Radiation Safety Specialist

Department Provost ORS
- Radiation Safety

About the Department The Radiation Safety Program at the University of Chicago focuses on minimizing risk to any laboratory personnel that works with radioactive materials. Examples of radioactive materials may include ionizing radiation, X-rays, radioactive isotopes, etc. Our team works diligently to provide the best education and training to help individuals minimize their exposure to any source of radiation. Our radiation safety team also oversees the Laser Safety Program at UChicago and focuses on minimizing risk to individuals who work with Class 3b and 4 lasers.

Our specialists strive toward providing the best advice, education, and training to help individuals minimize the hazards of working with lasers.

The Radiation Safety Specialist supports the University of Chicago’s Radiation Safety Program and Laser Safety Program. The primary functions and duties will be in the following areas: radioactive waste management, radiation monitoring program, laboratory surveys, package receipt surveys, radioactive material accountability, emergency response, escort personnel to restricted or controlled locations according to internal procedures, coverage for medical procedures involving therapeutic use of radionuclides, laser safety, database entry, ALARA program, radiation safety training, and instrument quality control.

Work is supervised and assigned at the task level.

• Assist in planning, scheduling, and conducting radiation and contamination surveys in Medical Center where radioactive materials are used or stored.
• Perform wipe analysis and contamination assessments to ensure safe working conditions.
• Assist with patient therapy procedures to ensure all regulatory and safety precautions are being followed, perform patient room setup as necessary to control contamination, conduct patient room decontamination procedures to include the removal of all equipment that contains radioactive contamination and removal of radioactive waste and survey of room for contamination.
• Conduct daily package receipt surveys and inventory entry in the database system.
• Support the radiation monitoring program, including distribution, collection, and tracking of personnel dosimetry.
• Conduct radiation safety training to University and Medical Center staff as assigned.
• Participate in emergency response activities, including spill response and contamination control.
• Perform instrument calibration and quality control checks to ensure proper function of radiation detection equipment.
• Perform radioactive waste management duties, including preparation, delivery, surveys, and disposal of waste containers.
• Conduct data entry of radiation safety records daily into a database to demonstrate regulatory compliance.
• Follow all biohazard, chemical, and radiation safety standards when handling potentially hazardous materials, and attend annual safety/radiation safety training classes, as appropriate.
• Conduct surveys, audits, and inspections of laboratories and equipment to ensure compliance with University and Medical Center policies and regulatory requirements.
• Assist in implementing corrective actions and follow‑up activities when noncompliance is identified.
• With a high level of guidance, interprets University environmental health and safety standards to assist in the design and implementation of programs.
• Ensures legal compliance and develops procedures.
• Monitors and evaluates health and safety concerns.
• Performs risk analysis on the University's environmental and occupational health and safety programs and implements alternatives or improvements to current programs.
• Performs other related work as needed.

• Education:
  
  Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Work Experience:
  
  Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Certifications:
  
  Driver's License
  - Multiple States —

• Education:
  
  Degree in health physics or a closely related field.
• Licenses and
  
  Certifications:
  
  40-hour HAZWOPER desired but can obtain during employment.