BASIC RADIATION SAFETY
(16 hour/2 day Course)
The Radiography/Radiation Safety Courses are ideal
preparation for the PCN certification examination, as well as for all radiography
trainees, assistants, health and safety personnel, quality control inspectors,
or any personnel involved in projects where radiographic inspection is being
conducted.
The following is a brief description of the content:
Basic Concepts
- Matter, molecules, elements, atoms, fundamental particles, atomic number,
mass number, isotopes, radionuclides. Types of
radiation: alpha, beta, gamma.
Radiation energies (eV). Production of X-rays, activity, decay, half-life. Sealed and unsealed sources. Contamination.
Equipment:
Gamma radiography: Remote exposure containers, Collimators. X-ray generators. Linear accelerators. X and gamma-ray compounds. Site radiography.
Radiation units and dose limitation: Quantities and units. Activity (Bq).
Absorbed dose (Gy). Dose equivalent
(Sv). Dose rate (microSv
h-1). Conversion from old to SI units. Commonly used prefixes.
A brief summary of legislation: Radioactive substances Act 1993. Ionising Radiations
Regulations 1999. Approved Code of Practice parts 1,2,
& 4. Guidance Notes: "Radiation Safety for Site Radiography". The Ionising Regulations (Outside Workers) Regulations 1993.
Transport Regulations.
Dose limitation:
Justifications, optimisation, dose limits. Regulatory Dose
Limits. Reference Levels: 7.5 microSv h-1.
Biological effects:
Cell, nucleus, DNA, chromosomes. Cellular damage, varying
radio-sensitivity. Acute macroscopic effects: stochastic and
deterministic effects. The effects of chronic exposure.
Principles of protection from external radiation: Basic parameters: time, distance, shielding, source outputs. Half value and tenth value thicknesses.
Practical aspects:
The use of enclosures versus site radiography. Wind-out containers, X-ray sets,
collimation. Safety warning systems.
Radiography compounds. Required interlock systems for compounds. Communication between radiographers.
Shielding calculations: Exercise of manipulation of radiation units. Exercises on the following - calculating source and X-ray outputs. Calculating dose from dose rate, use of inverse square law, use of
half value and tenth value thicknesses for calculating shielding thicknesses.
Personal dosimetry: Classification - medical surveillance, dose assessment, ADS dose record
keeping. Types of dosemeter - film badges, TLD's, personal alarm monitors. ALARP -
investigation. Exposure - investigation. Over-exposure - investigation,
notification. The requirements of the Outside Workers
Regulations. Use of the Radiation Passbook for Outside
Workers.
Radiation monitoring:
Types of monitor (direct, indirect reading) correct use. Correction
factors. Testing and calibration. Frequency monitoring. Record keeping.
Specific requirements of regulations: Source accountancy. Controlled and Supervised Areas. RPA
and RPS. Local Rules, Transportation of sources.
Accidents and hazards in perspective: Accident case histories. Effects of low radiation
doses, sources of information on radiation risks. Risk estimates
(including ICRP60). Comparison with other risks.
Emergency procedures:
Case studies of incidents related to industrial radiography. Transport
accidents. Emergency equipment. Actions
to take in event of emergency. Contingency plans.
For further information please contact the Training
Manager.