Radiation Safety Officer - Sanford Federal Inc
Hines, IL
About the Job
Duties/Responsibilities
The RSO duties/responsibilities shall include the following for both Hines VAMC and JB VAMC
unless otherwise stated:
1.Support a culture of radiation safety.
2.Promote reduction of radiation exposures using principles of ALARA (as low as reasonably
achievable).
3.Provide radiation safety guidance to Nuclear Medicine personnel in the development of new
therapeutic protocols.
4.Review all written directives.
5.Perform audits of Nuclear Medicine procedures to ensure compliance with NRC regulations on a
quarterly basis and present to the Radiation Safety Committee.
6.Provide services in conjunction with the ARSO for all Y-90 radioembolization therapies and
participate similarly in all Nuclear Medicine therapies including inpatient and outpatient I-131
therapies, Ra-223and Lu-177, if staffing permits.
7.Audit Radiation Oncology Program on an annual basis (Hines VAMC only) and present to the
Radiation Safety Committee.
8.Identify radiation safety problems and stop unsafe operations.
9.Assist services in implementing procedures to ensure compliance with the facility radiation safety
policies and permit conditions and that licensed material shall be properly secured.
10. Ensure completion of annual personnel training commensurate with the individual's duties
regarding use of licensed material or x-ray generating equipment.
11. Ensure Radiation Safety Committee approval/disapproval of applications for new authorized
users and/or new uses of radioactive materials occurs in a timely fashion.
12. Ensure a robust program exists for monitoring personnel radiation exposures including badge
distribution, reporting and training. Ensure maintenance of records of such monitoring and
distribution to appropriate departments.
13. Ensure approval of any radioisotope orders for Research AUs while verifying that the authorized
user permit limits shall not be exceeded.
14. Maintain documentation to demonstrate, by measurement or calculation, that the total effective
dose equivalent to the individual likely to receive the highest dose from the licensed operation
does not exceed the annual limit for members of the general public.
15. Ensure performance of quarterly sealed source inventory and semi-annual sealed source leak
tests. Ensure notification of regulatory authorities in the event of incidents such as loss or theft of
licensed material, damage to or malfunction of sealed sources, or fire involving sealed sources or
other radioactive material.
16. Assist Hines VAMC and JB VAMC in compliance with NRC, NHPP, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The Joint Commission
(TJC) and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations as they pertain to the use of radiation,
radioactive materials, and radioactive waste.
17. Investigate medical events and report to the NHPP. Determine cause(s), assist in identifying
corrective action(s) and ensure corrective actions are taken in a timely manner.
18. Ensure proper disposal of all radioactive waste including survey and disposal of decay in storage
(DIS) waste from nuclear medicine and research in accordance with Materials Permit, located
electronically on the Radiation Safety common share drive.
19. Respond to emergencies that involve radionuclides such as spills or contamination within four (4)
hours.
20. Develop, implement, and document corrective actions upon discovery of program weakness or
violations of regulations or permit conditions.
21. Licensed material shall be transported, or offered for transport, in accordance with all applicable
DOT requirements.
The RSO duties/responsibilities shall include the following for both Hines VAMC and JB VAMC
unless otherwise stated:
1.Support a culture of radiation safety.
2.Promote reduction of radiation exposures using principles of ALARA (as low as reasonably
achievable).
3.Provide radiation safety guidance to Nuclear Medicine personnel in the development of new
therapeutic protocols.
4.Review all written directives.
5.Perform audits of Nuclear Medicine procedures to ensure compliance with NRC regulations on a
quarterly basis and present to the Radiation Safety Committee.
6.Provide services in conjunction with the ARSO for all Y-90 radioembolization therapies and
participate similarly in all Nuclear Medicine therapies including inpatient and outpatient I-131
therapies, Ra-223and Lu-177, if staffing permits.
7.Audit Radiation Oncology Program on an annual basis (Hines VAMC only) and present to the
Radiation Safety Committee.
8.Identify radiation safety problems and stop unsafe operations.
9.Assist services in implementing procedures to ensure compliance with the facility radiation safety
policies and permit conditions and that licensed material shall be properly secured.
10. Ensure completion of annual personnel training commensurate with the individual's duties
regarding use of licensed material or x-ray generating equipment.
11. Ensure Radiation Safety Committee approval/disapproval of applications for new authorized
users and/or new uses of radioactive materials occurs in a timely fashion.
12. Ensure a robust program exists for monitoring personnel radiation exposures including badge
distribution, reporting and training. Ensure maintenance of records of such monitoring and
distribution to appropriate departments.
13. Ensure approval of any radioisotope orders for Research AUs while verifying that the authorized
user permit limits shall not be exceeded.
14. Maintain documentation to demonstrate, by measurement or calculation, that the total effective
dose equivalent to the individual likely to receive the highest dose from the licensed operation
does not exceed the annual limit for members of the general public.
15. Ensure performance of quarterly sealed source inventory and semi-annual sealed source leak
tests. Ensure notification of regulatory authorities in the event of incidents such as loss or theft of
licensed material, damage to or malfunction of sealed sources, or fire involving sealed sources or
other radioactive material.
16. Assist Hines VAMC and JB VAMC in compliance with NRC, NHPP, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The Joint Commission
(TJC) and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations as they pertain to the use of radiation,
radioactive materials, and radioactive waste.
17. Investigate medical events and report to the NHPP. Determine cause(s), assist in identifying
corrective action(s) and ensure corrective actions are taken in a timely manner.
18. Ensure proper disposal of all radioactive waste including survey and disposal of decay in storage
(DIS) waste from nuclear medicine and research in accordance with Materials Permit, located
electronically on the Radiation Safety common share drive.
19. Respond to emergencies that involve radionuclides such as spills or contamination within four (4)
hours.
20. Develop, implement, and document corrective actions upon discovery of program weakness or
violations of regulations or permit conditions.
21. Licensed material shall be transported, or offered for transport, in accordance with all applicable
DOT requirements.
22. Provide assistance to Nuclear Medicine Authorized User regarding the hospitalization of patients
under 10 CFR 35.75 which shall include outlining environmental parameters of stay. Verify
appropriate documentation and written instructions for discharge for patients not requiring
hospitalization.
23. Ensure maintenance of all required records.
24. Ensure maintenance of an up-to-date permit including timely amendment and renewal requests.
25. Implement and maintain any programs necessary to ensure Hines VAMC and JB VAMC with all
regulations and guidelines as defined by the NRC and NHPP.
26. Review reports completed prior to installation and use of any radiation producing equipment.
27. Maintain appropriate documentation as it pertains to shielding and acceptance testing of all new
radiation producing equipment.
28. Conduct an annual review of activities of the Radiation Safety Program for Hines VAMC and JB
VAMC facility Directors.
29. Assist in creating facility Memorandums or Standard Operating Procedures pertaining to all
aspects of the Radiation Safety program.
30. Shall be assisted by management as it relates to radiation safety issues. The VA Industrial
Hygiene/Safety Manager shall be notified within one business day by the Contractor of any
occurrences that may require notification of the NRC or NHPP. The VA Industrial
Hygiene/Safety Manager, in consultation with the Contractor, shall make such notifications.
31. Responsible for decommissioning of room(s) in accordance with regulations and guidelines as
defined by the NRC and NHPP.
32. Contractor shall ensure no lapse in service during RSO scheduled or unscheduled leave.
under 10 CFR 35.75 which shall include outlining environmental parameters of stay. Verify
appropriate documentation and written instructions for discharge for patients not requiring
hospitalization.
23. Ensure maintenance of all required records.
24. Ensure maintenance of an up-to-date permit including timely amendment and renewal requests.
25. Implement and maintain any programs necessary to ensure Hines VAMC and JB VAMC with all
regulations and guidelines as defined by the NRC and NHPP.
26. Review reports completed prior to installation and use of any radiation producing equipment.
27. Maintain appropriate documentation as it pertains to shielding and acceptance testing of all new
radiation producing equipment.
28. Conduct an annual review of activities of the Radiation Safety Program for Hines VAMC and JB
VAMC facility Directors.
29. Assist in creating facility Memorandums or Standard Operating Procedures pertaining to all
aspects of the Radiation Safety program.
30. Shall be assisted by management as it relates to radiation safety issues. The VA Industrial
Hygiene/Safety Manager shall be notified within one business day by the Contractor of any
occurrences that may require notification of the NRC or NHPP. The VA Industrial
Hygiene/Safety Manager, in consultation with the Contractor, shall make such notifications.
31. Responsible for decommissioning of room(s) in accordance with regulations and guidelines as
defined by the NRC and NHPP.
32. Contractor shall ensure no lapse in service during RSO scheduled or unscheduled leave.
Source : Sanford Federal Inc