In this course you will gain a deeper understanding and increased confidence as an experienced RSO. You will perform real-world assessments of radiation safety programs and examine the attributes of the most effective RSOs. The objectives of this course are to (1) make the participants better RSOs and (2) provide hands-on experience in the use of a formalized framework through which continuous radiation protection program improvement can become institutionalized.  

Students are asked to bring to the class (1) three areas in which they feel that they can improve as RSOs and (2) three areas in which their radiation protection programs can be improved. The Program Improvement portions of the class depend heavily on real-time input of the students. It is run in a workshop mode, with the instructors acting primarily as facilitators.  During these modules the students are expected to provide their examples of program strengths and weaknesses that are then examined by the class, and resulting improvement strategies and tactics are applied to the programs across the class.   

The Program Improvement-related course materials are organized around the four following questions:

• Do you have a program?
• Is your program communicated?
• Is your program implemented as communicated?
• How do you know?

The Program Improvement modules are supplemented by technical material that is based on both suggestions from past, and requests from incoming students.  

Voluntary Protection Program, ISO and ANSI program management models are examined in detail and applied to the program improvement program framework.  Technical content is focused on detection, dosimetry, D&D, and waste management.