International Radiation Safety Training from Ionactive

Over the years Ionactive Consulting has conducted more and more radiation safety training outside the UK. We believe the growth in our international training service is partly driven by recognition that work with ionising radiation in the UK illustrates best practice. We also believe that the growth is also down to the unique training methods of Ionactive Consulting. We have trained delegates at our UK training venue who have come from Bahrain, UAE, and Qatar for example.

Many of own delegates have then invited us back to their homeland to conduct radiation safety training locally - a most welcome compliment for any training provider!

Our international training is generally bespoke in nature – developed specifically for our clients needs. However, in the case of UAE we have entered into an association with RNA Safety International (based in Dubai) to develop a set of training courses which are exclusively for local needs. Whilst this training meets IAEA safety principles, it is also designed to meet the needs of UAE regulators (FANR) and local regulations, practices and users.

Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) / RPS Training in your Region

We will be setting up local bases outside the UK to ensure that training courses are readily available. The first will be set up in UAE to serve the Gulf region (2012).

Radiation Safety Courses in UAE

The following courses are available in the UAE through our associate - RNA Safety International. Download a course outline by clicking on the title.

The delegate price for the three day RPO (security) based course is currently £949 delivered in UAE by Ionactive in association with RNA Safety International. Prices for the one day awareness course are £150 per delegate. 

Prices for the ‘R&N in CBRN' course are available on request.

All the above courses meet the requirements of the UAE Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). Use the ‘selected resources' box on the right to investigate the trainer, RNA Safety International and FANR.

We are often asked – ‘Will our training be certificated to IAEA standards’, or ‘Is our training accredited to IAEA standards’. The simple answer is that no radiation safety course available anywhere is officially accredited or endorsed by IAEA. The same is true locally in the UK – the UK regulator (Health and Safety Executive - HSE) does not accredit UK Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS) courses. In the UK ‘accreditation’ is effectively made by ensuring the trainer – a Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) – is suitably qualified and this is achieved by formal certification. There is nothing in local UK law to require the trainer to be an RPA, but by using an RPA you are assured they are suitably qualified. Of course, qualifications and certification alone are not enough. If you look through this website you will see evidence of the vast practical experience of the principal RPA – Mark Ramsay. If you then browse the other training pages (RPS Training and Contingency Training) you will note the excellent delegate feedback. It therefore takes more than ‘knowing your stuff’ – Ionactive has the skill to enable others to ‘know their stuff’ through unique and enlighening training methods.

The RPA and Qualified Expert (IAEA)

To understand how certification of the UK RPA can ensure training standards meet IAEA requirements, you need to note the hierarchy of radiation protection internationally. The RPA is equivalent to the Qualified Expert (QE) as defined and explained in the IAEA 115 publication (sections 2.31 etc) . The UK RPA2000 certification board ensures that an individual meets UK RPA standards, and therefore IAEA QE standards.

The RPS and RPO (IAEA)

In terms of course suitability (to 'IAEA standards’), it is again useful to look at the UK position and then see how this translates internationally (to IAEA). In the UK the HSE has provided details on what would be expected for a RPS course (Ionising Radiation Protection Series No. 6 – Radiation Protection Supervisors). All Ionactive RPS courses meet this requirement (as a minimum). Internationally the RPS is broadly equivalent to the Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) – this is also defined in IAEA 115 (page 310, glossary ). There are many relevant IAEA publications on safety training, as a minimum Ionactive RPO courses outside the UK are compliant with the essential elements contained in IAEA Training Course Series 18 ‘Postgraduate Educational Course in Radiation Protection and the Safety of Radiation Sources’ .

This section is currently being updated...