Meet Simon Booth, Principal Radiation Advisor
Introduction
In my role as Principal Radiation Advisor for Radiation Services WA (RSWA), I provide technical oversight for both internal and external projects. This entails ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, developing innovative solutions to complex radiological challenges, and often navigating incident response scenarios. My expertise lies in regulatory compliance, where I take pride in crafting customised “left-of-center” solutions.
In very plain terms, I see Radiation Protection as a distinct and specialised domain within the broader framework of Workplace Health and Safety (WHS), and I feel it should be promoted as such.
History
My journey in the Radiation Protection field began while studying Physics at Curtin University in the late ’90s. In 2001, I joined the WA Radiological Council / Radiation Health Unit. I moved into radiation consulting in 2009 at RSWA (then known as Integrated Safety) and have subcontracted for other consulting companies. I hold multiple Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) appointments in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Achievements
I am privileged to sit on the National Executive Committee of Australasian Radiation Protection Society (ARPS) and a particular focus of both ARPS and RSWA is to encourage more people to explore further career opportunities within the field of Radiation Protection.
Among the many projects I’ve had the privilege to be a part of, my most memorable are those that involve provision of innovative solutions to intricate radiological problems. My focus on regulatory compliance and crafting unconventional solutions often leads me into incident response scenarios, where I can make a significant impact. My highlight in the last 6 months has been navigating approvals and solutions for safely reactivating Real-Time Instrument gauges following a regulatory ‘cease-use’ notice.
I have been lucky enough to travel for work, immersing myself in different cultures, and applying industry-best-practice principles to mining-related operations in places like Lao PDR and Papua New Guinea.
The Future
We are seeing some interesting trends with an increased number of technologies using x-rays, lasers and electron beam technology. The ever-evolving nature of this field keeps me engaged and excited about what lies ahead.
As we move forward at RSWA, our goal is to continually enhance our service delivery while exploring new opportunities. We’re committed to optimizing our work processes, but we also recognize that our most significant asset is our team. Staff retention remains a top priority, and we’re excited about the possibilities that lie ahead in radiation protection.
Fostering a workforce of individuals who are genuinely passionate about Radiation Protection has a significant impact that ripples through various aspects of our work. This includes fostering better relationships with clients, industry partners, and regulators.
In turn, these positive relationships contribute to the growth of career opportunities in radiation protection, where our team members and their valuable skill sets are appreciated and embraced by those who aim to make a positive difference in workplace health and safety.
On a personal level, I cherish my time outside of work with my supportive partner, Fleta, and our two nearly-teenage daughters. I’m into various ball sports and love spending time on, or under the water!
Looking ahead, I’m pushing for streamlined work processes to reduce the number of meetings and fostering a better work-life balance for myself and the team. I’m really excited about the future as we look to achieve a balance of team engagement and remote working opportunities, allowing for quality family time and maintaining the momentum of our projects.
