Course Overview
Certified Radiation Protection Officer in NORM and TENORM Operations – CBRN Academy has designed this engaging 8-day course in collaboration with CBRN Gate and the University of Rome Tor Vergata, supporting the CBRN Master’s studies to provide Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), NORM Field Supervisors or are people tasked with the NORM Control program roles within their company, such as safety and environmental personnel. It provides participants with detailed instructions in radiation safety and NORM control programs. The course provides the necessary knowledge and practical abilities required to;
- Implement and monitor a Radiation Protection Program and
- Provide onsite control and supervision during work activities involving NORM.
- NORM Waste Management Programs,
- Respiratory Protection and
- Regulatory Compliance issues are discussed in detail.
A course of this nature is essential for companies or individuals seeking a specific Radioactive Material License from an issuing state agency.
Participants should be familiar with operations performed in the
- Drilling, workover and operations facilities,
- Company organisational infrastructure and working procedures, and
- Relevant regulatory requirements.
To maximise the benefits of this course, participants should have:
- Responsibility for organising the training of personal.
- Authority to perform the functions of a Radiation Protection Officer (RPO).
- Be a central point of reference for radiation protection matters related to NORM and TENORM Operations.
- Responsibility for carrying out or directly supervise contingency plans in the event of an accident or incident.
- Accountable for safety procedures concerning NORM waste management and the protection of the public in the vicinity of the facility.
Course Objectives and outcomes.
This course aims to equip the participant with the knowledge and skills to identify the potential hazards of ionising radiation and ensure people are safe while performing NORM and TENORM related activities in the Oil Gas, Mining, Milling, and Petrochemicals industries. Upon successful completion of this course, the attendee will be able to understand:
- Radiation Physics and its inter-relationship with the matter
- Introduction to Radiation Safety
- Biological effects of Ionising Radiation.
- Radiation Protection guides.
- Awareness of the NORM sources.
- Implementation of onsite radiation protection requirements for NORM and TENORM activities
- Principles of Radiation Detection and practical Radiation Protection techniques
- Different types of Radiation Hazards
- Principles & benefits of risk assessments associated with NORM and TENORM activities
- The International/National Regulatory Requirements Occupational exposure in NORM and TENORM activities.
Course Outlines
Module 1: NORM AWARENESS
- Sources of NORM
- Radiation and Radiation Decay
- The Atom
- Radioactivity
- Radioactive Material
- Radionuclide
- Radioactive Half-Life
- NORM Radiation Types and Properties
- Alpha Particles
- Beta Particles
- Gamma Rays
- Radioactive Decay Series
- NORM Sources in the Petroleum Industry
- NORM Radionuclides in the Petroleum Industry
- NORM Hazards
- Exploration and Production
- Production and Distribution
- Types of NORM Exposure
- External VS Internal Exposures
- External Exposures
- Internal Exposures.
- Units of Radiation
- Radioactivity
- Radiation Dose Limits
- Health Risks from NORM Exposure
- NORM Radiation Warning Signs
Module 2: WORKER PROTECTION
- Protection from External Exposure
- Time
- Distance
- Shielding
- Protection from Internal Exposure
- Engineering Controls
- Administrative Controls
- NORM Surveys
- Development of NORM Safety Policies and Procedures
- Use of NORM Warning Signs and Barricades
- Training Programs
- Safe Work Practices and Contamination Control Procedures
- Safe Work Practices
- Personal Hygiene
- Worker Exposure Assessments/Personal Dosimeters
- Record-Keeping
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Purpose of Personal Protective Equipment
- Proper Use of Personal Protective Equipment
- Selection
- Pre-Use Inspections for PPE
- Correct Use
- Respiratory Protection
- Protective Clothing
- Radiation Monitoring Equipment
- Post-Use Inspections
Module 3: NORM DETECTION
- Introduction
- Types of NORM Contamination
- Diffuse NORM Sources
- Discrete NORM Sources
- Frequency of NORM Surveys
- NORM Screening Surveys
- NORM Radiation Surveys
- NORM Contamination Surveys
- Selection of NORM Instruments
- NORM Screening Surveys
- Critical NORM Sources
- Radium226
- Lead210
- Radon Gas Progeny
- Types of Detectors
- Scintillation Detectors
- Pancake Detector
- Check Sources
- Use of NORM Detectors
- NORM Sample Analysis
- Collection of NORM Analysis
- Transportation of NORM Samples (Off-Site)
Module 4: SAFE WORK PRACTICES
- Control of External Radiation Exposure
- Ra226 and Ra228
- Pb210
- Control of Internal Exposures
- Engineering Controls
- Administrative Controls
- NORM Surveys and Record-Keeping
- NORM Safety Policies and Procedures
- Warning Signs and Barricades
- Training Programs
- Safe Work Practices and Contamination Control Procedures.
Module 5: WASTE MANAGEMENT.
- NORM Waste Categories
- Physical Forms
- The volume of NORM Waste (Diffuse VS Discrete)
- Quantity of Radioactivity (Radioactivity Levels)
- Co-Contaminants
- NORM Waste Management Program
- Stage 1: Temporary NORM Storage (On-Site)
- Occupational Radiation Exposure Controls
- Stage 2: Interim NORM Storage
- Stage 3: Permanent NORM Waste Disposal
- Transport of Contaminated Waste and Equipment
Module 6: ONSITE PRACTICAL TRAINING
- Conversion Factors
- Origin of NORM in the Oil and Gas Production
- Important Definitions
- Onsite Used Forms.
Intended recipients and min max numbers
All people who work directly or in the vicinity of ionising or non-ionising radiation sources, including:
- Rig Managers,
- Drilling and Workover Supervisors.
- NORM Radiation Protection Officers.
- NORM Radiation Protection Supervisors.
- NORM Radiation Protection Technicians.
- HSE Staff.
- Radiation Personnel (people working or frequenting any portion of a restricted radiation area).
Examples NORM and TENORM affected Industries:
- Oil and Gas Production.
- Geothermal Energy.
- Mining and Milling such as Phosphate and Uranium Activities.
- Electricity Production.
- Recycling and Decommissioning.
- Other Processing and Manufacturing Industries.
Educational Level of the applicants
The educational level of an RPO will depend on the skills and technical requirements of the particular role and the radiation protection needs. Education to a secondary level should be the minimum requirement for an RPO for level gauges. However, for some applications, a tertiary educational level may be considered appropriate.
Course Certification
Your CBRN Academy Subject Matter Expert will present a signed certificate of training completion to all successful participants at the end of the course. To qualify for the official certificate, the student must attend and complete all assessments and obtain a score of 80% or more. This course and its certification are recognised by the Department of Industrial Engineering and the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, who organises the International Master Courses in “Protection against CBRNe events”.
Course Methodology
The training methodology is interactive with group exercises and is suitable for all employees involved in functions management. The pace and level of the training workshop are customised to the understanding of the delegates. Ongoing back-up and support are available after the training on request to the supplier. The training course is also available for in-house presentation and “Competency Transfer”.
