RPO: Competent Professionals We Critically Need (Part 1/2)

This article outlines the types of Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) certifications available in Malaysia and explains the roles RPOs play in institutions or organizations that conduct activities involving ionizing radiation or radioactive materials.

An RPO is a technically competent professional recognized by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (LPTA) to oversee the implementation of relevant regulations and Acts within an organization. Under Act 304, any license-holding organization is required to appoint an RPO who is demonstrably competent—in knowledge, skills, and training—to safeguard individuals (e.g., radiation workers and members of the public at the workplace), company property (equipment), and the work environment.

In Malaysia, RPO certification is divided into three categories—Category 1, Category 2, and Category 3—each defining the scope of activities an RPO is qualified to supervise.

• Category 1 RPOs are limited to nuclear facilities, radiation processing, and radiotherapy.

• Category 2 RPOs operate in industrial radiography, such as weld inspection using radioactive sources like Iridium-192.

• Category 3 RPOs support research, sales (excluding Category 1 and 2 devices), education, gauges, NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material), TENORM (Technologically Enhanced NORM)

Any organization engaged in these activities must appoint at least one RPO certified for the relevant category.

When an RPO needs to work beyond the scope of an existing certification, the individual must sit for—and pass—the examination for the additional category (specific paper). For example, if a Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) company performing industrial radiography plans to expand into Positive Material Identification (PMI) using equipment classified as a gauge, the appointed RPO must hold Category 2 (Industrial Radiography) and Category 3 (Gauge) certifications.

The detailed pathways for obtaining these certifications—and the associated requirements—will be addressed in a subsequent article.

Stay tuned!