ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for assigned tasks

1.1. Use organisation's radiation management plans to obtain information about hazards associated with the assigned tasks and monitoring equipment and safe working rules to be followed, and refer to radiation protection safety standards, codes and guidelines if necessary.

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 if required of source equipment in accordance with regulator's requirements and organisational procedures.

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 if required.

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

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 andsafety checks of source equipment and monitoring equipment and confirm they are fit for purpose.

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 and in accordance with regulator's requirements, equipment manufacturer's recommendations and organisation's procedures.

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, if required.

3.4. Record use of radiation source equipment and monitoring equipment in accordance with radiation management plans.

3.5. Check the condition of all equipment before storing it in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations and radiation management plans.

3.6. Manage all waste in accordance with regulator's requirements and organisational procedures.

3.7. Survey the work area following completion of assigned tasks prior to leaving the site.

4. Report findings and outcomes

4.1. Record monitoring data in accordance with requirements.

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 in accordance with organisation's procedures.

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 in accordance with instructions, radiation management plans and organisation's response procedures.

Required skills

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

processing data and verifying results

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

safely 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

Required knowledge

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

types and properties of ionising radiation (e.g. alpha, beta, gamma, neutron, x-ray, and electron), sources and shielding methods

definitions of radiation quantities, such as 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

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

safely conduct assigned tasks involving sealed radiation sources or equipment

monitor radiation levels and contamination

decontaminate people and surfaces

process radiation data and report results

keep accurate, complete and relevant records

initiate appropriate workplace emergency first response

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated by safely completing assigned tasks in a range of contexts, including sites, sealed sources, radiation equipment and complexity.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency should be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment must comply with:

local regulations regarding the registration of operators, premises and sources at workplaces where radioactive materials and/or ionising radiation equipment are present

organisation's radiation management plan

Access may be required to:

registered premises and sources

supervision by a radiation safety professional

radiation instruments and monitoring equipment

appropriate PPE

organisation's radiation management plan or procedures

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of radiation data, results and records generated by the candidate

feedback from peers and supervisor that the candidate consistently applies relevant radiation protection and safety requirements

oral/written tests and calculations involving:

radiation terms, principles and quantities

set-up, calibration and basic maintenance of radiation instruments

selection and use of PPE

analysis of case studies and reports of relevant emergency incidents and exercises

observation of the candidate:

using, retrieving or containing dummy/actual radiation sources

using radiation equipment and monitoring equipment

undertaking a variety of tasks in a simulated radiation environment

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency that are difficult to assess directly.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

PSPRAD703A Perform basic radiation measurements

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Radiation management plans should include details of:

work practices, such as safe working rules and emergency response procedures

roles and responsibilities of personnel

radiation monitoring requirements, including details of how the availability or accessibility requirements for the monitoring equipment are to be achieved

control of an incident involving the source

storage of the source

transport of the source

what to do with the source when it is no longer required, such as sale, transfer or disposal

accountability and records

other requirements that may have a bearing on safety

Hazards may include:

inhalation of radioactive dust or gas

ingestion of radioactive dust or contaminated food or water

unexpected exposure to sealed radiation sources or partially enclosed equipment that emits ionising radiation

Monitoring equipment may include:

radiation instruments and survey meters, such as:

air proportional

gas proportional

gas ionisation

Geiger-Muller

ionisation

scintillation

solid state

wipe test equipment

Safe working rules will vary according to the type of source equipment and should include monitoring details, such as:

for example, RPS No. 13 Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Safe Use of Fixed Radiation Gauges (2007), which specifies that working rules should include details of:

expected radiation levels around each fixed radiation gauge under the control of the responsible person

tests for non-fixed surface contamination, where appropriate

occasions on which radiation surveys and contamination tests will be carried out

methods for conducting radiation surveys, wipe tests and any other examination required by the code, and for reporting and recording results

information relating to:

operation of source or shutter controls

locking of source containers

arrangements of locks and safety procedures and equipment for preventing exposure of persons to a radiation beam

arrangements for preventing or minimising occupational and public radiation exposure

methods for ensuring that no part of any person can enter the item of equipment to which the gauge is attached while the gauge is in the 'beam on' condition

licence and registration requirements and conditions of the relevant regulatory authority

special instructions from, or requirements of, the relevant regulatory authority

arrangements for security of a gauge when it is in storage or being transported within the establishment

regular inspection of all equipment, including:

source containers or housings

survey meters

personal monitoring devices

labels

markings

notices

types and occasions for use of personal monitoring devices

steps to be taken in the event of an emergency

arrangements for the calibration, repair and maintenance of a fixed radiation gauge

instructions concerning the posting of radiation warning signs in the vicinity of the gauge

contact addresses and telephone numbers, including the after-hours emergency number, where relevant, for:

responsible person

relevant regulatory authority

service provider

provider of the personal monitoring service

arrangements for disposal of a radioactive source, x-ray tube or neutron generator tube from a fixed radiation gauge, which need to be in accordance with the requirements of the relevant regulatory authority

where necessary, details of a radiation isolation procedure for the gauge

Radiation protection safety standards, codes and guidelines may include:

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) radiation protection series publications, such as:

RPS No.1 Recommendations for Limiting Exposure to Ionizing Radiation (1995) and National Standard for Limiting Occupational Exposure to Ionizing Radiation (republished 2002)

RPS No.2 Code of Practice for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (2008)

RPS No.7 Recommendations for Intervention in Emergency Situations Involving Radiation Exposure (2004)

RPS No.13 Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Safe Use of Fixed Radiation Gauges (2007)

RPS No.5 Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Portable Density/Moisture Gauges Containing Radioactive Sources (2004)

Radiation Health Series produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC):

RHS No.31 Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Industrial Radiography Equipment (1989)

RHS No.28 Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Sealed Radioactive Sources in Borehole Logging (1989)

requirements of commonwealth, state and territory legislation, such as Victorian Radiation Act (2005) and Radiation Regulations (2007) and associated licensing requirements

definition of a responsible person

Site may include:

fully enclosed laboratories or specialist facilities with permanent shielding and entrances that are locked/interlocked with alarms or signs

partially enclosed sites, such as an exposure bay or a fixed radiation gauge with shielding, controlled access, alarms or signs

open sites, such as field locations and processing plants where temporary boundaries, shielding and signage are erected and access is controlled by patrolling personnel

Pre-use and safety checks may include:

confirmation that no unauthorised people are within boundaries

confirmation that radiation instruments and survey meters are functioning within specifications

inspection of:

source containers, housings, shielding, shutters and locks

personal monitoring devices

labels, markings, signage and notices

boundaries, locks and interlocks

confirmation of source position

confirmation of radiation levels in the vicinity of the radiation sealed source equipment

Site control measures may include:

hierarchy of control measures, including:

avoiding exposure, where practicable

isolating sources of radiation where practicable through shielding, containment and remote handling techniques

engineering controls

adopting safe work practices, including work methods which make appropriate use of time, distance and shielding to minimise exposure

using approved PPE where other means of controlling exposure are not practicable

designation of controlled or supervised areas within workplaces with appropriate working rules for each, such as:

controlled exposure times

logging of personnel on entry and exit

Required records may include:

estimates of doses received by employees and members of the public

site radiation measurements

calibration, inspection and maintenance of radiation instruments and equipment

transport of radioactive sources

details of incidents and accidents involving exposure to radiation and the actions taken

Radiation incidents may include:

exposure of unauthorised personnel entering a controlled area

exposure from an uncontrolled, high hazard radioactive sealed source that:

has loss or destruction of shielding

is involved in a transport accident

is lost, missing or stolen

has a malfunction of its shutter or interlocks

has been dropped during removal from its container

has jammed in an unsafe position

exposure from equipment that emits ionising radiation and has:

loss or destruction of shielding

malfunction of its shutter or interlocks

exposure from dispersed radioactive material caused by:

industrial or laboratory accident resulting in radioactive contamination

dispersion of contaminants following destruction of a high activity sealed source

Response procedures will include:

instructions for keeping exposures to a minimum, consistent with essential operations through evacuation or otherwise

instructions for notifying the relevant competent authority if required