Radiation Safety Training

Presented by

Geoff MasonTraining and Radiation Safety Manager

Oceaneering International Services

Radiation Safety Training

The training of radiographers and assistants in the practice of radiation safety, is fundamental in developing and establishing a culture of safe working practice, and compliance with National /Regulatory requirements.

The training criteria used for the training of radiographers to produce radiographs and to evaluate the results is generally based around a well established training criteria that may be set by the certifying body.

Training

Most training for Radiographers around the world is based upon the criteria laid down in 2 specific documents

• ISO - 9712: Non – Destructive Testing, Qualification and Certification of NDT Personnel

– PCN (UK)

– TUV (Europe)

– ACCP (USA)

• SNT – TC – 1A: The American Society of Non-Destructive Testing Employer based certification

Centralised Certification

UK Training

Within the UK, virtually all training for Radiation Safety will be carried out in accordance with the requirements of ISO-9712 (PCN), or a company based syllabus applicable to ASNT certification.

Most training is carried out commercially by a NDT Training provider, or a specialist company offering Radiation Protection Services and training

Training

Oceaneeering is unique, in that in the UK it has its own fully accredited NDT Training School that caters for most of its needs.

Staffed by full time experienced trainers, training is carried out in accordance with both ISO-9712 (PCN) and SNT-TC-1A (ASNT)

Working closely with the RPA, the DGSA and the various regulators to ensure that all radiation safety training is as up to date as possible

Current Radiation Safety Training

• Radiographic Assistant / Barrier Man– 4 hours training

• Trainee or Apprentice– 1 day introduction to radiation Safety (prior to classification)

• Level 1 Radiographer– 16 hrs Basic Radiation Safety

• Level 2 Radiographer– 16 hours Basic Radiation Safety

• Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS)– 24 hours RPS Course

Radiographic Assistant

Radiographic Assistant / Barrier Man

• 4 hrs training– Introduction to Legislation / Local Rules

– Dosimetry, Medicals

– Radiation Monitors – Dose Rates

– Controlled Areas

– Exposure Equipment

– Roles and Responsibilities

– Emergencies

Trainee or Apprentice

• Trainee or Apprentice– 1 days training on the basics of radiation safety

– Legislation, RPS, RPA, Dosimetry, dose limitations

– Site / Compound Radiography

– Local Rules

– Equipment, - sources, containers, collimators etc

– Types of Radiation

– Biological effects

RT Training

Both the ISO-9712 and the SNT-TC-1A schemes detail the minimum requirements in both the training syllabus and minimum training hours for radiography, but not for Radiation Safety.

In the UK, we work to a syllabus that details the minimum requirements set by PCN for certification under ISO-9712, with guidance from the HSE

(UK regulator) and PHE (UK radiation protection advisory authority)

UK Training

The PCN syllabus details the specific subjects and content to be included into a radiation safety training programme, along with minimum training hours for each subject matter.

There are two levels of training and certification

• Basic Radiation Safety – (BRS)

• Radiation Protection Supervisor – (RPS)

Basic Radiation Safety

• Basic Radiation Safety – 16 hours minimum

• BRS given on both level 1 and 2 training courses

• Syllabus covers– Basic concepts of radiation

• Types of Radiation, Ionisation

• Production of X-Rays and Gamma Rays

• Activity, Half Life

• Sealed Source

– Equipment• X-Ray Generators

• Gamma Exposure containers

Basic Radiation Safety– Equipment con’t

• Exposure Compounds

• Collimation

– Radiation Units and Dose Limitations• Activity (Bq)

• Absorbed Dose, Dose Equivalent

• Dose, and Dose Rate

– Legislation• Ionising Radiations Regs 1999 - ALARP

• Approved Code of Practice

• Controlled Areas

• Transport

• Storage of Radioactive Materials

Basic Radiation Safety

– Biological Effects• Cellular Damage

• Acute and Chronic effects

– Principles of Protection• Time, Distance, Shielding, Source Output

• Half and Tenth Value Thickness

• Safety and Warning systems

• Inter-lock systems

– Calculations• Shielding

• Distance

• Safe Barrier Distance for barriers

Basic Radiation Safety

– Personal Dosimetry• TLD’s, Monitors, ALARP

• Dose record keeping

• Medical Surveillance

• Investigation levels

– Specific Requirements• Source Accountancy

• RPA

• RPS

• Local Rules and Contingency Plans

• Emergency Equipment

Radiation Protection Supervisors

Within the UK Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999, there is a requirement for the employer to appoint Radiation Protection Supervisors (RPS’s), and to ensure that all radiographic work is carried out under the supervision of an RPS.

Oceaneering operates 2 schemes

• Its own in house certification for RPS’s– Accredited by The British Institute of NDT & PCN

• PCN certification scheme

Radiation Protection Supervisors

Both schemes are accepted by industry, however, the PCN scheme does not cover the requirements of Practical Source Recovery, equipment checks, or require the candidate to demonstrate competence in practical source recovery.

The Oceaneering RPS training follows the same syllabus as PCN, but does require the trainee to demonstrate a knowledge of practical source recovery, and in addition, the trainee is required to develop a step by step recovery plan.

Radiation Protection Supervisor

• Radiation Protection Supervisor – 24 hrs minimum

• Available to PCN level 1, 2 and 3 radiographers– Oceaneering only gives this training to level 2 and 3

radiographers with sufficient experience (approx 1yr as level 2)

• The PCN Syllabus Covers– Review of Basic Radiation Safety requirements

– Legislative Structure• IRR 199

• Transport Regulations

• HASS and Orphan Source Regulation

Radiation Protection Supervisor

– Biological Effects• Stochastic

• Genetic

• Deterministic

– Dose Limitations• Regulatory requirements

• Company Investigation levels

– The Control of Work with Radiation• Notification

• Prior Risk Assessment

• Controlled and Supervised Areas

Radiation Protection Supervisor

– Transporting Radioactive Materials• UN Numbers

• ADR, IATA

• Responsibilities and Documentation

• Packaging Types

– Calculations• Stay time

• Inverse Square Law and Shielding (HVT / TVT)

– Emergency Procedures• Contingency Planning

• National Arrangements

• Emergency Equipment

Radiation Protection Supervisor

• Additional Training given by Oceaneering as this is not covered by PCN– Practical Source Recovery

• Detached and Jammed sources

• Training given on all types of source containers currently in use

• Development of a recovery plan, stay time calculations

• Dose Assessments

• Equipment checks

• Risk Assesment

Practical Source Recovery

• Make the source safe if possible – attenuation– Monitor barriers

• Leave Controlled Area and assess the situation– Identify the problem

– Review appropriate Contingency Plan

– Gather Emergency Equipment

– Liaise with other members of recovery team and brief them on their roles

– Calculate stay time

– Recover source in accordance with Contingency Plan

Additional Training

Not all radiographic training is carried out to the requirements of ISO-9712 / PCN.

When training to SNT-TC-1A (ASNT), the same radiation safety training syllabus as prescribed by PCN is used, as this is accepted by the UK regulators.

Level 1 Radiography - 16 hrs Basic Radiation Safety

Level 2 Radiography - 16 hrs Basic Radiation Safety

Additional Training

It is essential that Managers and Supervisors are aware of their responsibilities when managing radiographic operations, Oceaneering have developed a 2 day training programme called

‘Managing the Radiation Risk’

All UK managers and supervisors have attended this programme, and it is now being introduced to various overseas locations (Each course overseas will reflect that country or regions regulatory requirements)

Managing the Radiation Risk

Course content– Basic Radiation Safety (Legislation and Best Practice)

– Specific National Legislation

– Prior Notification / Risk Assessment

– Transporting Radioactive Material

– Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources

– Site Safety Audits/Compliance Audits

– Incident Management

Overseas Training

Similar training is given to radiographers completing level 1 and 2 RT courses, and the RPS course.

• Country / National requirements will be introduced where possible, so as to ensure that local regulations are covered and understood

• If the country or location does not have its own regulations or specified safety syllabus we will default to the UK syllabus.