Radiation Safety Associate - Radiation Safety

West Virginia University • Morgantown, WV

407d

About The Position

The Radiation Safety Associate at West Virginia University plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and compliance of radiation use across research laboratories and medical facilities. This position supports the Director in implementing and maintaining a comprehensive radiation safety program, developing policies and procedures, and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards. The role emphasizes work-life balance and offers generous benefits to support employees' well-being.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in health physics, Physical Science, Safety Engineering, Safety Management, Environmental Health and Safety, or related field.
• A minimum of two years of professional experience in Radiation Safety/Health Physics and/or Health and Safety compliance.
• Knowledge of operational aspects of radiation protection, health effects, and radiation detection.
• Strong ability to gather data, compile information, prepare reports, and communicate technical information to non-technical personnel.
• Demonstrative ability to complete tasks in limited time frames and solve complex problems.
• Knowledge of State and Federal regulations regarding radioactive materials.
• Strong investigative and analytical skills.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to train others in radiation protection and procedural activities.
• Ability to develop, implement, and enforce radiation safety programs and protocols.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Director with implementation of new initiatives in increased control of certain radionuclides as required by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC).
• Implement a program for maintaining occupational radiation exposures in accordance with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and WV Radiological Health Program rules.
• Assist in evaluating the radiation safety aspects of institutional policies and procedures, providing recommendations for effective radiation dose assessments.
• Maintain a Quality Management Program to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and conduct comprehensive audits for Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine divisions.
• Determine the need for personnel radiation monitoring and evaluate bioassays, monitoring personnel radiation exposure records for high exposures.
• Assess and evaluate radiological hazards from ionizing radiation in diagnostic and treatment settings, ensuring compliance with regulatory agencies.
• Evaluate shielding design specifications and utilize proper shielding to protect patients and the public during medical procedures.
• Assist in developing a comprehensive radiation safety program for clinical settings, including evaluating medical radiation from radiopharmaceuticals.
• Ensure appropriate radiation safety assessments are made before routine use of radiation producing devices and during modifications to working procedures.
• Maintain records of radioactive material and training records, updating Health Physics databases as necessary.
• Establish radiation safety procedures for patients undergoing radioactive therapies and develop training for staff on radiation use.
• Perform health physics computations to ensure public safety following the release of therapeutic patients.
• Monitor patient radiation exposures and implement ALARA exposure levels for patients and staff.
• Coordinate radioactive waste management and decay-in-storage programs.
• Develop and present radiation safety training programs for research and support staff.
• Conduct routine inspections of facilities using radioactive materials and respond to emergency spills.
• Collect and compile technical data for reports and summaries.
• Perform 24/7 on-call duties, being able to report within 30 minutes during on-call rotation.

Benefits

• 13 paid holidays per year
• 24 annual leave days per year
• 18 sick days per year
• Range of health insurance options
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match
• Wellness programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree