as qualified expert and radiation protection officers.
The Train the Trainers course for radiation protection officers was organized within the framework of a regional technical cooperation project[1] which supports Member States as they implement a strategy for education and training in radiation, transport and waste safety. The project also helps to maintain and expand competencies in the region, facilitating the implementation of national education and training programmes. This particular course enabled over twenty participants from countries in the Asia and the Pacific region to receive training in these important fields.
The course focused on theoretical knowledge of role, duties and competence needed for radiation protection officer of medical and industrial facilities; and practical skills to design and deliver a training sequence on technical topics with creative teaching methods; in order that participants can act as radiation protection officer trainers in their countries. Course participant Joseph Michael D. Nepomuceno from the Ancillary Services of Davao Doctors in the Philippines highlighted the positive impact of such creative teaching techniques. “Now is the right time to educate radiation protection officers of medical facilities. This can be effectively achieved with the creative teaching techniques that were a strong point of this training course” he said.
Now is the right time to educate my people about radiation. This can be effectively achieved with creative teaching techniques. This has been the strong point of this training course, we will be returning to our respective countries with a different perspective to contribute to national discussions related to radiation use, safety, and protection
