Overview
The Industrial Radiography Course provides foundational radiation protection and radiation safety knowledge to allow participants to apply these principles in the safe performance of radiographic inspections (using x-ray sources only) in various industrial settings.
Description
This course starts with the basics of radiation: what it is, its sources and types, how it affects the body, and how we measure radiation exposure and personal doses.
Then, we'll focus on how we can keep radiation doses within limits and as low as reasonably achievable. As Industrial Radiographers can use intense X-ray and gamma sources, understanding these sources better will help you use them safely (focus of this course is x-ray only). We'll cover their origin / generation, behaviour and how they interact with matter. This fundamental knowledge is extended through the application of radiation protection strategies of time, distance, and shielding to allow you to keep your radiation doses within the dose limits in routine and emergency situations.
Measuring radiation exposure: You'll learn about workplace / area and personal monitoring devices and their correct use, including the conduct of functional checks before starting any radiographic inspection work.
Finally, the course covers three important codes: the Industrial Radiography Code*, the Transport Code*, and the Security Code*. These codes apply to radiographic testing conducted in fully enclosed, partially enclosed and at open sites. We'll break down their key requirements in a clear and practical way, ensuring you can confidently follow them on the job.
Competency on the job: Under ISO 9712, technicians working towards holding RT-2 Certification must complete a compulsory period of logged work experience. Regulatory authorities also require evidence of practical experience. To help with this, Radiation Training provides all participants with a skills competency checklist to demonstrate application of knowledge attained from the course. This can be progressively signed off by the supervising RT-2 technician and submitted with your radiation license application.
This competency checklist is only available to persons enrolled in a Radiation Training course.
*Abbreviated references to these Codes. Note that the Transport and Security Codes are not requirements when using x-ray only but are included for overview purposes.
Learning Outcomes
Describe the fundamentals of radiation and radiation exposure:
- Define radiation and its properties.
- Identify the different types of radiation and their interaction with matter.
- Describe the units of radiation measurement.
- Describe the biological effects of ionising radiation on the human body.
- Identify the various routes of radiation exposure.
- Define dose and dose limits for occupational exposure.
Apply radiation safety principles:
- Explain the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle in radiation protection.
- Describe the application of justification, optimisation and limitation in radiation work.
- Describe the three strategies of radiation protection (time, distance, shielding).
- Apply the concept half-value layer to industrial radiography scenarios
Implement safe work practices, considering the Industrial Radiography, Transport and Security Codes:
- Identify the regulatory requirements impacting on industrial radiography.
- Explain the roles and responsibilities of personnel involved in radiography operations.
- Describe the proper use of radiation monitoring devices, both personal and area (including calibration and function checks).
- Apply the requirements of the Industrial Radiography Code to fully enclosed, partially enclosed and open site locations where x-rays are used.
Recognise and respond to emergencies:
- Identify potential emergencies involving radiation sources (x-ray).
- Explain the steps to take in the remediation of a radiation emergency.
Maintain radiation safety records:
- Describe the responsibilities and requirements for maintaining records of personal monitoring.
- Complete a radiation source movement log.
- Discuss the requirements for reporting, investigating and documenting radiation incidents.
Assessment
There is continuous assessment throughout the course. Within a module are quizzes to check content is understood prior to moving on to the next topic. At the conclusion of each module is a short randomised multiple-choice test.The pass mark of assessments is 70%.
While you work through quizzes and tests you are remotely proctored using your webcam under normal test conditions.
This course is approved and recognised by Radiation Health in Victoria as a pre-requisite for an X-ray only use licence. If you require a licence where a gamma source is also to be used, the full x-ray and gamma version of the course is required.
Radiation Health Victoria recognise the validity of Radiation Training’s continuous assessment methodology without requiring you to undergo further face-to-face examination.