PSPRAD006
Work safely with radiation-sealed source equipment


Application

This unit describes the skills required to work safely when operating sealed source equipment that emits ionising radiation. This involves assessing risks before conducting the assigned work tasks, using recommended controls, applying safe working rules and emergency response procedures, monitoring radiation levels and completing required documentation.

This unit applies to authorised personnel who work at geotechnical, construction, mining and manufacturing, or analytical and research sites with any of the following sealed sources or equipment:

industrial radiography equipment or gamma sources

portable density and moisture gauges

fixed source gauges (level, density, thickness and proximity)

bore hole logging

portable XRD and XRF instruments.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to.

Those undertaking this unit would work under supervision, or be authorised by the responsible person, to perform routine tasks in familiar contexts.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to unit at the time of publication.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.

1. Prepare for assigned tasks

1.1 Apply organisation’s radiation management plans concerning hazards, monitoring equipment and safe working rules.

1.2 Liaise with site management to arrange access and confirm the nature and likely duration of assigned tasks.

1.3 Check that equipment required for assigned tasks is present and fit for purpose.

1.4 Record movement of source equipment.

1.5 Stow source equipment and monitoring equipment to prevent damage and to ensure safe, secure transport to the site and within the boundaries of the site.

1.6 Check that transport vehicle is fit for purpose and has the required signage.

2. Perform assigned tasks safely

2.1 Assess hazards at the site or prior to commencing assigned tasks, and seek advice if necessary.

2.2 Establish, or activate existing, boundaries and signage to control access to work area.

2.3 Perform pre-use and safety checks of source equipment and monitoring equipment.

2.4 Apply safe working rules and any other site control measures to minimise exposure to personnel and/or members of the public during assigned tasks.

2.5 Perform assigned tasks in the minimum safe time.

2.6 Verify that radiation measurements are below specified levels throughout assigned tasks.

2.7 Seek advice to deal with any situation beyond own technical competence.

2.8 Record required data and note any atypical site conditions or problems encountered and the actions taken.

3. Complete assigned tasks

3.1 Confirm that source has been returned to the fully shielded position within its container.

3.2 Check for contamination and if necessary perform personal decontamination in accordance with radiation management plan.

3.3 Re-stow source equipment and monitoring equipment to prevent damage and to ensure safe, secure transport from the site and within the boundaries of the site.

3.4 Record use of radiation source equipment and monitoring equipment.

3.5 Check the condition of all equipment before storing it.

3.6 Manage waste.

3.7 Survey the work area prior to leaving the site.

4. Report findings and outcomes

4.1 Record monitoring data.

4.2 Compare monitoring results with relevant radiation limits and note any significant differences or atypical results.

4.3 Identify potential or actual radiation protection or safety issues revealed during monitoring of assigned tasks.

4.4 Identify potential improvements that could be made to monitoring or work practices at the site.

4.5 Report findings and outcomes of assigned tasks.

4.6 Maintain required records that are complete, accurate, legible and secure.

5. Respond to potential or actual radiation incidents

5.1 Recognise unusual situations, unexpected hazards, and potential or actual emergency radiation incidents.

5.2 Inform relevant personnel about the situation, hazard or incident and seek their advice.

5.3 Initiate appropriate workplace emergency first response.

Evidence of Performance

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.

using relevant information sources to locate and interpret information about radiation source equipment

conducting pre-use checks, for source equipment and monitoring equipment used in task

interpreting manuals for source equipment and monitoring equipment used in job role

assessing and reassessing risks and hazards and taking appropriate protective measures regularly

operating source equipment and monitoring equipment used in task to obtain reliable data

seeking advice and further directions when faced with unexpected situations that may require decisions or response actions beyond technical competence

using and caring for personal protective equipment (PPE) and personal monitoring equipment required in job role


Evidence of Knowledge

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

ionising radiation, radioactivity, radioactive material, contamination, contamination controls, concentration, shielding, half-life, radionuclide, and safe distance

types and properties of ionising radiation, sources and shielding methods

definitions of radiation quantities, including exposure, dose, effective dose, dose rate, dose equivalent, and dose limits

exposure pathways and protective measures

signs and symptoms of radiation exposure, radiation health effects, and deterministic and stochastic effects

international system (SI) of units for radiation quantities

function of key components, set-up checks and operating principles of source equipment and monitoring equipment used in task

guidelines and safety procedures for working with radiation sources, based on principles of time, distance and shielding

principles of optimising work practices to minimise exposure

health, safety and workplace emergency response procedures, safe working rules, personal hygiene requirements and safe operating procedures for equipment relevant to job role

PPE and monitoring equipment relevant to job role and task

principles and techniques for decontamination of personnel in the field

techniques for assessing radiation hazards likely to be encountered in task

techniques for conducting monitoring relevant to task

techniques for control, containment and/or confinement of radiation sources/equipment consistent with capabilities and required in task


Assessment Conditions

This unit contains no specific industry-mandated assessment conditions. Guidance on suggested and recommended conditions and methods can be found in the Implementation Guide.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.


Foundation Skills

Foundation skills are embedded within the elements and performance criteria of this unit.


Competency Field

Radiation Safety