Radioactive Materials —
Training activity: 4

Details

Perform a sealed sources wipe test and assist with accounting procedures

Type

Entrustable training activity (ETA)

Evidence requirements

Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee repeatedly, consistently, and effectively over time, in a range of situations. This may include occasions where the trainee has not successfully achieved the outcome of the activity themselves. For example, because it was not appropriate to undertake the task in the circumstances or the trainees recognised their own limitations and sought help or advice to ensure the activity reached an appropriate conclusion. ​

Reflection at multiple timepoints on the trainee learning journey for this activity.

Considerations

• Standards for wipe tests
• Local test and reporting methods
• Source lifecycles and replacement procedures
• Importance of source security

Reflective practice guidance

The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.

Before action

• What does success look like when performing a sealed sources wipe test and assisting with accounting procedures?
  • Identify what is expected of you in relation to successfully completing a sealed sources wipe test and accurately assisting with accounting procedures.
  • Discuss with your training officer to gain clarity on the specific procedures, expected outcomes, and safety protocols for this activity.
• What is your prior experience of performing a sealed sources wipe test and assisting with accounting procedures?
  • Think about what you already know regarding the principles of radiation safety, handling sealed sources, performing wipe tests, and the requirements for radioactive material accounting.
  • Consider possible challenges you might face during the activity, such as identifying the correct source, ensuring the wipe test is performed effectively, accurately recording data, or navigating specific accounting software or forms. Think about how you might handle these potential challenges.
  • Recognise the scope of your own practice for this activity; specifically, know when you will need to seek advice or help and from whom, for instance, from a more experienced colleague or the Radiation Protection Adviser.
• What do you anticipate you will learn from performing a sealed sources wipe test and assisting with accounting procedures?
  • Consider the specific skills you want to develop, drawing upon any previous experiences. This could include precision in practical execution, meticulous record-keeping, or a deeper understanding of regulatory compliance.
  • Identify the specific insights you hope to gain from engaging with the activity, such as how practical accounting procedures contribute to overall radiation safety and security
• What additional considerations do you need to make before performing a sealed sources wipe test and assisting with accounting procedures?
  • Consult actions identified following previous experience of this or similar activities. Have you previously identified any areas for improvement in handling radioactive sources or accounting procedures that you can apply now?
  • Identify important information you need to consider before embarking on the activity, such as specific site protocols, required personal protective equipment (PPE), the location and type of sealed sources, or any specific documentation or software required for the accounting procedures.

In action

• During the activity, are you noticing anything surprising or different from what you anticipated during the process of performing the wipe test or assisting with accounting procedures?
  • Are you encountering situations such as:
    • An unexpected reading from a wipe test (e.g., significantly higher or lower than expected, or presence of contamination where none was anticipated)?
    • Difficulty accessing a sealed source for testing due to its location or shielding?
    • An equipment malfunction (e.g., the survey meter not responding as expected, or an issue with the wipe material)?
    • A discrepancy in the accounting records for sealed sources (e.g., a source listed that cannot be found, or a source found that is not on the inventory)?
    • An unfamiliar or unusual type of sealed source that you haven’t encountered before?
  • How does this experience compare with previous experiences of similar activities?
• How are any unexpected developments being resolved as you progress during the activity?
  • How are you working within your scope of practice? Are you successfully managing the situation yourself, or do you need support because it is beyond your current scope (for example, if a significant discrepancy is found in the accounting, or contamination is confirmed)?
  • What are you learning in this moment as a result of any unexpected development? For example, are you learning a new approach to troubleshooting equipment, a more robust method for reconciling accounting records, or a specific technique for wiping a challenging source?
• How is this impacting your actions? For example, are you responding to the situation appropriately?
  • Are you adapting or changing your approach to the procedure? Is it affecting your ability to undertake the activity independently?
  • Consider the steps you are taking in the moment, such as:
    • Are you re-checking readings or procedures immediately after an unexpected result?
    • Are you consulting relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or guidelines for wipe testing or sealed source accounting more thoroughly than planned?
    • Are you seeking advice from a more experienced colleague or your training officer to understand an anomaly or discrepancy?
    • Are you changing your initial approach to the wipe test or accounting procedures based on new insights (e.g., a different wipe technique, or a revised method for cross-referencing records)?

On action

• Begin by summarising the key points of the experience of performing the sealed sources wipe test and assisting with accounting procedures.
  • Describe the steps you took for the wipe test, any measurements obtained, and how they compared to expected values.
  • Detail your involvement in the accounting procedures, including the types of records reviewed, any discrepancies found, and how these were managed.
  • Did a particular part of the wipe test procedure challenge you, such as handling the source or operating the equipment? How did you feel during this part?
  • Were there specific accounting entries or documents that were difficult to interpret or reconcile? How did you feel when dealing with these?
  • If something unexpected occurred during the wipe test (e.g., an unusual reading, equipment issue), how did you adjust your approach in the moment?
  • If you found a discrepancy in the accounting records, how did you immediately react or change your method of investigation?
• How has this experience contributed to your developing practice?
  • What strengths did you demonstrate during the sealed sources wipe test (e.g., adherence to protocol, precision, attention to detail) or during accounting procedures (e.g., thoroughness, analytical skills, understanding of regulations)?
  • What skills and/or knowledge gaps were evident? For instance, did you realise you need to improve your understanding of specific regulatory requirements for keeping and use of radioactive material, or specific equipment operation for wipe tests?
  • Compare this experience against previous engagement with similar activities – were any previously identified actions for development achieved? Has your practice improved?
  • If you’ve conducted similar practical tasks or record-keeping activities before, did you apply previous learning?
  • Did any challenges affect your ability to deal with the situation? Were you able to overcome them? For example, if you encountered an unexpected reading during the wipe test, how did you troubleshoot or seek clarification?
  • Did you need to seek advice or clarification (e.g., from your Training Officer, a senior colleague, or a Radioactive Waste Adviser (RWA) regarding procedures or regulations)?
  • Did you need to escalate to ensure that you were working within your scope of practice?
  • Do you feel more confident about performing wipe tests and assisting with accounting procedures? Has your understanding of the regulatory framework around radioactive materials changed?
• What will you take from the experience moving forward?
  • Identify the actions / ‘next steps’ you will now take to support the assimilation of what you have learnt, including from any feedback you have received.
  • What will you do differently next time you perform a sealed sources wipe test or assist with accounting procedures?
  • Has anything changed in terms of what you would do if you were faced with a similar situation again, especially regarding regulatory compliance or unexpected findings?
  • Do you need to practise any aspect of the activity further to ensure consistency and effectiveness, contributing to your ability to be entrusted with this training activity?
  • How will this experience help you to interpret and audit adherence with the regulatory framework around keeping, use and disposal of radioactive material in medicine?

Beyond action

• Have you reviewed your actions from your previous reflections (including both reflect-in-action and reflect-on-action moments) for this specific activity? For example, if you previously identified a need to improve your technique for wiping irregular source geometries or your process for reconciling minor discrepancies in the accounting log, have you actively worked on these areas?
  • What actions did you identify you would need to take to improve your practice related to sealed source management and accounting?
  • Have you completed these actions, for instance, by practicing with various source types or by seeking additional guidance on inventory reconciliation procedures?
  • Are you ready to demonstrate this new learning in practice, perhaps by taking on a more complex wipe test scenario or independently managing a larger segment of the source inventory?
  • Engage in professional storytelling with peers, near peers, or colleagues regarding your experiences with sealed source wipe tests and accounting procedures. Consider if your view of a particular situation, such as an unexpected contamination finding or a source missing from the ledger, has changed because of analysing this with others.
• Consider how the learning from repeated sealed source wipe tests and accounting procedures will support you in preparing for the observed ‘in-person’ assessments for the module.
  • Consider how your practice in performing sealed source wipe tests and assisting with accounting procedures has developed and evolved over time. This includes recognising when something is beyond your scope of practice, such as confirming significant contamination that requires a specialist response, or resolving major accounting discrepancies that might indicate a lost source and necessitate escalation.

Relevant learning outcomes

#	Outcome
# 1	Outcome Interpret and audit adherence with the regulatory framework around keeping, use and disposal of radioactive material in medicine.