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Radiation Safety (Universities) Interactive Training

45 minutesHazardous Materials & HAZWOPER10 CFR 19.12 (Instructions to Workers), 10 CFR Part 20 (Standards for Protection Against Radiation)
Quick Answer

Radiation Safety (Universities) is a 30-minute online course that trains university personnel on ionizing radiation fundamentals, biological effects, dose limits, and protective measures as required by NRC 10 CFR 19.12 (Instructions to Workers). It is designed for researchers, laboratory staff, and students working in or near restricted areas at academic institutions, and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requires under 10 CFR 19.12 that all individuals working in restricted areas at NRC-licensed facilities - including universities with radioactive materials licenses - receive instruction in radiation safety, applicable regulations, and institutional operating procedures before beginning work. Universities hold broad-scope or specific radioactive materials licenses that authorize the use of isotopes across research, teaching, and clinical applications. The NRC and Agreement State regulators conduct routine inspections of university radiation safety programs, and violations can result in civil penalties, license conditions, or license suspension. NRC civil penalty authority allows fines reaching into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for willful or repeated violations.

This course prepares your university employees, researchers, and students to work safely with and around sources of ionizing radiation. Your team will learn the fundamentals of ionizing radiation, biological effects of exposure, the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle, NRC and state dose limits, contamination control procedures, personal dosimetry requirements, and emergency response procedures. The training satisfies the general radiation safety awareness instruction required by 10 CFR 19.12 and provides the foundational knowledge that university Radiation Safety Officers need their personnel to have before entering restricted areas.

What You'll Learn

  • Fundamentals of ionizing radiation: types (alpha, beta, gamma, X-ray, neutron) and their properties
  • Biological effects of radiation exposure including acute and long-term health risks
  • NRC dose limits for occupational exposure (5 rem/year TEDE) and the public (100 mrem/year)
  • The ALARA principle: time, distance, and shielding as practical dose reduction tools
  • Contamination control: surveys, decontamination procedures, and waste handling
  • Personal dosimetry requirements and how to read dosimetry reports
  • Regulatory framework: 10 CFR Parts 19 and 20, and the role of the Radiation Safety Officer
  • Emergency procedures for spills, overexposures, and lost or stolen radioactive material

Who Needs This Training

  • University researchers and principal investigators using radioactive materials
  • Graduate and undergraduate students working in laboratories with ionizing radiation sources
  • Laboratory technicians handling radioactive isotopes or radiation-producing equipment
  • Facilities and housekeeping staff who enter radiation-restricted areas
  • Radiation Safety Officers and radiation safety committee members at academic institutions
  • New hires at university departments that use sealed or unsealed radioactive sources

Regulatory Background

The NRC mandates radiation safety training under 10 CFR 19.12, which requires that all individuals working in restricted areas at licensed facilities receive instruction on applicable regulations, the licensee's radiation protection program, health risks of exposure, and procedures to minimize dose. The Standards for Protection Against Radiation (10 CFR Part 20) establish the occupational dose limit of 5 rem (50 mSv) total effective dose equivalent (TEDE) per year, with a public dose limit of 100 mrem (1 mSv) per year. Universities operating under broad-scope radioactive materials licenses are subject to inspection by the NRC or the applicable Agreement State regulatory agency. The NRC's enforcement policy allows civil penalties of up to $356,819 per violation per day for Severity Level I violations (most significant), with lower tiers for less severe findings. Common university citation areas include inadequate worker training documentation, incomplete radiation surveys, improper waste disposal, and failure to maintain dose records. Radiation Safety Committees and Radiation Safety Officers bear institutional responsibility for program compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, for employees working in restricted areas at NRC-licensed facilities. 10 CFR 19.12 requires that individuals working in or frequenting restricted areas receive instruction on the health protection problems associated with exposure to radiation, precautions and procedures to minimize exposure, applicable regulations, the obligation to report unsafe conditions, and the right to request inspection. Universities with NRC or Agreement State radioactive materials licenses must comply with this requirement.
ALARA stands for As Low As Reasonably Achievable. It is the guiding principle of radiation protection codified in 10 CFR 20.1003 and requires that licensees make every reasonable effort to keep radiation doses below regulatory limits. In university settings, ALARA is implemented through engineering controls (shielding, ventilation), administrative controls (time limits in restricted areas, procedure reviews), and personal protective practices. The university Radiation Safety Committee typically oversees ALARA program implementation.
Under 10 CFR 20.1201, the annual occupational dose limit is 5 rem (50 mSv) total effective dose equivalent (TEDE) to the whole body. Specific organ dose limits also apply: 50 rem to any individual organ, 15 rem to the lens of the eye, and 50 rem to the skin or extremities. The dose limit to an embryo/fetus of a declared pregnant worker is 500 mrem (5 mSv) during the gestation period. The average occupational dose at NRC-licensed facilities is well below these limits.
Online training can satisfy the general radiation safety awareness component of 10 CFR 19.12. However, the regulation also requires instruction on licensee-specific procedures, the particular radioisotopes and equipment in use, and site-specific emergency procedures. Universities typically supplement general awareness training with laboratory-specific instruction provided by the principal investigator or Radiation Safety Officer. The combination of general and site-specific training satisfies the regulatory requirement.
10 CFR 19.12 requires initial training before workers enter restricted areas but does not specify a fixed retraining interval. However, most university radiation safety programs require annual refresher training as a condition of the institutional license or as a Radiation Safety Committee policy. The NRC expects licensees to ensure that workers maintain current knowledge of applicable procedures and regulations, making periodic retraining a practical necessity.
$29.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$29.95
10 - 24$23.95
25 - 49$21.55
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $29.95

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

$29.95
per person