title: Maintaining competence in radiological protection in emergency situations: a challenge for the 21st century.
abstract: State-of-the-art radiological protection in emergency situations requires specific technical resources, qualified personnel and competence in a variety of scientific and technical areas. In many developed countries a high technical standard is available currently in these areas. There are, however, strong indicators that future expertise is at risk. The indicators are declining university enrolment, dilution of university course content and high retirement expectations of staff members, with little or no replacement planned. This paper describes the underlying problem and makes recommendations for an action plan that includes both short-term actions and a long-term strategy to minimise the emerging risks. A strategic approach will be required to stop the decline and to avoid a drop in competence to an unacceptable level.
authors.affiliation: Federal Office for Radiation Protection, D-85764 Oberschleissheim, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, Germany. wweiss@bfs.de
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D003660:Decision Support Systems, Management / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends*; D004630:Emergencies; D038622:Internationality; D011210:Power Plants; D011361:Professional Competence; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends; D012107:Research Design; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends*