Program Overview

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Radiation Safety

Radiation safety personnel monitor and control radiation exposure while implementing safety measures. Prepare for a career working together with physicists, occupational safety and health specialists, and public health officials in a variety of environments.

Credential

Ontario College Certificate

Duration

Two semesters

Start Date(s)

• January (Winter)
• May (Spring)
• September (Fall)

Locations

Port Hope

Open to

Domestic Students

CIP Code

51.0916

Find your career

With the increasing use of radiation in industrial applications, medical technologies and energy production, radiation safety professionals are in high demand. In recent years, more than 50 percent of Radiation Safety students received offers of employment before completing their final exam. Finding careers in a range of sectors, radiation safety personnel may be responsible for:

• Tracking and recording radioactivity levels in various environments.
• Implementing preventative measures that are critical to ensuring the safety of employees and the public.
• Overseeing on-site safety and performing safety audits and tests.
• Conducting inspections of workplace equipment, structures and materials.
• Training personnel on proper radiation safety measures and procedures.
• Communicating possible occupational safety hazards.
• Ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
• Monitoring and investigating any exposure-related incidents or accidents.
• Ensuring proper documentation of safety procedures.
• Fulfilling licensing capabilities, radiation protection planning and transportation of radioactive materials, as required by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
• Work with professionals in various nuclear, health care and natural environments.

How you'll learn

The Radiation Safety program will include instruction in the following:

• Radiation physics.
• Environmental radioactivity.
• Radiological instrumentation.
• Electronics of radiation detection equipment.
• Radioactive waste management and control.
• Safety and handling procedures.
• Decontamination procedures.
• Radioactivity testing and analysis.
• Communication skills.

Courses

Semester One

RADS1023 Applied Biology

Students will learn biological structures, functions and processes within living organisms.

RADS1024 Applied Chemistry

Students will be introduced to basic fundamental principles, calculations and laws of Chemistry that are used to describe matter.

RADS1022 Communications

Students will learn effective and efficient communication within the workplace using common computer applications, conflict management strategies, effective decision-making, problem-solving and teamwork skills.

RADS1015 Industrial Safety Culture and Human Performance

Students will be introduced to industrial safety-focused culture including communications, psychology and behaviour, and error reduction techniques.

RADS1003 Introduction to Radiation and Nuclear Fundamentals

Students will be introduced to atomic and nuclear structures, radioactivity and radiation detection, nuclear reactions, and nuclear interactions with matter.

RADS1001 Mathematics 1

Basic mathematical skills necessary for a radiation safety professional will be introduced as well as mathematical applications which support the use of exponents, equations, functions and logarithms.

RADS1016 Radiation Detection Instruments 1

This course provides an introduction to radiation detection and instrumentation. Students will learn about basic detector types and their appropriate use as well as instrumentation selection.

Semester Two

RADS1030 Contamination Control

Students will learn practical and theoretical personal protection strategies for working in a radioactive environment. Learners will be introduced to using personal protective equipment, contamination control techniques, and decontamination practices.

RADS1028 Intro to Mechanics & Electricity

Students will be introduced to mechanical and electrical systems and components, including pumps, valves, compressors, heat exchangers, and their respective schematics.

RADS1029 Introduction to Health Physics

Students will build upon concepts learned in Chemistry, Biology and Radiation Fundamentals to learn, describe and calculate the biological effects of radiation exposure.

RADS1020 Mathematics 2

Students will build on previous knowledge of foundational math skills and learn graphing, statistics and trigonometry.

RADS1008 Radiation Detection Instruments 2

Students will build on previous knowledge to deepen their understanding of detector capabilities, limitation, and job-specific dosimetry selection.

RADS1012 Radiation Protection Work Practices and Planning

Students will build on previous knowledge of radiation safety with a focus on planning and implementing radiation safety best practices to support ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable).

RADS1011 Radiation and Occupational Law

This course introduces workplace safety legislation and requirements specific to nuclear facilities and their application within the workplace. Procedural documentation is also introduced.

Courses subject to change.

Admission requirements

Required academic preparation

• OSSD/OSSGD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U) or (M) level*
• Grade 12 English (C) level or equivalent
• OR
• Mature applicant

OSSD or equivalent with Grade 12 English applicants with an OSSD showing senior English and/or Mathematics courses at the basic level; or with Workplace or Open courses, applicants will be tested to determine their eligibility for admission; or Mature Student status eligibility may be determined by academic achievement testing.

Recommended academic preparation

• Grade 12 Mathematics (including algebra)
• Grade 12 Chemistry, Biology, and Physics

Academic upgrading

Are you missing admission requirements? Discover how Career and College Prep at Loyalist can help you get started on your journey.

Costs

Domestic students

Approximate costs (2024 – 25)

• Domestic Tuition: $2,722.08
• Full-Time Ancillary Fees: $998
• Total: $3,720.08

Additional costs, such as supplies, travel and parking, may be incurred during workplace visits, etc.

Fees related to programs that are less than or greater than two semesters will be adjusted accordingly. Fees are subject to change. Please visit the Tuition and fees page for a list of the many services, activities and items included within the ancillary fees, and the related policies.

Paying for college

At Loyalist College, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to your success. We’re here to help you navigate the costs of college and connect you with a variety of financial aid programs, resources and donor-supported awards. Explore paying for college.

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