Radiation Safety Associate - Radiation Safety

The department of Radiation Safety at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Radiation Safety Associate.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Director of WVU and WVU Hospitals Radiation Safety, this position assists in the radiation protection of all research laboratories and medical facilities on all campuses of WVU and WVU Hospitals Inc. and its affiliated hospitals. This 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 the radioactive materials and radiation producing devices.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)

• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)

• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)

• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits

• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.

• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• 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 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 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.

• Assists in maintaining a Quality Management Program to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and comprehensive audits for Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine divisions.

• Assists in determining the need for personnel radiation monitoring, evaluate bioassays, and monitors personnel radiation exposure and bioassay records for high exposures. Notify individuals of radiation exposures approaching limit and recommend appropriate remedial action.

• Assists in determining 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 assists in developing a comprehensive radiation safety program for clinical settings.

• Ensures that appropriate radiation safety assessments are made before the 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.

• Assists in 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.

• Assists in establishing radiation safety procedures for patients undergoing radioactive therapies.

• Assists in establishing 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 the members of the general public, following release of therapeutic patients, is within acceptable limits in accordance with the 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 member 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.

• Bachelor's degree in health physics, Physical Science, Safety Engineering, Safety Management, Environmental Health and Safety, or a related field science. Master's degree preferred.

• A minimum of two (2) years of 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.

• 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.

• Demonstrative ability to complete assigned tasks, frequently in a very limited time frame. Demonstrative ability to be creative and solve complex problems.

• Knowledge of State and Federal regulations pertaining to the use of radioactive materials.

• Strong ability to investigate and analyze information and draw conclusions.

• Demonstrative ability to establish rapport and maintain a good working relationship with various departments, State and Federal regulatory agencies.

• Excellent leadership and communication skills.

• Ability to train others is essential to provide guidance and instruction for a vast group of individuals in the area of radiation protection and other procedural activities.

• Excellent ability to develop, implement, and enforce radiation safety programs and protocols.

• Superb skills in performing radiation safety inspections and ensuring compliance with NRC, FDA, DOT, OSHA, EPA, and WV Radiological Health Programs.