OCCUPATIONALLY EXPOSED WORKERS
All workers who are exposed to radiation in the course of their work activity must obtain the UAE National Qualification of ‘Radiation Occupationally Exposed Workers’ (OEW), which is split over three tiers (corresponding to various degrees of radiological risks) and over three sectors (Medical, Nuclear, and Industrial).
The National Qualification scheme can be downloaded here :
•
Level 4 Award for Radiation Occupationally Exposed Workers - Tier 1
•
Level 4 Award for Radiation Occupationally Exposed Workers - Tier 2•
Level 4 Award for Radiation Occupationally Exposed Workers - Tier 3.
Tier 1 (OEW-1) encompasses all sectors and refers to situations in which radiological risks are lower (e.g. use of x-rays, sealed radiation sources and gauges).
Tier 2, which is split over the Medical (OEW-2A) and Non-Medical (OEW-2B) sectors, refers to situations in which intermediate radiological risks are present, and/or there is potential for radioactive contamination (e.g. a nuclear medicine department, CT scan, use of tracers).
Tier 3, which is split over the Medical (OEW-3A), Industrial/Research (OEW-3B) and Nuclear (OEW-3C) sectors, refers to situations of the highest radiological risk, namely the presence of neutron emissions.
A higher qualification encompasses the lower ones i.e. someone possessing the OEW 3A qualification can also operate in situations that entail lower radiological risks (OEW-2A and OEW-1).
When various sources of different radiological risks are present in the workplace, the highest category must be obtained. For example, if there is a diagnostic x-ray machine and a PET scanner present in the same department, then workers must be qualified at Tier OEW-2A.
Licensees can refer to Approved Training Providers that offer the relevant qualification, listed under the corresponding Qualification on
NQC Website.
A licensee may even become an Approved Training Provider if the number of employees to train justifies the effort. More information on becoming an ATP can be found
here.
In some cases, licensees may have already established suitable, MoE-recognised training programmes that cover the minimum requirements for the National Qualification of Radiation Occupationally Exposed Workers (OEW). In those cases, an equivalency can be requested, which would ensure that employees do not need re-training.
RADIATION AND NUCLEAR EMERGENCY WORKERS
All workers who may intervene during a radiation or nuclear emergency situation must obtain the National Qualification of ‘Radiation Emergency Workers’ (EmW), which is split over two tiers. These tiers correspond to the first response during an emergency and subsequent actions during the later stages of an emergency situation.
The National Qualification scheme is available here :
•
Level 4 Award for Radiation Emergency Workers - Tier 1
•
Level 4 Award for Radiation Emergency Workers - Tier 2.
- Tier 1 (EmW-1) encompasses both nuclear and radiological emergencies, and refers to First Responders during emergency situations. This is the required qualification tier to respond to an emergency,for example; police officers or fire safety workers.
- Tier 2 (EmW-2) encompasses later-stage emergency situations, in which either measurements and/or decontamination may be needed. This is the required qualification tier for the worker in environmental agencies for example conducting environmental sampling in the aftermath of a nuclear accident, or decontamination workers.
A person qualified at Tier 2 can operate in situations requiring either Tier 1 or Tier 2.
Licensees and other institutions can refer to Approved Training Providers listed under the corresponding Qualification on
NQC Website.
Some licensees may even consider becoming Approved Training Providers, if the number of employees to train justifies the effort. More information on becoming an ATP can be found
here.
In some cases, licensees may have already established suitable, MoE-recognised training programmes that cover the minimum requirements for the National Qualification of ‘Radiation Emergency Workers’ (EmW). In those cases, an equivalency can be requested, which would ensure that employees do not need re-training.
Both EmW and OEW National Qualifications represent a minimum competence requirement. Some licensees may decide that competence requirements should be higher in their field. In such cases, licensees can stipulate specific additional training requirements for their employees to be a well-established part of the overall programme on radiation protection. Additional training should be tailored to the particular radiation application and the type of work carried out.
Specific training should always include local rules, safety and warning systems, and local emergency procedures.
RADIATION PROTECTION OFFICER
The work is ongoing for the development of the UAE National Qualification of ‘Radiation Protection Officer’, the person who is in charge of implementing daily RP precautions, established by the appointed Qualified Expert.
For this qualification, a structure of three tiers and three sectors will be applied in the same way as OEW.
QUALIFIED EXPERT
The work is ongoing for the development of the UAE National Qualification of ‘Qualified Expert’ (QE) in Radiation Protection, the person who is in charge of designing and overseeing a licensee’s RP programme.
For this qualification, a structure of three tiers and three sectors will be applied in the same way as RPO and OEW.
The National Qualification of Qualified Expert will be granted by the UAE Government after successful completion of an exam, which will assess whether or not candidates have reached a level of competence and maturity that allows them to operate as the de facto person responsible for the radiation protection of workers and the population for a Licensee.
To this effect, requirements for a period of practical training (on-the-job, supervised training) will also be requested.
MEDICAL PHYSICIST
The work is ongoing for the development of the UAE National Qualification of ‘Medical Physicist’ (MP), the person who is in charge of the radiation protection of patients in medical environments.
In line with the UAE National Strategy for Education, Training and Qualification in Radiation Protection {REF: Document attached: 02 - ETQ RP National Strategy - rev.3.3 – final } and international guidance, four tiers will apply to this qualification.
1. MP-DR is the tier related to Diagnostic Radiology
2. MP-NM is the tier related to Nuclear Medicine
3. MP-RT is the tier related to Radiotherapy
4. MP-ASST is the tier for those who undergo a clinically qualifying medical residency programme under the supervision of an MP.
The National Qualification of Medical Physicist is composed of three distinct parts:
a. Master of Science in Medical Physics (pre-requisite)
b. Clinically qualifying residency programme (pre-requisite)
c. Successful completion of a final examination
It is worth noting that the MP is solely responsible for the radiation protection of the patient. The role of the MP does not include occupational RP, or RP of the public (unless simultaneously the qualification of QE is also present).
RE-TRAINING
Periodic training should take place to ensure continuous employees’ competence, as per Article (20)3.h of FANR Regulation 24 on Basic Safety Standards for Facilities and Activities involving Ionizing Radiation other than in Nuclear Facilities. Article (20)3.h reads, ‘The Licensee shall ensure for all workers engaged in Activities that involve or could involve Occupational Exposure, that suitable and adequate human resources and appropriate training in Protection and Safety are provided as well as periodic retraining and updating as required in order to ensure the necessary level of competence’.
ADDITIONAL IAEA REFERENCES AND GUIDANCE FOR TRAINING
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has developed extensive materials to help employers define the content of additional training that they may intend to impart to their employees, in addition to the National Qualifications.
The IAEA organises its training material around practices (e.g. uranium mining, cardiology, PET/CT, oil and gas, etc.)
Extensive material and information can be found on the page titled ‘
Specialized training courses in radiation safety’.
In March 2024, some of the topics available on the aforementioned webpage included:
Occupational radiation protectionAssessment of Occupational Exposure due to Intakes of Radionuclides
Assessment of Occupational Exposure due to External Radiation Sources
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material; e-learning
Neutron Monitoring
Occupational Radiation Protection; e-learning
Occupational Radiation Protection During High Exposure Operations
Occupational Radiation Protection in the Uranium Mining and Processing Industry
Quality Management System for Radiation Protection Monitoring Services
Radiation Protection and the Management of Radioactive Waste in the Oil and Gas Industry
Safety Assessment
Workplace Monitoring
Protection of patients
Doctors using fluoroscopy outside radiology (including urologists, gastroenterologists and orthopaedic surgeons)
Prevention of Accidental Exposures in Radiotherapy
Radiation Protection in Cardiology
Radiation Protection in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology
Radiation Protection in Digital Radiology
Radiation Protection in Nuclear Medicine
Radiation Protection in Paediatric Radiology
Radiation Protection in PET/CT
Training on Radiation Protection in Radiotherapy
Safety and Quality in Radiotherapy
Dental Radiology
Radiation Protection in Interventional Procedures: Practical Tutorials
Quality managementQuality Management Systems for Technical Services in Radiation Safety
Regulatory oversightAuthorization and Inspection of Cyclotron Facilities
Authorization and Inspection of Uranium Mining and Milling Activities
Effective and Sustainable Regulatory Control of Radiation Sources (ESRCRS)
Integrated Management System Training Course
Organization and Implementation of a National Regulatory Programme for the Control of Radiation Sources
Organization, Staffing and Competence Management for a Regulatory Body
Orphan Source Search Training Course
Regulatory Enforcement
Radiation Safety Training Course for Custom Officers
Radiation Safety Training Course for Lawyers
Radiation Safety – BasisBasic Training Course on Radiation Protection and Safety
Navigator in Radiation Safety Communication
Safe transport of radioactive materialPublication: Safe Transport of Radioactive Material
Video: Safe Transport of Radioactive Material
Radioactive waste and spent fuel managementTraining Material on Radioactive Waste Management
Decommissioning and remediationSafety of Uranium Production and NORM Residue Management
Basic training course on Safe Decommissioning of Facilities
Specialized training module on Regulatory Control of the Decommissioning of Facilities
Specialized training module on Characterization to support Decommissioning
Specialized training module on Safety Assessments for Decommissioning
Specialized training module on Decommissioning Planning and Project Management
eLearning on Basics of Remediation of Uranium Legacy Sites
Assessment and management of environmental releasesTraining Material on Control of Discharges and Monitoring
More training material related to the medical field can be found
here .
General IAEA training references also include:
• INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY,
Training in Radiation Protection and the Safe Use of Radiation Sources, Safety Reports Series No. 20, IAEA, Vienna (2001)
• INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY,
Establishing the Infrastructure for Radiation Safety, IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SSG-44, IAEA, Vienna (2018)