Considering Radiation Safety Program Image

Commercial businesses have long known that the image of an organization is critical to ultimate success. Significant resources are invested in marketing, logos, colors, signage, appearance, informational brochures, and the like because expenditures on these aspects have repeatedly proven to produce a measurable return on investment. The term "image" can be defined in many ways, but within the context of the effort described here, it is a tangible or visible representation of an entity. A radiation safety program's image can be based on many operational outcome elements, such as personnel doses, findings from regulatory compliance inspections, and measured client satisfaction. Described here are three other program image components that may be considered: the radiation safety program's website, program staff appearance, and program organizational charts. Data regarding the prevalence of current practices being carried out within operational college and university safety programs as they relate to image were measured via a series of simple online polls. Although the assessments described here were focused primarily on university environmental health and safety programs, each included specific consideration of any radiation safety component. The findings stemming from the analysis of these convenience sample polls examining the blind testing of program internet website search capabilities, the norms regarding program staff recognition on campus, and the common errors associated with organizational charts all can serve as a guide to improve radiation safety program image that, in turn, can maintain or enhance program reputation and support.