The Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) has issued more than 1,000 licences to companies and Radiation Protection Officers (RPO) within various industries.

AELB Technical Support Division director Mohd Yasin Sudin said, “One of the condition for issuing a licence to a company is that it must have a competent and responsible RPO to implement radiation protection tasks who must be certified by AELB.”

“Each licence comes with an RPO,” he told reporters after the 2012 Radiation Protection Conference and Workshop was opened by the Malaysian Nuclear Agency deputy director-general Dr Muhd Noor Muhd Yunus in George Town today.

Mohd Yasin elaborated that an RPO must be qualified and experienced in the field of radiation protection and complete a one-week intensive training and pass three exams conducted by an AELB committee.

“This RPO is not an ordinary person. Only 20 percent of those who take the exams pass them. Not just anyone can become an RPO. Even PhD holders don’t make it sometimes,” he added.

The conference, held for the 15th time, is the best platform for RPOs and industry players to gather and share new approaches in nuclear and radiation safety.   

About 200 participants comprised of licensees, licensing authorities, RPOs, radiation supervisors, researchers, lecturers, scientists and academics attended the three-day seminar which started today.

- Bernama