Fortalecimiento del programa de entrenamiento en protección radiológica y uso seguro de materiales radiactivos para integrantes del órgano regulador en Colombia enfoque en competencias técnicas, legales, regulatorias y organizacionales

Abstract

This undergraduate thesis, developed as an internship at the Colombian Geological Survey (SGC), aimed to strengthen the Training Program in Radiological Protection and Safe Use of Radioactive Materials for evaluators and inspectors of the national regulatory body. The intervention focused on Module 1: legal, regulatory, and organizational competencies, during the year 2024. The methodology consisted of a systematic review, update, and restructuring of existing training materials, comparing them with current national regulations—specifically the resolutions of the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME)—and international standards from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). As a result, five updated documents were consolidated, addressing: radiological protection in the execution of practical exercises, radioactive waste management, transportation of radioactive material, the radioactive source categorization system, and the physical security of sources. Additionally, the technical foundations of radiation physics—radioactivity, dosimetric magnitudes and units, dosimetry, and biological effects—were reviewed as an essential conceptual basis for a critical understanding of the regulatory framework. Significant gaps were identified in the training plan projected for 2025-2026, particularly the absence of specific modules on physical security, despite the new requirements established by Resolution MME 40234 of 2024. Among the main conclusions, it was highlighted that Colombian regulations are scattered across multiple legal instruments, which necessitates a unified consultation structure. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that knowledge of radiation physics is not a dispensable complement but a necessary condition for the well-founded exercise of the regulatory function. It is recommended to establish regular cycles for updating teaching materials, formalize a mandatory introductory module on technical fundamentals, and incorporate practical modules in detection, measurement, dosimetry and shielding, as well as restructure the curriculum to include physical security, thus closing the identified skills gaps.