The United States is facing a staffing crisis in the field of radiation safety, with a shortage of qualified experts and the loss of experienced professionals who are reaching retirement age. This shortage is concerning because radiation safety officers play a crucial role in ensuring that radiation doses for workers and communities are kept at safe levels. They are responsible for measuring and recording radiation doses, training individuals on radiation hazards, and developing emergency plans. The shortage is partly due to a decrease in funding for health physics education and training programs, and also because other fields such as medical oncology and nuclear engineering offer higher salaries. The decline in the number of radiation protection specialists is happening faster than the transfer of knowledge from retiring experts to the next generation. The need for radiation safety professionals is expected to increase with the growth of applications in areas such as nuclear power and radiotherapy. Possible solutions to the staffing crisis include increasing salaries for radiation safety officers, providing cross-training opportunities for professionals in related fields, and funding research to better understand the challenges and find effective solutions.
Fri, 14 Jul 2023 10:03:11 GMT | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists