Surface degradation of laminated metalRa foils used in school sealed sources in the UK.

In the few years leading up to this research, CLEAPSS noticed a small but steadily increasing number of calls from UK schools regarding a red-brown discolouration on the surface of the foil of their radium source. There were no reports of this type of discolouration on foils of other radionuclides. CLEAPSS and the University of Liverpool collaborated to investigate the nature and cause of this discolouration and the likelihood that the foils were becoming unsafe.

The status of the radiation safety culture within the higher education, research and teaching sectors in the UK.

This article reports on the research by a working group, comprising members from the Association of University Radiation Protection Officers, on the radiation safety culture in the UK higher education, research and teaching (HERT) sectors. The impetus for this research arises from the work of the International Radiation Protection Association and their emphasis that embedding radiation safety culture within an organisation is the most effective way of delivering the standards of radiation safety and security that society expects. The deficiency in radiation safety culture has been a large contributor to major nuclear disasters, such as Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi.

The advantages of creating a positive radiation safety culture in the higher education and research sectors.

The safety culture of any organisation plays a critical role in setting the tone for both effective delivery of service and high standards of performance. By embedding safety at a cultural level, organisations are able to influence the attitudes and behaviours of stakeholders. To achieve this requires the ongoing commitment of heads of organisations and also individuals to prioritise safety no less than other competing goals (e.

Strategies for engaging with future radiation protection professionals: a public outreach case study.

It is evident that there is a nuclear skills shortage within the UK, and logically it can be assumed that the shortfall extends to the radiation protection arena. Plans for nuclear new-build and the decommissioning of existing nuclear sites will require many more people with radiological knowledge and practical competencies. This converts to a nuclear industry requirement in the order of 1000 new recruits per year over at least the next ten years, mainly as new apprentices and graduates.

Evidence for age-related performance degradation of (241)Am foil sources commonly used in UK schools.

The characteristics of alpha radiation have for decades been demonstrated in UK schools using small sealed (241)Am sources. There is a small but steady number of schools who report a considerable reduction in the alpha count rate detected by an end-window GM detector compared with when the source was new. This cannot be explained by incorrect apparatus or set-up, foil surface contamination, or degradation of the GM detector.