Radiation Protection Adviser

A Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) in the UK plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of workers and the public from ionising radiation. This involves providing expert advice to employers to help them comply with the Ionising Radiations Regulations (IRR). You would be responsible for assessing radiation risks, designing and implementing radiation protection programmes, and advising on appropriate control measures. This could include specifying dose limits, recommending personal protective equipment, designing radiation shielding, and ensuring proper monitoring and record-keeping. The role often involves a blend of office-based work and site visits, working in diverse environments such as hospitals (radiology, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine departments), nuclear power plants, research laboratories, industrial facilities using radioactive sources (e.g., for non-destructive testing), and even universities. You would need a strong understanding of physics, particularly radiation physics, alongside excellent analytical and communication skills to explain complex safety requirements to various stakeholders. Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of legislation and best practices is also essential.