On 17 January 2025, a new cohort of participants successfully completed the ACD (Dutch: Algemeen Coördinerend Deskundige) radiation protection training course. There are also two ANVS employees among the cohort of new graduates. The ACD course takes place once every five years and trains participants to serve as radiation protection experts. They are responsible for the coordination and monitoring within organisations with a complex licence or a nuclear facility licence for the use of ionising radiation. With their diploma from the ACD course, radiation protection experts are equipped to fulfil this responsible position as laid down in legislation and regulations. General coordinating specialists thereby play an important role at the interface between policy, licensing and implementation in practice.
Essential link between government and implementation in practice
Annemiek van Bolhuis, chair of the board of the ANVS, explains that general coordinating specialists play a key role within the radiation protection system: “General coordinating specialists serve as a bridge between government and the work within the facility. In complex licences, the general coordinating specialist makes assessments that would otherwise be made by government. As such, general coordinating specialists make a vital contribution towards a properly functioning radiation protection system.”
The importance of the role was also shown during the ANVS’s inspection project in 2024 and 2025 at medical facilities with complex licences. The project revealed once again how important the expert fulfilment of the general coordinating specialist role is for the safe use of ionising radiation.
Image: © ANVS
Annemiek van Bolhuis, chair of the board of the ANVS, addresses the newly graduated general coordinating specialists
Van Bolhuis also highlights the importance of a good relationship between general coordinating specialists and government: “An open and professional relationship between general coordinating specialists and government is essential to properly safeguard radiation protection. With our own respective roles and responsibilities, we reinforce and complement each other.”
Future
The ANVS would like to congratulate all the graduates on attaining their diploma and wishes them every success in carrying out their work as general coordinating specialists for radiation protection. With their expertise, they will contribute towards the careful and safe use of ionising radiation in the Netherlands.
Image: © ANVS
The successful graduates and members of the training course committee.