HERCA sets up of a Task force on Education & Training in Radiation Protection

Radiation protection training and education (E&T) has been of outmost interest for HERCA from the beginning of the Association. As a matter of fact, among the list of challenges in radiation protection included in the questionnaire sent by ASN in 2007, which was the basis to set up HERCA working groups, some topics in the “Training section” were given the highest priority. Nevertheless, at that time, the topic was recognised as already covered by the European Commission sponsored programmes underway and at that time it was agreed not to duplicate this effort.

The Interest of HERCA in E&T activities have been confirmed at the occasion of the last HERCA meetings and in particular in the activities of ENETRAP following previous contacts from this consortium.

In a context where:

• The legal framework in which the recognition of Radiation Protection Experts (RPEs) & radiation Protection Officers will be embedded, as described in the revised draft of the Euratom Basic Safety Standards, will require clear guidance to the Member States.
• The final requirements for RPE and RPO in the future Directive is not stabilised and is still under discussion.
• In some European countries, there is only one training scheme for the qualified expert while in others, such as UK, a double level system already exists.
• The harmonization, whenever possible, of the requirements for education and training (E&T) of persons in charge of tasks in radiation protection is of importance for HERCA participating authorities if the mutual recognition of persons who wish to work abroad is aimed at.

The Board of Heads of HERCA approved on its 10th Meeting held in Paris on 30-31/10/2012 to set up a Task Force (TF) on Education & Training in Radiation Protection (TF E&T-RP) an a mandate was given to this TF. The ultimate mandate of the TF, which will be leaded by Mr. Ton Vermeulen (The Netherlands) would be to present to the Board of Heads a general picture of the situation on E&T in RP and to identify the current needs for harmonisation among HERCA member countries and eventually, if needed, the mandate of a future working group on E&T.

In carrying out its activities, special attention should be paid to not duplicating the work already done by others, rather the TF should take advantage of it. In this sense, the TF should take advantage of the work already carried out by ENETRAP & EUTERP. The conclusions of the TF will be presented at the 12th HERCA meeting.