Fri, 5/29: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CDT
P050V
Professional Development Courses (PDCs)
Room: Virtual
CM Credit Hours: 7
*Please note: PDCs are at an additional cost, and preregistration is required*
To register, please visit: https://aihaconnect.org/register
This course provides practical guidance for developing, implementing and maintaining a radiation safety program that meets state and federal regulations. It also addresses programmatic requirements for working safely with radioactive materials, sealed sources and radiation-generating devices.
Course materials are presented in an accessible format tailored to industrial hygienists who are newly responsible for or interested in radiation safety. Participants will gain a foundational understanding necessary to function as a radiation safety officer.
*Note: This PDC will be conducted in Zoom. Please ensure the computer on which you will participate will allow Zoom to access all necessary computer systems including speakers, microphone, and camera.*
• Fundamentals of ionizing radiation and radiation physics
• Interactions of radiation and health effects
• Principles of radiation protection and contamination control, including time, distance and shielding
• Industrial nuclear gauges and controls
• Industrial X-ray machines
• Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) and technologically enhanced NORM (TENORM)
• Regulations and licensing of radioactive materials and radiation-producing machines
• Radiation detection instrumentation
• Instrumentation and radioactive sources demonstration
• Internal and external dosimetry
• Radiation safety training program
• Radioactive waste management, including mixed waste
• Emergency response
• Annual audits and preparing for regulatory inspections
• Useful radiation safety references and resources
Upon completion, the participant will be able to:
• Identify the key responsibilities and qualifications required to become a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO).
• Describe the essential elements for developing, implementing, and maintaining a radiation safety program.
• Explain State and Federal radiation safety regulations and illustrate their application through practical examples.
• Apply principles of radiation physics and radiological science to real-world radiation protection challenges.
• Analyze scenarios involving radioactive materials, sealed sources, and radiation-generating machines to determine appropriate safety measures.
• Evaluate radiation risks, health effects, and dose limits in the context of protecting workers and the public.
• Integrate regulatory requirements and scientific principles to design effective radiation protection strategies.
Attendees should have a basic understanding of ionizing radiation.
Attendees will receive practical guidance on developing, implementing and maintaining an ionizing radiation safety program. The course includes hands-on use of radiation detection instruments, application of radiation protection principles such as ALARA, technical definitions, preparation for regulatory inspections, dose assessment methods and references to both technical and regulatory standards.
Business Case/IH Value Statement
Ionizing radiation is a known human carcinogen, and exposure must be controlled to as low as reasonably achievable, or ALARA, levels in workplaces that use licensed radioactive materials and radiation-generating machines. This course will provide the minimum necessary dose (exposure) assessment and control methodologies to support this objective, which will reduce exposure risk to acceptable levels and help avoid regulatory enforcement actions.
Learning Aids
None
Content Level
Intermediate
Core Competencies
Administrative Controls
Radiation (Ionizing and Nonionizing)
Safety
Keywords
Education and training
Radiation protection and monitoring
Regulatory compliance
Safety
Session Availability
Virtual
Targeted Audience
Practitioner
Transfer of Knowledge
Lecture Only
Practical Application
Small Group Discussion