Training activity information
Details
Review the results of staff personal monitoring for a department using ionising radiation and feedback on the results
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
- Requirements of legislation and guidance
- Need for investigation or action
- Investigations and implementation of action based on findings
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 defines successful interpretation of personal monitoring results and effective feedback that leads to appropriate action?
- Discuss with your Training Officer to gain clarity on the expected format for reviewing results, the methods for identifying trends or anomalies, and the appropriate channels for providing feedback within the department or to a Radiation Protection Committee (RPC).
- Reflect on any previous experience to personal dosimetry data or reports.
- Have you seen how staff doses are managed in your department, or have you participated in discussions about radiation safety for personnel?
- Consider possible challenges you might face, such as identifying the cause of an unexpected dose, dealing with sensitive personal data, or communicating complex dose information clearly to a multi-disciplinary team. How might you handle these challenges?
- When would you need to escalate findings to a Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) or a senior manager, especially if investigation levels are exceeded or there are concerns about compliance?
- Are you confident in interpreting numerical dose data, or do you feel less confident in the communication and interpersonal aspects of providing feedback?
- Identify specific skills you want to develop, such as interpreting dose trends, identifying potential causes of elevated doses, and effectively communicating findings and recommendations for dose reduction or optimisation.
- Identify the specific insights you hope to gain into the practical application of the ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable) principle in staff protection and the role of personal monitoring in ensuring occupational radiation safety.
- What additional considerations do you need to make?
- Consult actions identified following previous experiences related to data analysis or presenting information to groups.
- Identify important information you need to consider, such as the specific departmental procedures for dose reporting, relevant legal dose limits, and the context of the work performed by staff whose doses you are reviewing.
In action
- Are you noticing anything surprising or different from what you anticipate during the review of staff personal monitoring results?
- Are you encountering situations such as:
- A new or unusual trend in dose data that defies initial expectations (e.g., a sudden increase in collective dose, an unexpectedly low reading for a specific role)?
- An unexpected type of dosimetry report anomaly or missing data?
- Conflicting data points that make critical evaluation of individual or departmental exposure difficult?
- An anticipated root cause for a high reading that turned out to be incorrect during your evaluation?
- How does this experience compare with previous experiences of similar data review or feedback activities?
- Are you encountering situations such as:
- How is any unexpected development being resolved as you progress during the review and feedback of monitoring results?
- 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 interpretation of complex dose trends 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 identifying the causes of abnormal doses, or a more robust method for communicating sensitive dose information to staff?
- How is this impacting your actions? For example, are you responding to the situation appropriately?
- Are you adapting or changing your approach to data interpretation or your feedback strategy? 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 personal monitoring records or operational procedures immediately?
- Are you consulting relevant investigation levels or dose limits more thoroughly than planned?
- Are you seeking advice from a more experienced colleague or your training officer to understand the personal dose anomaly or unexpected finding?
- Are you changing your initial approach to developing the feedback message or recommending corrective actions based on new insights?
On action
- What happened during the review of staff personal monitoring results?
- Summarise the key points of your experience reviewing the monitoring results and providing feedback.
- What specific events, actions (e.g., how you approached the data, how you structured your feedback), or interactions (e.g., with staff, department leads) felt important, including your own feelings during the process?
- Did you have any ‘reflect-in-action’ moments where you adapted your interpretation or feedback approach based on a surprising result or a particular staff concern?
- How has this personal monitoring review experience contributed to your developing practice?
- What learning can you take from this experience? What strengths did you demonstrate in interpreting personal monitoring data and communicating complex information effectively?
- What skills and/or knowledge gaps were evident in your understanding of personal dosimetry or communication strategies?
- Compare this experience against previous engagements with similar activities. Were any previous identified actions for development achieved? Has your practice in reviewing and feeding back on personal monitoring results improved?
- Identify any challenges you experienced (e.g., explaining abnormal results, addressing staff anxiety, dealing with incomplete data) 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 dose limits, investigation levels, or appropriate communication methods for sensitive information, or needing to escalate a particularly high or unusual dose reading.
- What will you take from the personal monitoring review 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 you received on your review or feedback session.
- What will you do differently next time you review staff personal monitoring results?
- Has anything changed in terms of what you would do if you were faced with a similar situation involving staff monitoring results and feedback?
- Do you need to practise any aspect of data interpretation or communication further?
Beyond action
- Have you reviewed your previous reflections and identified actions for improvement related to reviewing staff personal monitoring results and providing feedback?
- What specific steps did you identify to enhance your practice in interpreting monitoring data and effectively communicating findings?
- Have you successfully implemented these actions in subsequent similar review and feedback activities?
- Are you now confident and prepared to demonstrate this accumulated learning into practice for future instances of reviewing staff monitoring results and giving feedback?
- Did discussing your approach to interpreting these results and communicating them with others offer new perspectives or insights that changed your understanding of the data, its implications, or effective communication strategies?
- How does the learning gained from repeatedly reviewing staff personal monitoring results and reflecting on it support your preparation for observed in-person assessments for the module?
- How has your practice in reviewing staff personal monitoring results and providing feedback developed and evolved over time through these multiple engagements?
- Can you identify specific instances where your ability to accurately interpret monitoring data, communicate sensitively, or advise appropriately has improved?
- How has this holistic reflection helped you better recognise when an aspect of personal monitoring review or feedback might be beyond your current scope of practice, and when to seek advice or escalate?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 3 |
Outcome
Perform and interpret measurements of radiation, draw conclusions on adequacy of control measures and advise on further action. |
| # 4 |
Outcome
Calculate estimated radiation doses, evaluating the limitations and uncertainties of the approach. |