Medical Health Physics Special

Radiation Safety Officer

When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you're making a difference in people's lives.

Job Summary:

Assists the Radiation Safety Office staff in providing an effective broad scope radiation safety service to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's clinical, research and ancillary staff for all uses of radioactive materials and radiation generating equipment. Conducts qualitative and quantitative measurements, analyzes data and generates reports to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements; and responds to emergencies as needed.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Perform and/or oversee routine surveys of all areas using radioactive materials at specified intervals. Document results, initiate corrective action in conjunction with supervisor as needed. Oversight of survey instrument calibration, quality assurance, and simple repairs.
• Assist in training all radioactive material and irradiator users in radiation safety to standards set by state license conditions and Radiation Safety Committee regulations. Provide appropriate training to ancillary personnel. Respond to routine individual safety questions or triage question to supervisor. Participate on ongoing continuing education.
• Ensure that researchers are approved to use radioactive material before placing orders and/or written directives received. Place radioactive material orders for researchers. Ship, package and receive radioactive packages in accordance with federal and state regulations. Confirm that packages are surveyed on receipt as required in state licenses/federal regulations.
• Perform routine packaging and/or disposal of all radioactive waste materials. Prepare shipping papers and documentation to ensure compliance with State and Federal regulations and requirements of several hazardous waste disposal sites involved. Provide annual reports as needed. Provide oversight of all radioactive waste areas.
• Respond to emergencies such as contaminated personnel or a spill immediately when paged. Request back up assistance from colleagues when necessary for both coverage and technical advisement purposes. Be knowledgeable of Divisional and Medical Center policy for such response. Participate in emergency response training as requested by BIDMC Emergency Management Committee.
• Perform duties for the personnel radiation monitoring program such as issuing and registration of monitoring devices, instructing personnel in their proper use, analysis of readings and followup of those reaching set alert levels.
• Assist Radiation Safety Officer with regulatory reports, program and permit audits to ensure compliance with State, Federal and Radiation Safety Committee regulations.
• Identifies, collects, labels, and tests radiation protective apparel (RPA). Operates x-ray machines at settings optimized for RPA testing. Documents test results and updates individual RPA datahub records. These records may include pictures as appropriate to document RPA performance. Coordinates RPA service with clinic staff.

Required Qualifications:

• Associate's degree in Science required. Bachelor's degree in Physical Science/Health Physics preferred.
• 0-1 years related work experience required.
• Full-time positions must pass investigative background check satisfactory to department, Medical Center, State and Federal regulatory policies and standards.
• Experience with computer systems required, including web based applications and some Microsoft Office applications which may include Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Access.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in radiation safety program with research laboratories using radioactive materials is a plus.

Competencies:

• Decision Making: Ability to make decisions that are guided by general instructions and practices requiring some interpretation. May make recommendations for solving problems of moderate complexity and importance.
• Problem Solving: Ability to address problems that are varied, requiring analysis or interpretation of the situation using direct observation, knowledge and skills based on general precedents.
• Independence of Action: Ability to follow precedents and procedures. May set priorities and organize work within general guidelines. Seeks assistance when confronted with difficult and/or unpredictable situations. Work progress is monitored by supervisor/manager.
• Written Communications: Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written English with internal and external customers.
• Oral Communications: Ability to comprehend and converse in English to communicate effectively with medical center staff, patients, families and external customers.
• Knowledge: Ability to demonstrate full working knowledge of standard concepts, practices, procedures and policies with the ability to use them in varied situations.
• Team Work: Ability to work collaboratively in small teams to improve the operations of immediate work group by offering ideas, identifying issues, and respecting team members.
• Customer Service: Ability to provide a high level of customer service and staff training to meet customer service standards and expectations for the assigned unit(s). Resolves service issues in the assigned unit(s) in a timely and respectful manner.

Physical Nature of the Job:

Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and or up to 20 pounds of force frequently. Job is physical in nature and employee needs to stand and/or move around through the majority of their shift.

As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.

More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled