What are the typical responsibilities of a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) in a medical facility?

• A. Develop and implement the radiation protection program; ensure regulatory compliance; conduct surveys; oversee training; manage incident investigations and records; calibrate instruments; approve procedures.
• B. Monitor patient nutrition and dietary requirements.
• C. Only file regulatory paperwork.
• D. Perform clinical radiography.

Answer: (A)

In a medical facility, the Radiation Safety Officer is the person who ensures the radiation safety program is in place and actively managed to protect patients and staff. The best answer reflects the full scope of that role: they develop and implement the radiation protection program, ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and licensing, and carry out routine and targeted surveys to verify proper shielding, room design, and exposure control. They oversee training so everyone understands safe practices and dose monitoring, manage incident investigations and keep thorough records of exposures and safety actions, calibrate instruments such as dosimeters and survey meters to ensure readings are accurate, and approve procedures that involve the use of radiation to guarantee appropriate safety controls are in place. This combination shows how the RSO coordinates safety, measurement, training, and policy to maintain ALARA and regulatory compliance. The other options don’t fit because they address unrelated areas (nutrition), are too narrow (just filing paperwork), or describe clinical work (performing radiography) that isn’t the safety oversight role.