Radiological Protection Ordinance (RPO) (RPO)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Chapter 1 General Provisions
Art. 172 Persons who must undergo training and continuing education
1 The following persons must undergo radiological protection training and continuing education in line with their activities and responsibility: a. persons who are involved in the handling of ionising radiation, who may be exposed to it in the course of their specific activities, or who plan or order the handling thereof and, in the process, define radiological protection measures for self‑protection; b. persons who have radiological protection responsibilities vis-à-vis third parties; c. radiological protection experts; d. radon consultants as specified in Article 161 paragraph 1; e. persons who, in the case of a failure or emergency, are involved in the handling of ionising radiation, may be exposed to it, or plan or order the handling thereof, or operate critical infrastructure or provide public services. 2 The FDHA may, in consultation with ENSI and the DDPS, regulate exemptions from mandatory continuing education for the handling of ionising radiation with a low hazard potential.
Art. 173 Responsibility for training and continuing education
1 The following are responsible for training and continuing education: a. for persons specified in Article 172 paragraph 1 letters a–c: the licence holders; b. for radon consultants as specified in Article 172 paragraph 1 letter d: these persons themselves; c. for persons specified in Article 172 paragraph 1 letter e: the relevant authorities, administrative bodies, organisations and undertakings; they shall ensure that, in accordance with their size and structure, an adequate number of persons who have undergone training and continuing education is available. 2 The parties responsible are required to coordinate and document employees’ training and continuing education activities. The documentation must be retained until the end of their employment at the enterprise.
Art. 174 Training
1 Persons specified in Article 172 paragraph 1 letters b–d who work in the medical, industrial and nuclear energy sectors require recognised radiological protection training including an examination. 2 The FDHA, in consultation with ENSI and the DDPS, shall determine which persons require what training. 3 The FDHA, in consultation with ENSI and the DDPS, shall specify whether the training for persons specified in Article 172 paragraph 1 letters a and e requires recognition.
Art. 175 Continuing education
1 Continuing education is concerned with the knowledge and skills already acquired in the course of training. Continuing education must ensure that skills, knowledge and awareness of the state of the art and its application in practice are maintained and brought up to date. 2 Persons subject to mandatory continuing education must undergo a course of continuing education at least every five years. 3 The FDHA, in consultation with ENSI and the DDPS, may, taking into account the hazard potential: a. specify shorter or longer intervals for continuing education courses; b. specify that the continuing education must be recognised.
Art. 176 Training and continuing education courses
1 The supervisory authorities and the PSI shall conduct training and continuing education courses as required. 2 The supervisory authorities may request other agencies or institutions to conduct training and continuing education courses. 3 The DDPS shall coordinate the training and continuing education courses for persons who, in the case of an failure or emergency, are involved in the handling of ionising radiation, may be exposed to it, or plan or order the handling thereof, or operate critical infrastructure or provide public services. 4 The supervisory authorities and the DDPS may, within their area of responsibility, require that the persons responsible for training and continuing education in accordance with Article 173 report the date and the form, content and extent of training and continuing education provided for persons subject to mandatory training and continuing education.
Art. 177 Financial assistance
1 Within the limits of its approved budget, the FOPH may provide financial assistance for training or continuing education courses in radiological protection conducted by third parties, in particular by schools, professional organisations and industry. 2 Financial assistance shall only be provided if the training or continuing education has been recognised by the supervisory authority. 3 Financial assistance shall be calculated so that, taken together with other revenues, it does not exceed the course organiser’s documented costs.
Art. 178 Recognition of individual training and continuing education
The supervisory authority shall recognise as equivalent individual training or continuing education which a person has received abroad or for a different activity if the acquired knowledge and skills meet the requirements specified in Chapter 2 of this Title.
Art. 179 Training and continuing education database
1 The FOPH shall maintain a training and continuing education database, in which the following persons subject to mandatory training and continuing education are registered: a. persons who meet the requirements for being able to serve as radiological protection experts; b. radiological protection specialists and radiological protection technicians as specified in Article 183 letter b; c. persons who require recognised continuing education as specified in Article 182 or 183; d. radon consultants as specified in Article 161 paragraph 1. 2 The purpose of the database is: a. to make available the information required for granting licences on the occupational training, recognised radiological protection training and continuing education of the person concerned; b. to simplify the administrative procedures required for granting licences; c. to simplify supervision by the authorities in the area of individual training and continuing education. 3 The following data concerning persons registere
Art. 180 Recognition authorities
1 The supervisory authorities specified in Article 184 are responsible for the recognition of training and continuing education courses. 2 The General Secretariat of the DDPS (GS DDPS) is responsible for the recognition of training and continuing education courses for persons who exclusively in the case of an failure or emergency are involved in the handling of ionising radiation, may be exposed to it, or plan or order the handling thereof, or operate critical infrastructure or provide public services. 3 In the event of uncertainty concerning responsibility for recognition, the FOPH, ENSI, Suva and the GS DDPS shall consult each other. 4 Training and continuing education courses which are offered by a recognition authority must be recognised by a different recognition authority. 5 The recognition authorities specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 are entitled, in the course of their recognition activities, to monitor the training and continuing education requirements of persons concerned and
Chapter 2 Content of Regulation and Categories of
Art. 181 Content of regulation in general
1 The FDHA shall regulate training and continuing education. In particular, it shall define: a. the objectives, the requirements and the extent of training and continuing education in radiological protection; b. the skills and knowledge to be acquired by persons who must undergo training and continuing education in accordance with Article 172; c. the training and continuing education specified in Articles 174–176, 178, 182 and 183 which requires recognition; d. the requirements for recognition of training and continuing education as specified in letter c; e. the content of examinations and the examination procedure; f. the activities permissible for persons with radiological protection training and continuing education which requires recognition. 2 It shall regulate training and continuing education for persons in non-medical sectors, in consultation with ENSI and the DDPS.
Art. 182 Categories of persons subject to mandatory training and continuing education in the medical sector
1 The requirements specified by the FDHA for training and continuing education in radiological protection in the medical sector shall be differentiated according to the following categories of persons responsible for radiological protection for patients or animals: a. persons who prescribe diagnostic applications of ionising radiation in medicine and chiropractic; b. physicians who perform therapeutic or diagnostic medical procedures involving radiation sources; c. dentists; d. chiropractors; e. veterinarians; f. medical physicists; g radiopharmacists; h. medical radiation technologists with a diploma from a professional education institution (PEI) or a university of applied sciences (UAS); i. medical practice assistants with a federal certificate of proficiency (CFC); j. other medical personnel; k. dental hygienists (PEI diploma); l. dental assistants (CFC); m. surgical technicians (HF diploma) and qualified operating theatre nurses with a certificate of proficiency from the Swiss Pro
Para. 1 let. h — Footnote relevant to Swiss language texts. Para. 2 let. e — Footnote relevant to Swiss language texts.
Art. 183 Categories of persons subject to mandatory training and continuing education in non-medical sectors
The requirements specified by the FDHA, in consultation with ENSI and the DDPS, for training and continuing education in radiological protection in non-medical sectors shall be differentiated according to the following categories of persons: a. radiological protection experts and persons in the nuclear, industrial, commercial, teaching, transport and research sectors who are involved in the handling of ionising radiation; b. radiological protection specialists, radiological protection technicians and radiological protection officers in nuclear installations and at the PSI; c. radon consultants; d. persons who, in the case of an failure or emergency, are involved in the handling of ionising radiation, may be exposed to it, or plan or order the handling thereof, or operate critical infrastructure or provide public services.
