Radiation Safety Specialist - Radiation Safety

About the role

The Radiation Safety Specialist reports to the Director of WVU and WVU Hospitals Radiation Safety and is responsible for the radiation protection of all research laboratories and medical facilities on all campuses of WVU and WVU Hospitals Inc. and its affiliated hospitals. The position assists to expand, implement, coordinate, and maintain a comprehensive radiation safety program by developing strategies for the implementation of new policies and procedures in operational aspects of radioactive materials and radiation‑producing devices. West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community, committed to the personal and professional growth of employees, with a supportive environment that champions work‑life balance and collaborative work.

Responsibilities

• Assists the Director with implementation of new initiatives in increased control of certain radionuclides as required by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) under provision of the federal multiple broad‑scope material licenses (RAMS).
• Implements a program for maintaining occupational radiation exposures for both the University and Hospitals in accordance with USNRC and WV Radiological Health Program rules and pertinent regulations.
• Assists the Director with consultations in evaluation of the radiation safety aspects of an institution’s policies and procedures to provide recommendations regarding effective radiation dose equivalent (EDE) assessments in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
• Establishes and maintains a Quality Management Program to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and comprehensive audits for Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine divisions.
• Determines the need for personnel radiation monitoring, evaluates bioassays, and monitors personnel radiation exposure and bioassay records for high exposures; notifies individuals of radiation exposures approaching limit and recommends appropriate remedial action.
• Determines the presence and extent of radiological hazards resulting from the use of ionizing radiation in diagnostic and treatment in humans, including interpretation of recommended surveys and compliance with appropriate advisory and regulatory agencies.
• Assesses and evaluates specifications of the shielding design, and utilizes proper shielding as needed to protect patients and members of the general public from radiation hazard during medical procedures.
• Evaluates characterization of medical radiation from radiopharmaceuticals prior to clinical use and develops a comprehensive radiation safety program for clinical settings.
• Ensures that appropriate radiation safety assessments are made before radiation‑producing devices are put into routine use, when working procedures are to be modified, where changes are to be made in the immediate vicinity that may result in an increase in occupancy factor, or where an increased workload in the department or practice is anticipated.
• Ensures the proficient use of health physics references to maintain records of all radioactive material, Authorized User (AU), training records, and other necessary data and maintains and updates Health Physics databases.
• Establishes radiation safety procedures for patients undergoing radioactive therapies.
• Establishes radiation protection protocols and computer‑based learning (CBL) training for nurses/ancillaries on the diagnostic and therapeutic use of radiation in patients.
• Performs health physics computations to determine that the established dose to members of the general public, following release of therapeutic patients, is within acceptable limits in accordance with USNRC Regulatory Guides.
• Performs monitoring of patient radiation exposures, compares these exposures to published surveys for similar radiation exposure to assist in implementation of the (ALARA) exposure levels to patients, staff, and members of the general public.
• Coordinates radioactive waste management program; receives, ships, packages, and transports radioactive waste.
• Coordinates radioactive waste decay‑in‑storage program.
• Develops and presents radiation safety training program to research staff, support staff, and ancillary staff.
• Performs routine inspections of research and clinical facilities where radioactive material is used; responds in the event of emergency radioactive spill.
• Collects and compiles technical data for the purpose of generating reports and summaries.
• Performs 24/7 on‑call duties; must live within or be able to report within 30 minutes of notice during on‑call rotation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in health physics, Physical Science, Safety Engineering, Safety Management, Environmental Health and Safety, or a related field science.
• A minimum of four (4) years of experience in the following: Professional experience in the management and implementation of Radiation Safety/Health Physics and/or Health and Safety compliance. Pertinent knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered for experience. Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Qualifications

• Preferred: Master's Degree.
• Must have and maintain a valid WV Driver’s License.
• Ability to travel to different locations for inspections and to respond to on‑call assignments in the event of emergencies.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain Trustworthy and Reliability Status (T&R) at WVU and WVUH as required by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (10CFR37).

Skills

• Knowledge of operational aspects of radiation protection, health effects, and radiation detection.
• Strong ability to gather data, compile information, prepare reports, and to communicate technical information to non‑technical personnel.