Radiation Safety Technician

REPORTS TO: Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)
FLSA Status: Hourly

SUMMARY

This position is responsible for assisting the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) with the implementation of the Radiation Safety, Industrial Safety and General Health, Safety and Environmental Programs at the Ross ISR Project. This includes the collection of radiological monitoring data that supports the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations and company policies as they relate to the radiation protection program. The employee must be knowledgeable about and follow the company’s industrial safety and radiation safety policies and procedures.

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.
• In accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) utilize radiation detection instruments to obtain required radiological monitoring data.
• Assist in developing and maintaining 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.
• Assist with the implementation of the bioassay, respiratory protection, radiation monitoring, Radiation Work Permit and emergency response programs including the collection and assessment of monitoring data.
• Be knowledgeable of US DOT regulations as they relate to the transport of radioactive materials (yellowcake and by-product waste material) and assist the operations with shipments of uranium and by-product material.
• Conduct daily, weekly and other inspections of the facility to ensure that the ALARA Program is effective.
• Assist in the training of employees, contractors, and visitors in radiation protection and hazards of the facility.
• Assist in the management of the mine’s industrial safety program under the direction of the RSO.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify for this position an individual must meet the requirements for a Radiation Safety Technician Officer (RST)/ Health Physics Technician (HPT) 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

• An associate degree or 2 or more years of study in the physical sciences, engineering, or health-related field. At least a total of 4 weeks of generalized training (up to 2 weeks may be on-the-job training) in radiation health protection applicable to uranium recovery facilities and one year of work experience using sampling and analytical laboratory procedures that involve health physics, industrial hygiene, or industrial safety measures to be applied in a uranium recovery facility;
  or
• A high school diploma and a total of at least 3 months of specialized training (up to 1 month may be on-the-job training) in radiation health protection relevant to uranium recovery facilities and two years of relevant work experience in applied radiation protection.
• The RST needs to be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of the proper operation of the instruments used by the Radiation Protection Program at the Ross ISR Project, surveying and sampling techniques, and personnel dosimetry requirements.
• Additional experience in occupational safety at an industrial plant setting is desirable but not required.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Ability to read and comprehend technical instructions, regulatory guidance documents, company procedures, and memos.
• Ability to write 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 instructions and guidance to company employees that handle radioactive materials.
• Must have the ability to comprehend and complete directives from the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO).
• 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 “C” 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 full-face 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.