Letter of Appointment as Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS).

University of Warwick policy on the use of ionising radiations and radioactive substances requires that RPS’s are appointed in writing by a Head of School/Department.

The RPS appointment is made for purpose of securing compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 in respect of work carried out in the School/Department.

Appointment is on condition of completion of an accredited and validated RPS training course.

The principle requirements of the RPS role are:

  • To know and understand the regulations and local rules relevant to the work.
  • To command sufficient authority from people doing the work to allow effective supervisory control of radiation protection aspects of work.
  • To understand precautions necessary to restrict exposure.
  • To know what to do in an emergency.
  • To recognise the need to seek advice in certain circumstances.

RPS duties will vary between School/Departments depending on the type and scale of work involved, examples of duties are given in Appendix.

Radiation Protection Supervisor ……………………………………………………..

Date of appointment …………………………………………………………………..

Appointed by ……………………………………………………………………………

Title/position …………………………………………………………………………….

Signed/dated …………………………………..

Letter of Appointment as Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS).

Appendix

Examples of RPS duties.

• Provide support and advice to assist staff in the day to day control of activities using ionising radiation, including disposal of waste radioactivity.

• 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 schemes 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.