[ RadSafe ] job announcement

[Watts, Alan]

Subjest: OHIO University - Radiation Safety Technician - Job posting

Radiation Safety Technician

 
Category: Risk Management & Safety
Date Posted: 05/30/2017
Location: Ohio University
Date of Availability: 07/10/2017
Date Closing: 06/15/2017

OHIO University is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Radiation Safety Technician within the Laboratory & Radiation Safety department.
Established in 1804, OHIO University is the oldest public institution of higher learning in the state of Ohio and the first in the Northwest Territory. Located in the scenic Appalachian foothills, its classic residential campus in Athens, Ohio, is one of the most attractive in the nation.

The Radiation Safety Technician (RST) performs a variety of specialized tests in the Laboratory & Radiation Safety (LRS) laboratory as mandated by Ohio Department of Health (ODH), Bureau of Radiation Protection regulations and the Ohio University Broad Scope License. These tests are specific to all radioactive material (RAM) use research laboratories across campus. There are a number of other technical tests the RST must conduct in the RAM use labs on campus. The RST also ensures all users of RAM are individually monitored properly (internally from urine sample collection and testing to externally worn dosimetry badges). RAM users' equipment as well as LRS specialized survey equipment must be inventoried and calibrated for proper operability by this technician. All packages containing RAM are received, processed, tracked (special software) and delivered (must complete US Dept. of Transportation training) to end users on campus by the RST. This position also manages the LRS Lab by ensuring it operates smoothly and efficiently by maintaining all supplies (inventory and ordering) and that all tests are completed timely and accurately per the many different time restrictions mandated by regulation (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly). There is other specialized LRS equipment that must be calibrated and maintained by coordinating these needs with various contractors who service these units. Organization, accuracy and time management are a must of the person in this job. Emergency response is also required of the RST, primarily to the various security alarms located at US Homeland Security sites on campus; follow up with the alarm system company is usually needed. This requires a potential 24/7 availability. A Federal Background Check is required of the RST due to access to federally secured documents, including medical reports. There is an immense amount of paperwork that must be completed, filed, tracked and recalled as requested by inspecting agencies. The RST takes minutes at quarterly Radiation Safety Committee meetings and assists in annual reviews of the entire program.

Job duties:
1. Perform laboratory surveys (radiation meter scans and removable wipe tests) to monitor for contamination in all radioactive material (RAM) use areas on campus. Ensure overall safety, security, and compliance at these locations per the regulations are maintained. Perform a variety of tests in RAM use labs and in the Laboratory & Radiation Safety (LRS) lab. Exposure to ionizing radiation can occur. Collect urine (bioassay) samples to test for personnel uptake (internal) contamination. Exposure to biological hazards can occur. Maintain the external dosimetry program (receipt of RAM badges, process, deliver, and exchange monthly at many locations on campus); send badges to service company for readout each month, receive reports and file after review by RSO. This is for monitoring external radiation exposure to personnel. The reports generated by the service company are considered to be medical records - data reflects how much radiation exposure one received. Conduct sealed source leak tests quarterly. All tests noted are per time restricted regulations. Initial and annual training is mandatory to be able to handle RAM.
2. Maintain site specific programs. Examples are: security programs (US Homeland Security sites where various alarm systems are actively monitoring radioactive material "sources of concern" for a variety of reasons) - 24/7 emergency response is necessary when alarms activate and subsequent follow up with the alarm system company is required; physical protection systems - controlling access to secured documents and maintaining access control to various secured sites. Coordinate with alarm system contractors and OU departments (Access Control, Video Surveillance, and IT) to perform testing and maintenance of security systems every quarter, while also compiling the results for eventual reporting to the RSO and to the US Dept. of Energy. This requires a federal background check and annual training to maintain access to these sites; and finally, programs related to the operation of a particle accelerator - the Edwards Particle Accelerator has many highly technical pieces of equipment that require calibration and periodically need checking for removable RAM contamination. There are several different alarm system activation points that must be understood as to their function. Completing Operator I status is expected, to know the accelerator operation systems. Exposure to ionizing radiation will occur. Liaison with the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and the accelerator particle physics staff occurs frequently as to on-going operations at this facility, including the alarm systems functionality. Accelerator operations can occur with collaborators from around the US or internationally. Interaction with these physicists can occur with the RST. Annual refresher training of the accelerator operations and safety as well as security systems is necessary. The same is true of the Irradiator Facility on the OU campus where other alarm systems are located.
3. Receive and process in-coming packages containing radioactive material (survey package internally and externally, document results, create receipt and transport manifest) and then deliver by vehicle to end users around campus. This requires very specific processes that must be followed and completed within strict time limits. Training by the US Dept. of Transportation is mandatory and recompleted every two years. Exposure to ionizing radiation can occur. Track all RAM user inventories monthly and follow up with users for data verification and subsequent individual RAM use and bioassay (urine) testing. Receive RAM waste pickup requests from users on campus, coordinate and collect the waste, transport to OU rad. waste storage facility, catalog the various radioactive waste products, place in numbered storage barrels and keep detailed records on the variety of radioactive waste streams that must be monitored monthly and eventually surveyed and disposed of as either non-radioactive or coordinated with a waste broker for subsequent disposal (removal) from Ohio University as a regulated radioactive waste. The collection and transport of radioactive waste requires a valid driver's license with CDL certification. Generate annual radioactive waste (storage and/or disposal) report to ODH.
4. Collect, calibrate, make minor repairs, if needed, and return RAM user radiation detection instrumentation. Exposure to ionizing radiation during these calibrations often occurs. Coordinate with contractors to accomplish more complex repairs. Communicate with researchers from students, Principle Investigators (PI), department Chairs, to Deans and senior management, for a variety of reasons. Interaction with OU Police Department occurs when dealing with emergency response and security systems and response plan review. Schedule and attend quarterly Radiation Safety Committee meetings to take notes and create minutes for later inspection by regulatory agencies. All records previously noted are completed and maintained with eventual review and sign off by the RSO and then filed for later perusal by regulatory inspectors. The LRS laboratory must be operably maintained - many products are used and need to be inventoried and replaced (ordered through Bobcat Buy, in most cases); kept organized; filing and individual files must be well kept; surveyed; and cleaned.

Tact and diplomacy are necessary when communicating with Ohio University research personnel about unsafe conditions that exist in their laboratories. Being able to properly convey to other OU safety staff and/or management about emergency response issues or other concerns needing to be addressed is a necessary attribute. Technical skills will need to be developed quickly as they will need to be used at various times to deal with those types of challenges, since they do occur often. One must have the ability to read, interpret and understand the regulations and OU license conditions to follow their directives. This person must be able to manage their time well, prioritize and organize the vast amount of data, paperwork and files they will handle

A competitive Benefits Package is offered including education benefits for employee and eligible dependents. To apply, please complete and submit the online comprehensive application at http://www.ohiouniversityjobs.com/postings/23013   and be prepared to attach 3 separate documents: Resume, Cover Letter, and a list of 3 professional references with current contact information.  This position will remain open until filled. For full consideration apply by June 15, 2017.

Thanks,

Alan Watts
RSO