10.11 TRAINING AND COMPETENCY
An RF safety program and its RF Radiation Safety Plans are effective only when the people who implement them understand the hazards, controls, and procedures relevant to their work. Training provides the knowledge and practical skills needed to recognize RF hazards, use the controls correctly, and respond when conditions change.
RPS S-1 requires occupationally exposed people to receive suitable training and supervision taking account of the work, the risk, and the implemented controls and safe work practices. Training should therefore be based on a person's RF exposure category, activities, and responsibilities—not merely on whether the person is an employee, contractor, or visitor.
Competence is developed and maintained through instruction, practical experience, supervision, assessment, and refresher training. Attendance alone does not demonstrate that a person can apply the arrangements safely.
10.11.1 Training Objectives
The objective is to ensure that each person can perform the authorized activity without placing themselves or others at risk.
Training appropriate to the role should enable a person to:
- recognize the RF sources, exposure conditions, and associated direct and indirect hazards;
- understand the applicable exposure category, limits, and access conditions;
- identify Controlled Areas, site-defined exclusion zones, and permitted routes;
- interpret RF warning signs, markings, alarms, and source-status information;
- apply the engineering controls, administrative controls, and safe work procedures;
- use personal RF monitors and other protective equipment correctly and understand their limits;
- recognize changed, abnormal, or unsafe conditions and stop work when required;
- follow emergency, incident, and suspected-overexposure procedures; and
- understand individual responsibilities, including applicable pregnancy, medical-device, and metallic-implant procedures.
Training should reinforce that uncertainty is a reason to stop and obtain advice from the Responsible Person or another competent person, not to proceed on an assumption.