Description
Radiation protection technicians monitor radiation levels in buildings and facilities to ensure compliance with health and safety standards, and to prevent dangerous elevations in the radiation level. They take measures to minimise radiation emissions, and to prevent further contamination in the event of radiation pollution, by developing radiation protection plans, in particular for nuclear plants and facilities.
Duties
The duties of a radiation protection technician include, but are not limited to:
- Maintaining equipment used to detect radiation, such as Geiger counters, ion chambers, and scintillation counters
- Monitoring radiation levels and taking corrective action when necessary
- Performing quality control checks to ensure that radiation machines are functioning properly
- Conducting radiation surveys at facilities where radioactive materials are used or stored
- Repairing or replacing damaged radiation detection equipment such as Geiger counters, ion chambers, or survey meters
- Administering radiation safety programs for organizations that use radioactive materials in their operations
- Collecting and analyzing samples to determine the presence of radioactive materials
- Explaining the potential health risks of exposure to radiation and the proper procedures for handling radioactive materials or equipment
- Training employees in safety procedures and emergency preparedness techniques
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to radiation protection technician:
nuclear plant radiation monitor
radiation protection compliance technician
radiological monitoring technician
radiation protection safety technician
nuclear plant radiation technician
radiation protection monitoring technician
radiological protection technician
radiation protection expert
radiation protection planning technician
Working conditions
Radiation protection technicians work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, and industrial and research laboratories. They may also work in nuclear power plants and other facilities that use radioactive materials.
Most radiation protection technicians work full-time, and some may work evenings or weekends. They may be exposed to hazardous materials and may work close to radiation sources. As a result, they must take precautions to protect themselves from exposure, such as wearing protective clothing and using lead shields.
Minimum qualifications
Associate’s degree is generally required to work as radiation protection technician. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.
Most employers require radiation protection technicians to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some employers prefer an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in radiation technology or a related field. Courses in biology, chemistry, and physics can help prepare students for a radiation protection technician program.
Radiation protection technicians receive on-the-job training in their entry-level positions. This training can last for a few months and may include shadowing a more experienced radiation protection technician.
ISCO skill level
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
- the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
- the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
- the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Radiation protection technician is a Skill level 3 occupation.
Radiation protection technician career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to radiation protection technician.
hazardous waste technician
nuclear reactor operator
hazardous materials inspector
nuclear technician
waste management supervisor
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of radiation protection technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of radiation protection technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
radiation protection officer
nuclear engineer
waste treatment engineer
waste management officer
environmental engineer
Essential knowledge and skills
Essential knowledge
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of radiation protection technician.
- Radioactive contamination: The different causes of the presence of radioactive substances in liquids, solids, or gases or on surfaces, and the manner in which to identify the types of contaminants, their risks, and the contaminants’ concentration.
- Nuclear reprocessing: The process in which radioactive substances can be extracted or recycled for use as nuclear fuel, and in which waste levels can be reduced, yet without the reduction of radioactivity levels or generation of heat.
- Health, safety and hygiene legislation: The set of health, safety and hygiene standards and items of legislation applicable in a specific sector.
- Hazardous waste treatment: The methods applied in the treatment and disposal of hazardous waste such as asbestos, dangerous chemicals, and various contaminants, as well as the surrounding environmental regulations and legislation.
- Hazardous waste types: The different types of waste which poses risks to the environment or public health and safety, such as radioactive waste, chemicals and solvents, electronics, and mercury-containing waste.
- Metrology: The methods and theory of measurement in a scientific context, including internationally accepted units of measurement, practical realisation of these units, and interpretation of measurements.
- Radiation protection: The measures and procedures used to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of radiation protection technician.
- Perform risk analysis: Identify and assess factors that may jeopardise the success of a project or threaten the organisation’s functioning. Implement procedures to avoid or minimise their impact.
- Develop hazardous waste management strategies: Develop strategies which aim to increase the efficiency in which a facility treats, transports, and disposes of hazardous waste materials, such as radioactive waste, chemicals, and electronics.
- Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
- Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
- Develop radiation protection strategies: Develop strategies for facilities and organisations which are at risk for exposure to radiation or radioactive substances, such as hospitals and nuclear facilities, for the protection of people within the premises in case of risk, as well as the minimisation of radiation exposure during working operations.
- Instruct employees on radiation protection: Explain the various legal and operational measures established in the company against radiation, such as reducing exposure time and wearing protective gear, to the employees and communicate the emergency procedures.
- Monitor nuclear power plant systems: Control nuclear plant systems, such as ventilation and water draining systems, to ensure proper functioning and identify irregularities.
- Monitor radiation levels: Use measuring and testing equipment and techniques to identify the levels of radiation or radioactive substances in order to control exposure and minimise health, safety, and environmental risks.
- Ensure compliance with radiation protection regulations: Make sure the company and the employees implement the legal and operational measures established to guarantee protection against radiation.
- Calculate exposure to radiation: Calculate radiation data about procedures, such as length and intensity of exposure.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of radiation protection technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Contamination exposure regulations: The regulations concerning exposure to contaminated materials or a hazardous environment which regulate the actions surrounding risk assessment, minimisation of further exposure, quarantine, and treatment of the exposed persons.
- Hazardous materials transportation: Regulations and safety procedures which are involved in the transportation of hazardous materials and products, such as hazardous waste, chemicals, explosives, and flammable materials.
- Pollution prevention: The processes used to prevent pollution: precautions to pollution of the environment, procedures to counter pollution and associated equipment, and possible measures to protect the environment.
- Hazardous waste storage: The regulations and procedures surrounding the safekeeping of materials and substances which pose health and safety risks.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of radiation protection technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Remove contaminated materials: Remove materials and equipment which are contaminated with hazardous substances in order to protect the surroundings from further contamination and to treat or dispose of the contaminated materials.
- Assist people in contaminated areas: Assist workers in remediation activities as well as people at risk of exposure in safety operations, such as instructing on wearing protective gear, entering and leaving restricted areas, and usage of remediation equipment.
- Inspect compliance with hazardous waste regulations: Inspect an organisation’s or facility’s strategies which deal with the management of hazardous waste in order to ensure that their actions are compliant with relevant legislation and that measures are taken to improve protection from exposure, and ensure health and safety.
- Assess contamination: Analyse evidence of contamination. Advise on how to decontaminate.
- Dispose of hazardous waste: Dispose of dangerous materials such as chemical or radioactive substances according to environmental and to health and safety regulations.
- Advise on pollution prevention: Advise individuals and organisations on the development and implementation of actions which aid in the prevention of pollution and its related risks.
- Avoid contamination: Avoid the mixing or contamination of materials.
- Follow nuclear plant safety precautions: Comply with nuclear power plant safety procedures, policies and legislation to ensure a safe working environment for all employees, and to ensure the safety of the public.
- Document survey operations: Complete and file all required administrative, operational and technical documents related to a survey operation.
- Monitor disposal of radioactive substances: Ensure correct management and disposal of radioactive substances used for medical purposes, in compliance with established procedures.
- Perform demarcation: Perform the activities involved in the creation and fixing of boundaries around a restricted area.
- Test safety strategies: Test policies and strategies related to risk and safety management and procedures, such as testing evacuation plans, safety equipment, and carrying out drills.
- Remove contaminants: Use chemicals and solvents to remove contaminants from products or surfaces.
- Investigate contamination: Perform tests to investigate the properties of contamination in an area, or on surfaces and materials, in order to identify the cause, its nature, and the extent of the risk and damage.
ISCO group and title
3111 – Chemical and physical science technicians
References
- Radiation protection technician – ESCO
- Radiation Protection Technician Job Description: Salary, Duties, & More – Climb the Ladder
- Featured image: By Jessica Maxwell – https://www.dvidshub.net/image/542504, Public Domain