1. Initiative on RP culture
International Radiation Protection Association
Roger Coates
Dutch Society Training Course, May 2011

2. RP Culture Initiative
We are observing significant development in the use of ionising radiation in the medical field and a nuclear industry revival throughout the world,
The generation who developed the radiation protection principles and methods that are applied today is gradually retiring.
As this change occurs, we must maintain a high degree of competence and to continue making progress in radiation protection
The use of radiation sources in new sectors, companies or countries requires the development of a radiation protection infrastructure in those areas.

3. The Initial Proposal
At the IRPA12 Congress in Buenos Aires in October 2008, the French Society for Radiation Protection (SFRP) proposed to launch an IRPA initiative for enhancing Radiation Protection (RP) culture among the RP professionals worldwide.
This proposal was very favourably received by the participating delegates and the IRPA Executive Council decided to actively support this initiative.
Subsequently, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the European ALARA Network (EAN), the Health Physics Society (HPS), the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and the Image Gently Alliance also expressed their interest and support

4. WHY RP CULTURE?
To give visibility to the fundamentals of RP (science and values)
To promote radiation risk awareness
To promote shared responsibility among practitioners, operators, management and regulators
To maintain the RP heritage
To facilitate its transmission
To improve the quality and effectiveness of RP
To contribute to the general safety

5. WHY RP CULTURE?
And in particular because embedding RP at a cultural level within an organisation is by far the most effective way of delivering the performance to which we all aspire.

6. First Actions
The Austrian (OVS), French (SFRP), German (FS) and Swiss (ARRAD) Societies met in Strasbourg, France, in May 2009 to discuss RP culture and identify preliminary relevant topics.
The Spanish Society SERP) organized a meeting in Madrid in June 2009 to discuss organizational RP culture.

7. 1st IRPA Workshop in Paris
25 participants
Representatives of 9 IRPA European Societies :
Austria
Belgium
France
Germany
Italy
Poland
Spain
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Representatives from WHO and EAN

8. Input from Asia China, Japan, Korea Workshop on RP Culture
Wednesday, 24 November 2010, Jeju Island, Korea. Sponsored by Korean Association of Radiation Protection 8

9. Input from the US
The Second IRPA International Workshop on Radiation Protection Culture Thursday & Friday, February 2011, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Sponsored by HPS, AAPM, Alliance for Radiation
Safety in Pediatric Imaging 9

10. What is Meant by Culture?
The ideas, beliefs and customs that are shared and accepted by people in a society.
That complex whole, which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, values, symbols, rituals and any other capabilities and habits, acquired by people as members of society that determine appropriate attitudes and behavior

11. Key Elements of RP Culture
IRPA Workshops
Adapted from INSAG
Knowledge
Values and ethics ( i.e Equity)
Behaviour
Experience
Principles : justification, ALARA, limitation
History of RP
Individual awareness
Questioning attitude
Rigorous and prudent approach
Communication
Knowledge and competence
Commitments
Motivation
Supervision
Responsibility

12. First Proposals for a Definition of RP Culture
The term “RP culture” means the way in which RP is founded, regulated, managed, performed, preserved, and perceived in the workplace, in medicine, and every day’s life and reflects the attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, goals, and values that all parties involved share in relation to RP.(Strasbourg meeting, May 2009)
The term “RP culture” means the way in which RP is founded, regulated, managed, performed and preserved by professionals but also reflects the attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and values that they share in relation to RP.
(Paris workshop, December 2009)

13. First Proposals for a Definition of RP Culture
3. Radiation Protection Culture is that assembly of characteristics and attitudes in organizations and individuals which establish that, as an overriding priority, radiation protection issues receive the attention warranted by their significance. (Adapted from INSAG by SRP & Kase, June 2010)

14. Organizational Culture
Organizational structure institutionalizes how people interact with each other, how communication flows and how power relationships are defined. It also reflects the value-based choices made by the company
In a total safety culture, employees not only feel responsible for their own safety, they feel responsible for their peers’ safety, and the organizational culture supports them acting on that responsibility.
(Adapted from Mayo Clinic paper on safety culture, Classic)

15. Enhancing RP Culture is a Process
Additional consultations are needed to achieve some consensus agreement on the general approach and methodology.
IRPA is committed to work toward achieving a final set of Guidelines that incorporates approaches from different countries and regions of the world, from medicine, industry and regulators.

16. Issues for Discussion 1. Workplace and/or Public RP Culture
To what extent should public ‘culture’ and understanding regarding RP be included within the current project?
For example:
Public risk perception and understanding
Radiation incidents and the media
Radon in dwellings
Waste disposal
Medical exposure
Or concentrate initially on workplace culture?

17. Issues for Discussion 2. RP Culture and Safety Culture
Protection focuses on people and behavior (culture) to prevent harm to the worker and others when hazardous equipment is being operated.???
Safety focuses on the system design to permit hazardous equipment to be used without harming the worker.???
Hence Protection culture is necessary to implement safety.
Is this difference between Protection and Safety real?? 17

18. A Possible Roadmap (General)
Define RP culture
Engage stakeholders
Develop an assessment tool
Implement a strategy

19. A Possible Roadmap (Specific)
Consider all that is important and is in common with Safety Culture and distill what is important for RP Culture.
Identify factors that are specific to RP and require specific attention for RP Culture.
Identify sector-specific issues:
Hospital & medical
Nuclear
Research & teaching
General industry

20. Position of the Radiation Protection Professional
Approach to management is from the professionals and includes engagement with management on developing the Culture within the facility or institution
Need to develop:
Relationship with management and the workforce
Relationship with the regulators
Involvement with other relevant stakeholders

21. Questions for Discussion (1,2)
What are the criteria for success and how would you assess the RP culture? Suggest tools.
What are the important elements of RP Culture in:
Hospital & medical
Nuclear
Research & teaching
General industry, e. g. NORM, non-destructive testing, construction, airline.

22. Questions for Discussion (3,4)
3. How to engage the stakeholders (operators, regulators, professional organizations…) in the process of developing RP culture.
4. What is the role of radiation protection professionals and professional societies in promoting an RP culture?
How is the local or regional culture included?
What is the general guidance?

23. Goals Develop an Action Plan for proceeding
Establish writing teams to develop answers to the 4 questions and begin writing guidance for addressing those issues
Have a draft document to circulate prior to the IRPA13 Congress in Glasgow, May and discuss at the Associate Society Forum at that Congress

24. IRPA Timeline Roadmap Step 1: To Oct 2011. Develop draft texts
Step 2: To Jan Consult Associate Societies
Step 3: To May Produce draft document for discussion at IRPA13 Glasgow
Step 4: To Dec 2012: Continued consultation, then prepare ‘first draft’ Guiding Principles doc for 4th IRPA Workshop

25. International Radiation Protection Association 25