Training activity information
Details
Undertake a critical examination of an ionising radiation facility and report findings
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Effectiveness of safety features and engineering controls
- Legislative requirements and purpose of a critical examination
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 aspects of operational radiation protection in diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, or radiotherapy (depending on the facility) are you expected to critically examine?
- What skills in identifying potential safety issues and evaluating the adequacy of control measures are you aiming to develop?
- What types of potential non-compliances or areas for improvement might you expect to identify during the examination?
- How will you apply your knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance to assess the facility’s compliance?
- What insights into the practical implementation of radiation protection measures in an operational setting are you hoping to gain?
- How do you expect this activity to contribute to your ability to perform and interpret measurements of radiation and advise on further action in the future?
- Will you review relevant legislation, local rules, and risk assessments for ionising radiation facilities?
- What key areas will you focus on during the examination, such as signage, shielding, working practices, and equipment safety?
- Will you prepare a checklist or a structured approach to ensure a comprehensive examination?
- What will be your approach to documenting your findings and formulating recommendations in the report?
In action
- Pay attention to your actions. How are you systematically examining the facility?
- What specific aspects are you choosing to focus on during your critical examination?
- What decisions are you making as you proceed with the examination (e.g., which areas to inspect first, what measurements to take, what records to review)?
- What aspects of identifying potential hazards or non-compliance feel intuitive, and what requires a more deliberate and conscious application of your knowledge?
- How effective are your examination techniques in identifying potential issues within the facility?
- Are you uncovering the information you need?
- What challenges are you facing during the examination (e.g., access limitations, unclear signage, difficulties in interpreting records)?
- What can you learn about conducting critical examinations of radiation facilities as you undertake this activity? Are you refining your observational or questioning skills?
- How does this examination relate to your understanding of radiation safety standards, local rules, and regulatory requirements?
- Are there alternative examination strategies or areas to focus on if your initial approach is not yielding sufficient information?
- What support or clarification might you need in the moment regarding specific aspects of the facility or relevant regulations?
- Are you ensuring your examination is conducted safely and within the boundaries of your training and ability?
On action
- What aspects of the ionising radiation facility did you examine (e.g., shielding, signage, working practices, equipment)?
- What specific findings did you identify during your examination?
- What methodologies or equipment did you use for the critical examination?
- What were the strengths and weaknesses of the facility from a radiation protection perspective?
- What were the key points you included in your report of findings?
- What did you learn about the practical application of radiation protection principles in an operational facility?
- Did you develop or improve your skills in critically evaluating radiation safety measures?
- Were there any discrepancies between expected standards and your observations? What did you learn from these?
- What areas for continued development have been identified in your ability to critically examine radiation facilities?
- How will you apply the skills and knowledge gained to future examinations or audits of radiation facilities?
- What actions or ‘next steps’ will you take to improve your ability to identify and report on radiation safety issues?
- What support or resources might you need to further develop your expertise in critical examination of radiation facilities?
Beyond action
- Consider evaluating and re-evaluating your critical examination of the ionising radiation facility.
- What were the key findings of your examination and the recommendations you made?
- Have you had opportunities to see if these recommendations were implemented and what the outcomes were?
- Compare this experience with any site checks you may have attended during the construction or installation of new radiation equipment. What practices related to critical evaluation have you developed by comparing these experiences?
- Revisit your report and any reflections you made at the time. Has your ability to critically examine radiation facilities improved with further experience or academic learning? What aspects would you now focus on or investigate differently?
- Discuss your findings and approach with your training officer or peers. Have their perspectives or experiences highlighted any areas where your critical examination could have been more thorough or focused?
- Recognise that this critical examination contributes to your ability to identify potential hazards and non-compliances in radiation facilities.
- How has this experience influenced your approach to other tasks, such as preparing risk assessments or undertaking dose surveys?
- How has the experience of reporting your findings shaped your communication skills, particularly in conveying technical information and recommendations clearly and effectively?
- Identify the transferable skills you developed, such as attention to detail, systematic investigation, and report writing.
- How will these skills be valuable in future roles involving regulatory compliance and safety management?
- Identify clear actions for continued development in the area of critical examination of radiation facilities.
- What specific aspects of facility safety or regulations would you like to learn more about?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 2 |
Outcome
Critically appraise the risks and safety requirements associated with ionising and non-ionising radiation. |