Radiation Safety Officer Training for Laboratory Professionals
June 9–13, 2008
Boston, Massachusetts

Register for 2008

Download the 2008 Brochure

 

Scholarships Available!

Program Overview

There is no other single program available in the U.S. that specifically trains individuals for the radiological safety issues faced by the biotechnology, university, hospital, and medical laboratory.

This is a fundamental 40-hour training program designed to prepare researchers and safety officers with the necessary skills to implement a radiation protection program in a biotechnology, university, hospital or medical laboratory and comply with state regulations standards regarding the use of radionuclides.

There are thousands of small biotechnology, university, hospital, and medical laboratories throughout the country that use radionuclides in their research and clinical practice. Each of these institutions is required to appoint a qualified Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) to oversee the use, application, monitoring, and disposal of radionuclides. The person occupying this position must meet the training and experience qualifications specified in licenses issued by the NRC or Agreement States.

This program will focus primarily on the radionuclides most commonly used in biotechnology, hospitals, and medical facilities (i.e., C-14, H-3, S-35, P-32/33, Ni-63, Tc-99m, and radioiodines), as well as
the techniques used to assay these radionuclides in laboratory radiation safety surveys.

This program is a unique training experience providing the perspectives and experiences of laboratory radiation safety officers and agreement state regulators!

Practical Format

Special Benefit

Every participant will receive:

Who Should Attend

Upon Completion Of This Program You Will

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Program Director

Edward F. Maher, ScD, CHP
Adjunct Lecturer
Department of Environmental Science
Harvard School of Public Health
Associate & Senior Health Physicist
Dade Moeller & Associates, Inc.

Faculty

Christopher B. Martel, MS, CHP
Radiation Safety Officer
Director, Office of Medical Physics and Radiation Safety
Assistant Professor of Radiology
Boston University Medical Center

Nicholas M. Panzarino, MS, CHP
Senior Health Physicist
Dade Moeller & Associates, Inc.

Joseph P. Ring, PhD, CHP
Associate Director, Radiological Services
Radiation Safety Officer
Environmental Health & Safety
Harvard University

James Rohrbacher, MS
Radiological Engineer
Wyeth Research, Inc.

Michael O. Whalen, Jr., MS, CHP
Senior Health Physicist
Radiation Control Program
Massachusetts Department of Public Health

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Agenda

Monday, June 9, 2008
8:00 am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 Welcome and Program Objectives and Overview – Maher
9:00 Atomic Structure and Radioactivity – Panzarino
9:45 Radiation Quantities and Units – Panzarino
10:30 Refreshment Break
10:45 Radiation Interaction with Matter, Types and Sources of Radiation
– Maher
11:15 Biological Effects of Radiation, Understanding Risks of Radiation
– Maher
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 Risks to the Pregnant Worker, Radiation Risk Communication
– Maher
2:00 Radiation Exposure Control: Time, Distance, and Shielding
– Panzarino
3:00 Refreshment Break
3:15 External and Internal Dosimetry: Regulatory and Other Practical Considerations – Panzarino
5:00 Homework Assignment #1 – Panzarino
5:15 Sessions End
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
7:30 am Continental Breakfast
8:00 Discussion of Homework Assignment #1 – Maher
8:30 Radiation Protection Standards, 105 CMR 120, and 10 CFR Parts 19 & 20 – Whalen
10:00 Refreshment Break
10:15 Demonstration of Compliance with Effluents Release Limits (Air & Water) – Martel/Whalen
11:00 Recordkeeping and Retention for Compliance Demonstration
– Martel/Whalen
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 Preparing for MA RCP License Inspection, Notice of Violation, Penalties, Expectations – Whalen
3:00 Refreshment Break
3:15 Survey Documentation, Contamination Control, Good Practices and Procedures – Martel
4:45 Skin Dose from Radioactive Contamination – Martel
5:15 Homework Assignment #2 – Martel
5:30 Sessions End
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
7:30 am Continental Breakfast
8:00
 Discussion of Homework Assignment #2 – Maher
9:00 Introduction to Liquid Scintillation Counting, Instrumentation, Standards, Quenching, and Instrument QA/QC – Ring
10:15
 Refreshment Break
10:30 Radiation Hazard Assessment, Instrument Surveys, Counting Statistics, Contamination Levels, Wipe Testing and Documentation
– Ring
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00
 Hand-Held Instrument Laboratory Practical or Liquid Scintillation Laboratory Practical – Ring/Martel
2:45 Refreshment Break
3:00 Hand-Held Instrument Laboratory Practical or Liquid Scintillation Laboratory Practical – Ring/Martel
4:30 Homework Assignment #3 – Ring
5:15 Sessions End
Thursday, June 12, 2008
7:30 am Continental Breakfast
8:00
Discussion of Homework Assignment #3 – Maher
8:30 Introduction to Radioactive and Mixed Waste Management, Status of National Radiation Waste Policy Act – Maher
10:15 Refreshment Break
10:30 Waste Minimization and Volume Reduction Practices, Waste Management Brokers and Service Vendors, Disposal – Maher
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 Shipping of Radioactive Materials Regulations – Rohrbacher
2:30 Refreshment Break
2:45 Shipping and Transportation Incidents, the Procurement and Receipt of Radioactive Material – Rohrbacher
4:00 Inventory Control of Radioactive Materials; Response to Personnel Contamination Incidents – Rohrbacher
5:15 Homework Assignment #4 – Rohrbacher
5:30 Sessions End
Friday, June 13, 2008
7:30 am Continental Breakfast
8:00
 Discussion of Homework Assignment #4 – Maher
8:30 Introduction of Air Sampling for CHIPS – Panzarino
10:00 Refreshment Break
10:15 Air Monitoring for Radioactive Iodine and Employee Bioassay Programs – Panzarino
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 Security and Protection of Radioactive Materials – Maher/Whalen
2:30 Refreshment Break
2:45 Management Systems in Radiation Protection, Audits, License Renewal, Procedures, Training, and Technical Resources for RSOs
– Maher
4:00 Program Evaluation and Closing – Maher
4:30 Adjournment

Agenda is subject to change

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Continuing Education Credit

The CEUs earned in this program may be applied towards the following credits:

The Harvard School of Public Health has an Education and Research Center (ERC) that is funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

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Program Check-In

On the first day, please check in at:

Harvard School of Public Health
Kresge Building
677 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
(617) 384-8692

The program takes place at the Harvard School of Public Health, located in the heart of the Harvard Longwood Campus in Boston. Public transportation is also readily available to the city's many shopping districts, museums and restaurants. For directions, please visit: the Longwood Campus directions page.

Accommodations

Hilton Boston Back Bay
40 Dalton Street
Boston, MA 02115
617-236-1100
$229 single/double occupancy + 12.45% tax

Rooms have been reserved at this reduced rate until May 9, 2008. Reservations should be made when you receive your registration and payment confirmation. Please mention the program name and the Harvard School of Public Health to receive the special rate.

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What Participants Say

“Best class ever on radiation safety. A great mix of theories and practical ideas to incorporate into our everyday programs.”

— Roberta L. Clarke
EHS Specialist
Wyeth Research
Cambridge, MA

“I give two thumbs up for the program and faculty members who conducted it. I learned a lot from intensive lectures, homework, and interaction with other participants. Through this program, I got a better understanding of radiation safety and the full responsibility of a RSO. I am now equipped to do training and review the RS manual and make use of international standards to address the problems and deficiencies in our Radiation Safety program.”

— Lilia Molina
RHSO & Assistant Manager II
International Rice Research Institute
Philippines

 

Program Fee

$1,795 if payment received between March 15 and May 30, 2008
$1,895 if payment received after May 30, 2008

Program fee includes:

Partial Tuition Scholarships Available

This program is supported by a grant from NIOSH which offers tuition scholarships reserved primarily for state and local public employees. Private institutions are also eligible. Along with your registration form, each scholarship applicant must send a letter or note (click here for mailing address) with all of the following information:
(You can also fill out this information in the online registration form)

All scholarship applications must be received by April 28, 2008.

Workforce Training Funding for Massachusetts Employers: This program is eligible for Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development funding grants. Massachusetts companies may be eligible for up to 50% off program fees. Contact the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development for assistance on filling out the approval forms:

800-252-1591
http://www.mass.gov/wtf

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Payment Policy

Payment must be made in US funds and received in order to process your registration. Payment by credit card is strongly preferred (Visa, MasterCard, AmEx). If paying by check, please make check payable to: Harvard School of Public Health-CCPE, and be sure participants name is on the check. Note: Please do not make non-refundable flight arrangements until you have received confirmation from us.

Substitution/Cancellation Policy

Substitutions may be made without additional charge. All requests for substitutions or cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellation on or before April 18, 2008 will be issued a refund less $150 administrative fee per person. Cancellations received between April 19, 2008 and May 16, 2008 will be issued a refund of 50%. After May 16, 2008, no refund will be issued. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

Ways to Register

  1. To register online simply check off the items below and click Register Now.
  2. Call 617-384-8692 and register over the phone. You may also call this number for any registration questions you may have.
  3. Print the PDF Registration Form and fax it to 617-384-8690 with credit card information.
  4. You may also fill out, print and mail the form with payment to:

Harvard School of Public Health
Center for Continuing Professional Education
CCPE – Dept. A
677 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115

(If you are planning on sending an overnight package, please send to this address.)

 

I have read and understand the payment and cancellation policies.

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