Development of National Occupational Standards for Radiation Protection

This project has now been completed and the standards have been fully approved by the National Occupational Standards Board.  We wish to thank the members of the Industry Working Group and all the other participants for their help on this project.

Background to the Project

The DTI Nuclear Skills report prepared in 2002 recommended the promotion of NOS within the Nuclear Industry.

The Nuclear Employers Steering Group (NESG) was convened in 2003 to oversee the implementation of the recommendations from above report.

In 2004, a functional and occupational mapping project was completed for the nuclear industry.

Derived from this project was a need for the development of NOS in Radiation Protection, Safety Case Preparation and Nuclear Decommissioning.

Cogent submitted proposals to the NOS Board for funding in 2005.

The industry work groups (IWGs) were established with support from the Cogent Nuclear Advisory Council.

Objectives of the project

The project is producing national occupational standards (NOS) for Radiation Protection.  This involves all workers in the nuclear industry who are involved in radiation protection in some form.  While this includes Radiation Protection Advisers, the suite of standards that are developed with be broader than their requirements.  The project will of course take into account any existing standards (including those currently used in the Level 4 NVQ for Radiation Protection).

Timetable

1. Between April and the end of July 2005 we will be developing the standards with the Industry Working Group experienced in this field.  A Steering Group is overseeing this and the other Cogent standards projects.

2. In September and October 2005 we will undertake a consultation exercise for any organisation that is keen to provide feedback on the standards.

3. After the consultation is completed we will review the results with the Industry Working Group.

4. By the end of December 2005 the standards will be sent to the National Occupational Standards Board for approval.  Once approval has been given, the standards will be available to the awarding bodies so that they can submit any proposals for NVQs or SVQs.

Project progress

February: We have now completed the standards and they have been submitted to the National Occupational Standards Board for approval.

January 2006: Subsequent to meeting with the Qualifications Committee of the Society for Radiological Protection, we have now completed all consultations.

October-December: We have been having final consultations on the standards, particularly in regard to health monitors.

August-September: We have been consulting on the standards, and preparing them for submission to the regulatory authorities.

August: We have now developed a qualification framework which will be reviewed by the IWG.

July: We have now developed a third draft of the standards, and they have been considered by the IWG.

June: We have now developed a second draft of the standards, and they have been considered by the IWG.

May: We have now developed a first draft of the standards, and they have been considered by the IWG.

April: We have now revised the unit listing, and incorporated this into a questionnaire. This can be accessed online.

April: The IWG meeting has met for the first time to discuss the scope of the project and the initial unit list. We will now produce a revised version of the questionnaire.  We are now ready to produce draft standards ready for the next IWG meeting in May.

April: We have received feedback from the questionnaire and have analysed it ready for the IWG meeting.

March: The revised questionnaire has been distributed to members of the IWG only at this stage.

March: The Steering Group has met for the first time to discuss the projects, and confirm the project strategy and plan.  It discussed the initial questionnaire that we have designed.  The objective of the questionnaire is to obtain feedback on the list of units and the type of job roles that are potentially covered by the standards.

March: We have prepared an initial list of potential units of competence.  This is based on the current standards used in the Level 4 NVQ for Radiation Protection, along with an analysis of other relevant materials.

Thank you for your help.