Radiation Safety Officer

REPORTS TO: VP- Permitting, Regulatory and Environmental Compliance

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

SUMMARY

This position is responsible for the development, implementation, and management of the Radiation Safety Program at the Ross ISR Project. This includes the authority to enforce the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations and company policies as they relate to radiation protection and the “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” (ALARA) Program.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following (other duties may be assigned):

• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the proper operation of instruments used to detect, monitor and minimize exposure of workers and the environment to radioactive material at a uranium recovery facility.
• Develop written radiation protection monitoring procedures that detail how radiation monitoring equipment is used, how required radiation surveys are completed, and how resulting data is managed and retained to reduce the exposure of workers to radioactive materials.
• Oversee the bioassay, respiratory protection, radiation monitoring programs, Radiation Work Permit program, and the emergency response program as it relates to radioactive materials.
• Be knowledgeable of US DOT regulations as they relate to the transport of radioactive materials (yellowcake and by product waste material) and ensure that all radioactive shipments are completed in accordance with regulations and all required shipping papers are properly documented and maintained.
• Review and approve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for general plant operational activities as they relate to radiation protection.
• Act as the project liaison with the US NRC and be knowledgeable of regulations contained in 10CFR Parts 20 and 40.
• Train employees, contractors and visitors in radiation protection and hazards of the facility.
• Assist with monetary budgets and ensure that equipment and supplies required to maintain the Radiation Protection Program are readily available.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Effectively supervise the Radiation Safety Program staff (Radiation Safety Technicians etc.).

QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify for this position an individual must meet the requirements for a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) in accordance with NRC Regulatory Guide 8.31 “Information Relevant to Ensuring That Occupational Radiation Exposures at Uranium Recovery Facilities Will Be As Low As Reasonably Achievable”. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• A bachelor’s degree in the physical sciences, industrial hygiene, or engineering from an accredited college or university or an equivalent combination of training and relevant experience in uranium recovery facility radiation protection is required. Two years of relevant experience are generally considered equivalent to 1 year of academic study.
• At least 1 year of work experience relevant to uranium recovery operations in applied health physics, radiation protection, industrial hygiene, or similar work. This experience should involve actually working with radiation detection and measurement equipment, not strictly administrative or “desk” work.
• At least 4 weeks of specialized classroom training in health physics specifically applicable to uranium recovery.
• A thorough knowledge of the proper application and use of all health physics equipment used at uranium recovery facilities, the chemical and analytical procedures used for radiological sampling and monitoring, methodologies used to calculate personnel exposure to uranium and its daughters, and a thorough understanding of the uranium recovery process and equipment used in the facility and how the hazards are generated and controlled during the uranium recovery process.
• Additional experience at an operating In Situ Recovery (ISR) or other uranium recovery facility is desirable.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Ability to read and comprehend technical instructions, regulatory guidance documents, company procedures, and memos.
• Ability to write simple and technical correspondence, including; training documents, operating procedures, and weekly, quarterly and annual reports that pertain to the Radiation Protection Program..
• Ability to effectively present information and training in one-on-one and group situations to other employees of the organization as well as regulatory agencies and the public.
• Ability to effectively communicate as the project liaison with the US NRC and other regulatory agencies as related to radiation protection at uranium recovery facilities.
• Ability to deal with vendors in the specification and ordering of required supplies and technical services.

MATHEMATICAL/COMPUTER SKILLS

• Ability to understand and use common measurements of radiation exposure, dose and concentration.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals and compute rate, ratio, and percent.
• Ability to use basic computer word processing, spreadsheet and database programs (i.e. Word, Excel, Access).

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to understand and analyze technical data related to measurements derived from instrumentation and laboratory data used by the Radiation Protection Program.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

A valid class “A” driver’s license is required.

SAFETY POLICIES AND PRACTICES

The employee must be knowledgeable about and follow the company’s industrial safety and radiation safety policies and procedures.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and sit; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee may occasionally lift 25-50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee must be able to be medically approved to wear a fullface negative pressure air purifying respirator.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to hazards typically associated with a uranium ISR plant facility which includes the presence of low levels of radioactive materials and radiation, low to moderate noises levels, moving equipment, slips on wet surfaces, and trips related to uneven ground and facility equipment.