The opportunity has recently been taken to update references, contact details, and correct errors in the current RADS 1. An effort has been made to improve clarity and consistency both within RADS1 and between the RADS documents.
Foreword
The Foreword now includes the following additional points that emphasise the structure of the assessment/reassessment process:
- the examination of the characteristics of the dosimetry system,
- the ability of the service to provide competent results,
- the ability of the service to ensure consistency through a periodic testing regime that includes performance testing and/or
- intercomparison and inspection.
Examples of outputs
The requirement for the submission of examples of outputs has been strengthened by a request that appropriate screenshots be included to illustrate how data is presented to ADS staff.
Supporting documents
Assessors can now request copies of supporting documentation whether or not it has been referenced in the Statement of Service.
Fees
The arrangements for the setting of, and payment of, fees (para 17) is now in the HSE Statement and reference to this is made in each of the RADS documents. This saves space, reduces unnecessary duplication, and allows future changes to be made to a single document.
Disputes
The disputes procedure has also been moved to the HSE Statement and is referenced in each of the RADS documents.
Changes
'Change of ownership' has been added to the list of 'significant changes' that ADSs need to notify to HSE.
Notification will be required for beneficial change to the service as well as those that would have an adverse effect.
Flow charts
The flow charts for 'initial approval' and for 'reassessment' have been redrawn to incorporate procedural changes to improve clarity.
Training requirements
The need for 'refresher/update training' for existing staff to be available, as necessary, has been added alongside the training requirements for new staff.
Accreditation
Acknowledgement is made of the value of accreditation against relevant established standards.
Energy ranges
Requirement to state the energy ranges for which type testing has been carried out. It is important that ADSs prove dosemeter works over the energy range(s) for which approval is sought. As services are reassessed by HSE energy ranges are being included in the new certificate schedules (where appropriate).
NAMAS
The current Criterion 7 requires measurement and assessment of film and TLD to conform to the NAMAS standards set out in NIS 61 and 65 respectively. UKAS have withdrawn these documents and HSE cannot reprint them due to copyright issues. HSE evaluated incorporating the standards into RADS and concluded there was little to be gained from this approach. The reference to NIS documents has therefore been deleted and replaced by a requirement to take reasonable steps to conform to the processing and management standards set out in existing national/international standards.
Provision of information to clients
A requirement is introduced so that a service should provide advice, on request, on the suitability of their service in relation to the needs of the employer.
The Statement of Service (SoS) should be in a form such that it can be made available to clients/potential clients and should be signed by the Head/Deputy Head of Service. Although, the primary purpose of the SoS remains to be the description of the scope and operation of the service for approval by HSE. In order to enable the Statement to also be provided to clients on demand it might be appropriate to move restricted information (on grounds of commercial confidentiality or security for example) to referenced documents rather than include such information in the statement of service)
Software Quality Assurance
The section on QA now contains a requirement to include information on the standards used during the design of software and the procedures for modifications to existing software.