Practical Radiation Protection —
Training activity: 4

Details

Prepare a risk assessment for a non-ionising radiation facility and make recommendations on the provision and maintenance of PPE

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

• Stages of risk assessment
• Hierarchy of controls and their application in the radiation setting
• Relevant legislation
• Radiation accidents

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 for this activity?
  • What does a critical appraisal of risks and safety requirements entail for a non-ionising radiation facility?
  • Discuss with your Training Officer to gain clarity on the expected depth of analysis for non-ionising radiation risks and the specific types of PPE recommendations required for facilities using lasers or phototherapy.
• Reflect on any previous exposure to non-ionising radiation sources or safety protocols.
  • Have you observed operations involving lasers or UV lamps, or received any training on their hazards?
  • Consider possible challenges you might face, such as understanding the specific hazards of different non-ionising radiation types (e.g., wavelength-dependent eye damage from lasers, skin damage from UV), or selecting appropriate protective eyewear. How might you handle these challenges?
  • When would you need to seek advice from a Laser Protection Adviser (LPA), a qualified electrical safety engineer, or an occupational health specialist for complex non-ionising radiation issues?
  • Are you more familiar with ionising radiation, and do you feel confident in applying risk assessment principles to a different hazard domain?
• Identify specific skills you want to develop, such as the ability to interpret non-ionising radiation safety standards, conduct a comprehensive risk assessment for laser or UV facilities, or recommend appropriate engineering controls and PPE.
  •  Identify the specific insights you hope to gain into the unique safety challenges and regulatory frameworks associated with non-ionising radiation in a clinical environment.
• What additional considerations do you need to make?
  • Consult actions identified following previous experiences related to general safety or equipment operation that might transfer to non-ionising radiation.
  • Identify important information you need to consider, such as British Standards for laser safety (BSI manufacturing standards), MHRA guidance for medical devices, or specific safety data sheets for equipment.

In action

• Are you noticing anything surprising or different from what you anticipate during the preparation of the risk assessment for the non-ionising radiation facility?
  • Are you encountering situations such as:
    • A new or unusual non-ionising radiation source or exposure pathway that defies initial expectations (e.g., unexpected reflections, a novel laser application)?
    • Conflicting data points regarding equipment specifications or operational procedures that make critical evaluation difficult?
    • An anticipated PPE recommendation (e.g., eyewear, skin protection) that turned out to be inappropriate or insufficient for the specific non-ionising radiation type during your assessment?
    • An unexpected human factor or behavioural aspect influencing the risk, not initially considered?
  • How does this experience compare with previous experiences of similar non-ionising radiation risk assessment activities?
• How is any unexpected development being resolved as you progress during the non-ionising radiation risk assessment preparation?
  • 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 the hazard evaluation for novel non-ionising sources is incomplete or requires senior review)?
  • What are you learning in this moment as a result of any unexpected development? For example, are you learning a new approach to characterising laser hazards, or a more robust method for assessing UV exposure limits?
• How is this impacting your actions? For example, are you responding to the situation appropriately?
  • Are you adapting or changing your approach to measuring or modelling non-ionising radiation exposure? 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 equipment specifications or international safety standards (e.g., for lasers, UV) immediately?
    • Are you consulting relevant guidance on non-ionising radiation protection more thoroughly than planned?
    • Are you seeking advice from a more experienced colleague or your training officer to understand the non-ionising risk anomaly or unexpected finding?
    • Are you changing your initial approach to formulating recommendations for non-ionising radiation PPE and control measures based on new insights?

On action

• What happened during the preparation of the risk assessment for the non-ionising radiation facility?
  • Summarise the key points of your experience preparing this risk assessment and making PPE recommendations for a non-ionising radiation facility.
  • What specific events, actions, or interactions felt important, including your own feelings during the process?
  • Did you have any ‘reflect-in-action’ moments where you adapted your approach to the risk assessment as new information or challenges arose related to non-ionising radiation?
• How has this non-ionising radiation risk assessment experience contributed to your developing practice?
  • What learning can you take from this experience? What strengths did you demonstrate in identifying risks or recommending PPE for non-ionising radiation?
  • What skills and/or knowledge gaps were evident in your understanding of non-ionising radiation facilities or their specific PPE?
  • Compare this experience against previous engagements with similar activities. Were any previous identified actions for development achieved? Has your practice in preparing risk assessments for non-ionising radiation facilities improved?
  • Identify any challenges you experienced in preparing the risk assessment or making PPE recommendations for non-ionising radiation and how you reacted to these. Did this affect your ability to deal with the situation? Were you able to overcome the challenges?
  • Identify anything significant about the activity, such as needing to seek advice or clarification on specific non-ionising risks or unique PPE requirements, or needing to escalate a finding to ensure you were working within your scope of practice.
• What will you take from the non-ionising radiation risk assessment experience moving forward?
  • Identify the actions or ‘next steps’ you will now take to support the assimilation of what you have learned, including from any feedback received on your risk assessment.
  • What will you do differently next time you prepare a risk assessment for a non-ionising radiation facility?
  • Has anything changed in terms of what you would do if you were faced with a similar non-ionising risk assessment situation again?
  • Do you need to practise any aspect of non-ionising radiation risk assessment or PPE recommendation further?

Beyond action

• Have you reviewed your previous reflections and identified actions for improvement related to preparing risk assessments for non-ionising radiation facilities and making recommendations on PPE?
  • What specific steps did you identify to enhance your practice in critically appraising risks or advising on PPE for such facilities, for example, related to lasers or phototherapy?
  • Have you successfully implemented these actions in subsequent similar risk assessment activities?
  • Are you now confident and prepared to demonstrate this accumulated learning into practice for future instances of preparing risk assessments for non-ionising radiation facilities?
  • Have you engaged in professional discussions with peers, near peers, or colleagues about your experiences with preparing risk assessments for non-ionising radiation facilities?
    • Did discussing your approach to these risk assessments with others offer new perspectives or insights that changed your understanding of the situation, the non-ionising risks involved, or your recommendations for PPE?
    • How does the learning gained from repeatedly undertaking risk assessments for non-ionising radiation facilities and reflecting on it support your preparation for observed in-person assessments for the module?
• How has your practice in preparing risk assessments for non-ionising radiation facilities developed and evolved over time through these multiple engagements?
  • Can you identify specific instances where your ability to critically appraise non-ionising risks or make appropriate PPE recommendations has improved?
  • Furthermore, how has this holistic reflection helped you better recognise when an aspect of non-ionising risk assessment or PPE recommendation might be beyond your current scope of practice, and when to seek advice or escalate?

Relevant learning outcomes

#	Outcome
# 2	Outcome Critically appraise the risks and safety requirements associated with ionising and non-ionising radiation.