Overview

This one-day course is for school Radiation Protection Supervisors (RPS). You'll learn how to use radioactive sources to demonstrate the properties of ionising radiations.

You'll also:

• learn about legislation, guidance, storage, management and disposal of radioactive substances
• understand your responsibilities as an RPS
• engage in practical demonstrations to learn radiological protection and management

Who this course is for

This course is ideal for the school Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS), i.e. the person responsible for managing the safe storage, use and monitoring of radioactive sources in a science department. The RPS will usually be a member of the teaching staff, often the head of physics.

Any teacher who uses radioactive sources will also benefit.

Note: Technicians are welcome to attend but must be accompanied by a teacher who's been identified as the RPS in their school.

Course content

The course covers:

• Legislation and guidance, the role and responsibilities of the Radiation Protection Advisor (RPA), Radiation Protection Officers (RPO) & Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS)
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE) registration and other authorisations
• The hazards, and the important role of radiological protection
• The standard operating procedures and source specific risk assessments
• Safe and effective demonstration of the characteristics of radioactivity
• Storage and security of radioactive sources
• Doses and biological effects of ionising radiations
• Suitable sources
• Monitoring and record keeping, including leak testing and contamination checking
• Managing incidents
• Disposal of radioactive sources.

Teaching and structure

The course includes practical demonstrations with the relevant safety points embedded within them.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, you'll be able to: 

• Understand the legislation and guidance around storing, managing, using and disposing radioactive substances
• Use radioactive sources to demonstrate the properties of ionising radiations
• Understand your responsibilities as an RPS
• Know the different types of radioactive sources and their care
• Increase your knowledge around radiological protection and its management.

Certificates

You'll get a certificate of attendance on completing the course.

Costs and booking

Price per participant is £180 and it includes course materials and packed lunch.

If you are not able to pay by credit/debit card, an invoice will be raised for upfront payment. If this is your preferred method of payment, email ioe.shortcourses@ucl.ac.uk to enquiry how to book this course if you wish to pay by invoice.

Course team

CLEAPSS provides advice and guidance on all aspects of practical work in science, technology and art. This guidance explores ideas for exciting and engaging practical activities that fire pupils' imaginations and then, unlike many alternative resources, goes on to show teachers and technicians, in detail, how to translate these ideas into safe and exciting classroom experiences.

CLEAPSS has in excess of 28,000 schools and colleges in membership, predominantly in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where its advice is recognised by HSE, DFE and OFSTED as representing best practice in these areas and as such it is used by employers as the basis for them to discharge their responsibilities under the H&S at work act, 1999.

Course information last modified: 1 Dec 2023, 17:13