Radiation Safety Officer

Salary

The salary range for this position is CAD $46.37 - $66.66 / hour

Detailed Overview

Supporting the Vision, Values, Purpose and Commitments of Fraser Health including service delivery that is centered around patients/clients/residents and families:

Reporting to the Director, Quality & Safety, Medical Imaging, the Nuclear Medicine (NM) Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) leads the Nuclear Medicine Radiation Safety Program for the Fraser Health Authority (FHA) Medical Imaging (MI) department. Promotes a culture of radiation safety for staff, patients and visitors through planning, developing, implementing and evaluating the NM Radiation Safety Program ensuring it meets all Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Acts and Regulations including all applicable provincial and federal regulations (e.g., WorkSafe BC, Transport Canada), licensing and organizational requirements. Maintains the diagnostic, therapeutic and processing licenses for all NM departments across FHA and leads the CNSC license and annual compliance report submissions.

Provides leadership to all NM Site Radiation Safety Officers (SRSO), the NM Radiation Safety Coordinator (RRSC) and the NM Radiation Safety Committee (RSCE) and appoints an acting RSO as needed. Advises and provides direction to SRSOs and RRSC on radiation safety to stop any unsafe work practices regarding radiation safety in areas that fall under Licensing. Leads emergency response initiatives in collaboration with the RSC and SRSOs and directly communicates with the applicant authority on incidents related to radiation safety and is responsible for providing quarterly updates on the NM Radiation Protection Program for senior leadership.

Liaises with regulatory agencies and other experts in radiation safety, acts as a resource and regularly communicates with the applicant Authority, MI operations directors, managers, the NM RRSC, NM Practice Lead (RPL), NM supervisors, site-specific Radiation Safety Officers, the NM Radiation Safety Committee and other users of radioactive material on matters relevant to radiation safety and actively seek ways to improve the quality of the NM Radiation Safety Program.

Responsibilities

• Manages the recruitment, mentoring, selection and professional development of designated staff. Supervises designated staff, determines staff schedules and provides work direction and assignment of duties to meet operational requirements. Conducts employee performance reviews, coaching sessions and the facilitation of goal setting with the employee including the identification of educational/training requirements. Implements employee discipline up to and including termination, where necessary.
• Acts as the CNSC Signing Authority and CNSC License Contact Person for applicable MI licenses. Ensures organizational radiation safety compliance with all relevant legislation and regulatory requirements including WorkSafe BC, Transport Canada and CNSC. Provides leadership, direction and advice for all SRSOs to ensure CNSC license compliance regarding the use of radioactive materials are met and other relevant legislation are followed (e.g. Transport Canada and WorkSafe BC regulations).
• Confirms, in collaboration with the SRSOs, that diagnostic, therapeutic and processing licenses and permits are current for all MI Nuclear Medicine Departments. Works with SRSOs and staff to prepare license renewal applications to CNSC in accordance with conditions contained in relevant licenses. Prepares annual compliance reports (ACRs) for CNSC in accordance with conditions contained in relevant licenses and submits final ACRs to CNSC.
• Interprets new regulations and assesses their implications to the NM Radiation Safety Program. Communicates new regulations and provides regulatory updates from CNSC to the NM RSCE, applicant authority and Operations Directors as needed. Ensures regulatory updates are shared with all appropriate staff and education processes are updated as needed.
• Issues stop work orders if the use of radioactive material poses a direct risk to safety or security and in breach to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Regulations and provides directives to expedite the implementation of corrective actions. Actively contributes to the NM RSCE as a member and adviser on radiation safety matters and responsible for the development, maintenance and annual review of the NM RSCE Terms of Reference.
• Provides expertise in working collaboratively with the NM RSC to design and maintain a “global” or program-wide NM radiation safety program that conforms with the ALARA principle of dose limitation (“as low as reasonably achievable”) and complies with current regulatory requirements expressed in the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, applicable CNSC Regulations, regulatory guidelines and nuclear substance license conditions established by the CNSC.
• Responsible for the development, maintenance and regular updates to the NM Radiation Safety Manual and NM Emergency Response Manual, in collaboration with the NM RSC and Workplace Health and ensures changes to the manuals are communicated to the CNSC. Liaises with CNSC, applicant Authority, SRSOs, NM RSC, Operation Directors, Provincial Medical Imaging Office (PMIO) NM Physicist, NM RRSC, NM RPL and frontline staff on issues related to radiation safety and organizational compliance with policies and procedures in the Radiation Safety Program.
• In collaboration with the NM Medical Physicist, conducts regular surveys of radiation and contamination levels in all areas where radiation sources or radioactive materials are used, stored or disposed of and reviews results on regular basis. Makes recommendations for improvements as needed.
• Coordinates and conducts annual, scheduled and unscheduled NM site radiation safety audits. Observes and records work practices in relation to radiation safety, documents audit results including recommended remedial measures and conducts follow-up audits if required. Ensures appropriate measures are in place to respond to emergencies and unplanned events involving radioactive materials. Summarizes and regularly reports inspection results to the NM RSCE including applicable Operations Director.
• Provides leadership to RSC, SRSOs and staff in the investigation of reports of overexposure to ionizing radiation incidents involving radioactive materials or losses of radioactive material in order to determine pertinent facts. Recommends appropriate actions to mitigate the consequence of, or to prevent the recurrence of, over exposure to ionizing radiation including incidents involving radioactive material or losses of radioactive materials. Strategizes with site RSOs and frontline staff regarding appropriate actions to prevent the occurrence of over exposure to ionizing radiation incidents involving radioactive material losses of radioactive material, as needed.
• Develops and maintains NM radiation safety documents. In collaboration with SRSOs, ensures that the database and records relevant to the radiation safety program (i.e. list of radioisotope laboratories and designation, inventory of radioisotopes, nuclear energy workers, training records etc.) are kept up-to-date and accurate.
• Ensures incident reports are completed as per organizational policy and supports SRSOs in the investigation and follow up of incidents as appropriate. Submits reports to the appropriate regulatory authority such as the CNSC, as required. Communicates reportable incidents to the Applicant Authority as required.
• Provides quarterly and annual summary reports to the applicant Authority, Operations Directors and the NM RSCE on any reportable events to CSNC and other radiation safety incidents of note. Confirms measures are taken to ensure the import, export, packaging and transport of nuclear substances are conducted in accordance with CNSC, and Transport Canada.
• In collaboration with SRSOs and NM Medical Physicist, reviews relevant quality control documents to ensure recommendations related to staff and public safety are addressed. Collaborates with MI Quality Coordinators and Medical Physicists in the Provincial Medical Imaging Office (PMIO) to assist in developing tools and procedures to improve the quality of the NM radiation safety program.
• Ensures regular leak testing and calibrations of radiation equipment are performed and that a monitoring program is developed and implemented.
• Shares knowledge with the PMIO Medical Physics Lead and NM Physicist in the planning and approval process for new and renovated facilities to ensure that locations where radioactive materials are used or stored incorporate appropriate engineering controls and comply with CNSC design requirements. Submits shielding designs and dose estimates to CNSC for approval.
• Reviews independently and/or with the NM RSCE requests for authorization to purchase or use radioactive material in order to ensure compliance with the NM Radiation Protection Program, relevant legislation and license conditions.
• Leads in the development of training programs and training materials to provide education on radiation safety for all MI and non-MI staff and contracted employees that use, store, transport or are otherwise exposed to radioactive materials (e.g., housekeeping, security, FMO, etc.) in collaboration with Workplace Health.
• Ensures that clinical leaders of staff providing therapeutic care to nuclear medicine patients have made staff aware of radiation safety and all relevant policies and procedures in accordance with the CNSC and provincial regulations.
• Provides oversight for the maintenance of radiation safety training records for all staff and contracted employees and ensures these records are available in accordance with the Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices Regulations.
• Carries out responsibilities in accordance with health and safety requirements. Immediately reports unsafe situations by notifying supervisor or other appropriate personnel.
  
  

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Science or Engineering from a recognized institution, plus five (5) years' recent related professional experience in radiation safety or related field including leadership experience and experience in handling and monitoring radioactive material and implementing, managing and/or auditing a Radiation Safety Program or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Completion of a Radiation Safety Officer course from a recognized program applicable for the use of radioactive materials under CNSC regulations. Completion or eligibility for applicable professional designation (e.g., CRPA ®).

Valid BC Driver’s License and access to a vehicle is required.

Competencies

Demonstrates the leadership practices of the Fraser Health Leadership Framework of Clear, Caring and Courageous and creates the conditions for people to succeed.

• Utilizes superior verbal communication skills to provide training, education and program reports and to collaborate and influence all internal and external stakeholders when providing advice and guidance.
• Applies technical expertise and knowledge of applicable legislation and regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with both provincial and federal regulations involving radiation hazards and safety.
• Skillfully interprets information and uses sound judgment to investigate actual and potential radiation safety issues such as radiation exposures and accidents/injuries.
• Applies radiation protection content expertise to recognize, evaluate and control radiation hazards in the workplace and to minimize exposure and the development of illness/disease.
• Maintains current knowledge of new developments and research into all aspects of Radiation Safety and recommends/implements best practices accordingly.
• Uses skillful techniques in the development, implementation and evaluation of training, education and development programs.
• Skillfully develops meaningful indicators of quality for radiation safety and provides constructive reports based on the results of monitoring these indicators to ensure safety is never compromised.
• Utilizes intermediate level word-processing, presentation and spreadsheet abilities in the development of policies, training manuals and other materials.
  
  

About Fraser Health

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.

People - those we care for and those who care for them - are at the heart of everything we do. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 50,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers.

We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the work force. We strive to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner.

Together, we are the heart of health care.

Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | X | Indeed | Glassdoor

Protect yourself from recruitment and employment scams.

We are aware of suspected fraudulent recruitment activity involving individuals impersonating Fraser Health recruiters or representatives. Fraser Health will never ask candidates or jobseekers for money, fees, gift cards or equipment purchases at any stage of the recruitment process.

Learn more >