Radiation Safety for Radiographers

Radiation Safety for Radiographers

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This is a 40 hour course on Industrial Radiography is designed to meet the training requirements for formal certification in Radiation Safety for both x-ray and gamma radiographers. This course meets the federal requirements of CFR34.43 Training for radiation safety topics to be taught. It also follows the outline of “Suggested State Regulations for Controlling Radiation (SSRCR)” for radiation safety topics. This course includes 200 multiple choice questions to help the student prepare for the formal certification exam. A 100 question multiple choice exam is given at the conclusion of the course. The student must receive a passing score of 70% on the final exam to be considered prepared for the formal exam from the certifying agency.

It is important to note that taking this course does not provide certification as an Industrial Radiographer. In most states, a qualifying examination must be taken from a certifying authority after a course such as this one. We suggest that you contact the regulatory authority of your state to determine the requirements for your particular state. A requirement for formal certification in Industrial Radiography is taking and passing an exam given by a recognized certifying agency. There are a number of other requirements in addition to passing the exam given by a certifying authority. Prior training and experience in Radiography is recommended though not required for taking our course. The reason for this recommendation is that certifying agencies generally require 120-160 hours of hands-on x-ray radiography experience and 200-320 hours of hands-on gamma radiography experience for radiation safety certification. The number of hours required for radiation safety training is usually 40 hours.

Additional information about certification requirements: All gamma radiographers require formal certification in Radiation Safety. For x-ray radiographers, formal radiation safety certification depends on the individual State requirements which vary from state-to-state. Formal x-ray certification is usually limited to radiographers who operate at temporary x-ray sites or to radiographers operating in x-ray rooms that allow entry. X-ray cabinets manufactured according to “CFR1020.40 X-ray Cabinets” are almost always exempted from formal certification.

The instructor for this course is Dr. Don Hastings, who received his Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry from the University of Missouri. He has developed and taught training courses in industrial radiography and related subjects. He has worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory and at Mound Laboratory in Miamisburg, Ohio. He was formerly Executive Director of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing, in Columbus, Ohio.

If you would like to receive a course outline by fax, please call us or you may download the Outline in PDF format.

A brief description of the course content is given below:

  • Day One: What to expect in this course; importance of radiation safety; causes of accidents; fundamental principles of radiation; composition of atoms; isotopes, properties of electromagnetic radiation; interaction of radiation with matter.
  • Day Two: Harmful effects of radiation; prompt and delayed effects; units of dose; quality factor; risks of professions; dose limits.
  • Day Three: Detection and measurement of radiation; survey meters and required surveys; personnel dosimeters; film badges, TLS’s and OSL’s; alarming rate meters; area monitors; use, limitations and calibration of monitors.
  • Day Four: Federal and State regulations; 10CFR19, 20, 21, 30 and 34; radiography equipment inspection and maintenance; 21CFR1020.40 x-ray cabinets; permanent and temporary installations; transportation and shipping requirements.
  • Day Five: Warning and shipping labels; operating and emergency procedures; case histories of radiation accidents; individual state regulations; 100 question final multiple choice exam, 70% required to successfully pass course