The World Health Organization defines radiation as the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or moving subatomic particles. It could come from many naturally occurring radioactive materials found in soil, water, air, and in the body, or from industrial activities.  Every day, people inhale and ingest forms of radiation from air, food, and water.

Since excessive radiation exposure may damage living tissues and organs, depending on the amount of radiation received, radiation health and safety have become very important. Radiation Health and Safety Certification is proof that an individual has acquired the necessary knowledge to protect themselves and others who may be exposed to radiation.

What is Radiation Health and Safety Certification?

As mentioned above, Radiation health and safety certification is a process, and it involves training and testing individuals on the safe handling and use of radiation. This certification is required for those who work in industries that generate various forms of radiation or could be exposed to radiation.

You may need Radiation Health and Safety Certification if you are working in the healthcare sector, nuclear power, or industrial manufacturing. The certification ensures that individuals have the necessary knowledge and skills to protect themselves and others from the potential hazards of radiation.

Importance of Radiation Health and Safety Certification

There are several important aspects of radiation health and safety certification, some of which are;

1. Encourages Compliance with Regulations

Possessing Radiation Health and Safety Certification portrays compliance with relevant regulations. Most countries have developed very strict regulations to manage exposure to radiation because of its negative impact on health. These regulations are in place to protect employees and the general public at large from the negative impact of radiation exposure.

When you possess this certification, it’s proof that you have acquired the relevant knowledge and skill to protect yourself and others who may be exposed to radiation.

2. Reduces Risks and Accidents

Radiation exposure can cause negative health effects from mild to severe, which is why the certification is important to learn how to prevent exposure.

So learning how to prevent or manage radiation exposure, you are invariably reducing the risk and also preventing accidents that would have been caused by the exposure to the radiation.

3. Increases Credibility and Trust

When you are working with radiation or generating high concentrations of radiation and have employees trained in radiation health and safety, it will increase your credibility as an organization and also build trust amongst your employees.

It also increases your credibility and trust among your clients and stakeholders.

4. Improves Efficiency and Productivity

Having a competent person handle radiation will boost efficiency and effectiveness by reducing the risk of errors and accidents. This can save time and resources for the organization and allow it to focus on other tasks.

5. Career Advancement

You cannot rule out the place of certification in career advancement; Radiation Health and Safety Certification is not an exception.

As an individual who has acquired a certification in Radiation Safety, you will have opportunities for career advancement. This can take various forms, like a better job offer, having a competitive edge in the job market, a pay rise, etc.

Types of Radiation Health and Safety Certifications

In this paragraph, we will dissect some radiation safety certifications. Some are professional areas that you may feel are not part of health and Safety; it is worth noting that everyone serving in these areas gets to learn about the risk of radiation and the safety measures to use it safely where necessary.

Here are some of the certifications;

1. Radiation Health and Safety

The purpose of this training is to broaden your knowledge of radiation safety to enable you to identify hazards associated with nuclear facilities to take appropriate protective measures.

Learning Objectives

2. Certified Health Physicist (CHP)

Certified Health Physicist is an official title granted by the American Board of Health Physics, the certification board for health physicists in the United States. A Certified Health Physicist is designated by the letters CHP or DABHP (Diplomate of the American Board of Health Physics) after his or her name.

A person certified as a health physicist has a responsibility to uphold the professional integrity associated with the certification to promote the practice and science of radiation safety. It is expected that such a person will always give health physics information based on the highest standards of science and professional ethics. A certified individual has a responsibility to remain professionally active in the health physics field and remain technically competent in the scientific, technical, and regulatory developments in the field.

3. Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)

The radiation safety officer is responsible for advising the manager on matters relating to the implementation of the radiation management plan for the mine.

The radiation officer also investigates any defects or malfunctions discovered in plant, equipment, or procedure that cause exposure to radiation over dose constraints or limits, or dose rates or contamination levels over authorised limits.

The requirements for a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) vary with the type of license and types of materials used. Some excerpts from Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations and NUREGs (guidance documents) that may help are included here.

These are generally applicable in all states, but in some states (called Agreement States), the state has the authority to write its own regulations. In this case, the state may have chosen to simply use the NRC RSO requirements or to use its own, which might be more specific.

4. Certified Medical Physicist (CMP)

Qualified Medical Physicist (QMP) is an individual who is competent to independently provide clinical professional services in one or more of the subfields of medical physics. The subfields of medical physics are:

1. 1. Radiation Oncology Physics
   2. Nuclear Medicine Physics
   3. Diagnostic Radiological Physics
   4. Magnetic Resonance Imaging

See credentials of a certified medical physicist.

5. Certified Radiation Therapy Technologist (RTT)

Certified Radiation Therapist Technologist treats diseases by exposing specific areas of patients’ bodies to prescribed doses of radiation and repositioning the patient as needed during the procedure. The outcome could be a cure, relief of symptoms, and improvement of the patient’s quality of life.

How to Obtain Certification

Since there are several certifications associated with radiation health and safety, we will pick one and highlight:

• Educational Requirements
• Training and Experience

1. Certified Health Physicist (CHP) – Everything you need to know

Source

b. Eligibility

Conclusion

Radiation Health and Safety Certification is necessary if you are working in an industry where different forms of radiation are generated, or you want to develop a career in radiation safety, or you want to work in a professional area that uses different forms of radiation.

From the article, you can follow any career path based on your area of interest, as we have mentioned some radiation certifications you can acquire and a clear path for one.

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