New general radiation protection training course
Some members of CERN personnel, users included, may have to work in supervised or controlled radiation areas, or may be concerned with activities involving the use of radioactive sources. According to CERN Safety rules all persons whose work may encounter ionising radiation risk must be adequately trained. This training must ensure that workers are informed about the potential health risks which could result from radiation exposure, about the basic principles of radiation protection and of the relevant radiation protection regulations as well as about safe working methods and techniques in radiation zones. Therefore the Organization organises mandatory general and work-specific radiation protection (RP) courses addressed to its personnel. These courses are also open to contractors’ personnel, in addition to the RP training they must receive from their employers.
Based on the results of a pilot project, an improved general radiation protection course has been prepared. This new ½ day course will be given in a classroom, with a brief evaluation session at the end of the presentation.
By decision of the Director-General the course is mandatory for all persons who need a personal dosimeter. Those who already have a personal dosimeter are requested to attend the course, and pass the evaluation session, should they intend to renew the possession of the dosimeter.
In order to account for the expected large number of requests in view of the LHC start, the Safety Commission will ensure daily sessions as of Monday 14 January 2008 from 13:30 to 17:30. Priority will be given to persons requiring a CERN personal dosimeter for the first time, and for those who need to renew the existing one. Should it be necessary, priority for attendance to the courses will be defined jointly by the Safety Commission and the Departments. As of 1 April 2008 a dosimeter will be attributed or renewed only after the person has followed the course. In the transition phase and in special cases a dosimeter can be attributed for a period of 2 months to persons who still have to attend the course.
At a later stage, when most of the personnel will have followed the course, the frequency of the training sessions will be reduced accordingly. Persons who have successfully completed the course will have to attend short refreshment sessions and/or a test every 3 years.
In the future, this new RP course will be complemented by area-specific training sessions of shorter duration, to be organised by the Departments in collaboration with the Safety Commission, and targeting selected groups of persons depending on their activities and to the radiation areas they need to access because of their work.
Enrolment in EDH is compulsory at the following link:
Session in English:
http://cta.cern.ch/cta2/f?p=110:9:2013988002133287::NO::X_COURSE_ID,X_STATUS:3712%2CD
Session in French:
http://cta.cern.ch/cta2/f?p=110:9:2013988002133287::NO::X_COURSE_ID,X_STATUS:3724%2CD
The first sessions in English are scheduled from 14 to 18 January 2008 and in French from 21 to 25 January 2008.
Content of the course
- risk perception, quantities and units, sources of ionizing radiation at CERN, induced radioactivity and external exposure, biological effects of radiation, operational radiation protection, the ALARA principle and dose limits
- CERN safety structure, Safety Code F (Radiation Protection), classification of areas and personnel, individual dosimetry, monitoring of radiation, use of radioactive sources, industrial radiographies and potential accidents, radioactive waste, handling and transport of radioactive material.
For all questions concerning the course organisation and enrolment please contact Isabelle Cusato by phone at 73811 or by e-mail:
M. Silari
Safety Commission – RP Group
on behalf of Safety Training
