2020 dates: July 17-19 & July 24-26 (40 hours over two long weekends)
Fridays 2:00pm - 6:15pm; Saturdays/Sundays 8:00am - 5:30pm
Columbia University’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences offers a 40-hour course to meet the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Class C Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) training requirements. The curricula is designed for individuals working in academia, industry, and government laboratories seeking training in the safe handling of radioisotopes to meet local, state, or federal regulatory and/or training requirements. Participants that complete this course will fulfill the 40-hour requirement as stated in 10CFR33.15 - Requirements for the issuance of a Type C specific license of broad scope:
At least 40 hours of training and experience in the safe handling of radioactive materials, and in the characteristics of ionizing radiation, units of radiation dose and quantities, radiation detection instrumentation, and biological hazards of exposure to radiation appropriate to the type and forms of byproduct material to be used.
The NRC requires any organization that uses radioactive material to have a licensed, designated Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). This course is designed to help such organizations apply for or renew their license for use of radioactive materials. The course is not intended to meet the licensing requirements for medical use of radionuclides or fluoroscopic imaging.
Course instructors, with faculty appointments at Columbia University and the Columbia University Medical Center, are experts in their fields. They include faculty from the Center for Radiological Research, the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, the Department of Medicine and the Department of Environmental Health & Safety. Learn more about the course instructors here.
COURSE TOPICS
-Radiation and radioisotopes
-The human health effects of ionizing radiation exposure
-Radiation dosimetry and instrumentation
-Radiation protection
-Safe handling and disposal of radioisotopes
-Inventory control
-Record keeping and regulatory requirements
-Transporation of radioactive materials
-Hazard and risk assessment, reduction, and communication
-Employee bioassay program
-Emergency management, personnel contamination, and response
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
-Develop RSO skill sets specific to University, Hospital, Medical, Health Department, Governmental or Biopharmaceutical lab environments
- Gain expertise in maintaining compliance with radionuclide permit and licensing requirements at local, state and national levels
-Create and maintain a safe laboratory working environment
-Assess potential radiation risks and relevant human health effects
-Develop work plan for employees to effectively reduce or eliminate risk
-Limit potential for radiological terrorism using laboratory materials
-Understand and apply Health Physics practice in a laboratory setting
-Learn management of radiological solid and liquid waste
-Understand regulatory requirements and expectations
-Gain hands-on experience with instrumentation
-Apply “tools of the trade” upon returning to your organization, with a comprehensive resource guide
WHY RSO TRAINING AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
-One of only three RSO trainings offered in a University setting rather than a for-profit corporation
-One of the very few RSO training courses offered in the Northeast
-Course faculty are internationally recognized for their expertise in radiological science, dosimetry, waste management and public health and together have many decades of teaching and research experience
-Faculty are always available for questions, additional information and personalized attention
-Many Columbia University Medical Center resources available to students while in attendance, including the library, study halls and computer labs
-New York City provides students with numerous cultural and educational opportunities