Regulatory Frameworks and Radiation Protection —
Training activity: 10

Details

Consign or receive a package of radioactive material and confirm adherence with transport regulations

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

• CDG requirements
• Dose rate measurement for determination of type/category of package
• Consignment documentation
• Responsibilities of consigner, carrier, driver and consignee

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 constitutes success for you in this activity, and how do you intend to demonstrate full adherence to the Carriage of Dangerous Goods (CDG) Regulations regarding correct packaging, labelling, and the accuracy of accompanying consignment notes?
• Have you discussed the activity with your training officer to gain a clarity of understanding regarding local procedures, specifically who is responsible for each step of the process and how the Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA) is involved?
• Thinking about what you already know, have you previously witnessed radioactive packages being sent or received? How familiar are you with the Transport Index, package categories (e.g., White I, Yellow II, Yellow III), and the use of monitoring equipment for dose rate and wipe tests?
• What possible challenges do you anticipate—such as identifying incorrect labelling, discrepancies in documentation, or finding a damaged package—and how have you planned to handle these potential issues in the moment?
• Have you clearly defined your scope of practice for this task, ensuring you know exactly which tasks you are permitted to undertake independently and when you must seek advice from your supervisor, the DGSA, or the RPA?
• How do you feel about embarking on this activity, and do you feel prepared to perform the necessary safety checks and dose rate measurements accurately?
• What specific skills do you want to develop? What insights do you hope to gain regarding the practical application of ALARP/ALARA principles to transport tasks?
• Have you consulted the actions identified from previous experiences to see if there are specific areas, such as attention to detail in documentation or double-checking measurements, that you need to focus on for improvement?
• Before embarking on this activity, have you confirmed all important information, including the latest departmental SOPs, DGSA contact details, and the availability of calibrated monitoring equipment and necessary security instructions?

In action

• Think about the process of receiving or consigning a radioactive package.
• Is anything happening that is different from what you expected or from previous experiences you might have observed or been involved with? Consider situations such as:
  • The package appears damaged upon receipt.
  • The labelling on the package is incorrect, missing, or doesn’t match the documentation.
  • The consignment documentation (e.g., transport document) is incomplete, inaccurate, or missing entirely.
  • The dose rate measurement taken at the package surface or 1m is higher than expected or exceeds limits for the package type.
  • A wipe test indicates unexpected contamination on the package surface.
  • There is a concern about the security of the package or the transport vehicle.
  • The courier behaves in a way that suggests they are unfamiliar with handling radioactive packages.
  • What actions are you taking in the moment to address the unexpected situation?
  • Are you immediately stopping the receipt/consignment process?
  • Are you isolating the package if it is damaged or contaminated?
  • Are you consulting departmental procedures or the CDG regulations themselves?
  • Are you seeking advice from a supervisor, colleague, or potentially the Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA)?
  • Are you documenting the discrepancy or issue immediately?
  • Are you adapting your planned checks or handling process?
• Consider how the unexpected event is impacting on your actions or your ability to undertake the activity independently.
  • Are you confident in your ability to handle the situation?
• How are you resolving the unexpected event?
  • Are you successfully adapting and completing the checks or actions within your scope of practice? Or do you need support or intervention from someone else (e.g., DGSA, supervisor) because the situation is beyond your current scope? (For example, rejecting a package or declaring a transport incident).
  • What are you learning as a direct result of dealing with the specific unexpected development in the moment? For example, are you learning the specific protocol for a damaged package, the key checks on a consignment note you previously overlooked, or how to use a specific piece of monitoring equipment under pressure?

On action

• Begin by summarising the key points of the experience of consigning or receiving the radioactive package.
  • Describe the specific checks and actions you performed to confirm adherence with transport regulations.
  • Include any ‘reflect-in-action’ moments, where you adapted to the situation as it unfolded.
  • Recall anything that felt surprising or different from what you anticipated e.g., damaged package, incorrect documentation, unexpected dose rate/contamination, and how you reacted to that unexpected development in the moment.
• Identify what learning you can take from this experience. For example, what did you learn about CDG regulations, specific packaging requirements, essential documentation checks, or using monitoring equipment for transport purposes?
  • What strengths did you demonstrate during the activity? Were you effective in performing specific checks or interacting with the courier?
  • What skills and/or knowledge gaps were evident? Was there anything about the regulations or procedures you found unclear or challenging?
  • Compare this experience against previous engagement with similar activities (if any). Have any previously identified actions for development been achieved? Has your practise improved?
  • Identify any challenges you experienced and how you reacted to these. Did these challenges affect your ability to deal with the situation? Were you able to overcome the challenges?
  • Identify anything significant about the activity. Did you need to seek advice or clarification from a supervisor, colleague, or the Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA)? Or did you need to escalate something (e.g., a damaged package) to ensure you were working within your scope of practice?
• Identify the actions / ‘next steps’ you will now take to support the assimilation of what you have learnt.
  • What will you do differently next time you consign or receive a radioactive package? Will you change your approach to checking documentation or monitoring?
  • Has anything changed in terms of what you would do if you were faced with a similar situation again, particularly regarding handling unexpected developments like damaged packages or incorrect labelling?
  • Do you need to practise any aspect of the activity further? Are there specific skills related to CDG compliance you want to develop further, drawing upon this experience?

Beyond action

• Have you revisited your previous reflections for this specific activity (consigning or receiving radioactive packages and confirming transport adherence)?
  • When reviewing these past reflections, what actions for improvement did you previously identify you would need to take to improve your practice related to CDG compliance, packaging checks, documentation review, or monitoring procedures?
  • Have you completed these previously identified actions? If not, what are the barriers? If so, how did completing them impact your subsequent performance of this activity?
  • Are you ready to demonstrate this new learning confidently and consistently when performing this task?
  • Have you engaged in professional storytelling or discussed your experiences of consigning/receiving radioactive packages and ensuring transport compliance with peers, near peers, or colleagues? Has discussing these experiences with others changed your view or understanding of CDG regulations and procedures?
• Considering your cumulative experiences and reflections on this activity, how will the learning you have gained support you in preparing for relevant observed ‘in-person’ assessments for the module? For example, how does your improved understanding of CDG regulations and transport procedures prepare you for a DOP on determining the transport index or a case-based discussion about a transport incident?
  • How has your practice related to confirming adherence with transport regulations developed and evolved over time across multiple instances of undertaking this training activity?
  • Can you identify specific examples of improvement or increased confidence in checking documentation, performing monitoring, or interacting with couriers?
  • Based on your experiences, how has your ability to recognise when something related to the transport of radioactive materials is beyond your scope of practice improved?
  • Do you have a clearer understanding of when and from whom (e.g., DGSA, supervisor) you need to seek advice or clarification?

Relevant learning outcomes

#	Outcome
# 4	Outcome Interpret, apply and audit adherence to the Carriage of Dangerous Goods (CDG) and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations in the Nuclear Medicine environment.