Description
Operate and monitor gamma irradiation and detection systems in laboratories or industrial facilities. Set up, run, and maintain sealed gamma sources, shielding, interlocks, and controls; perform radiation surveys, dosimetry, and quality checks. Assist engineers and scientists with irradiation or testing activities while ensuring regulatory compliance and personnel safety.
- • Follow operational and radiation safety procedures for gamma sources and irradiators.
- • Conduct pre-operation surveillance tests of shielding, interlocks, alarms, and source movement.
- • Monitor irradiator and detection system performance to identify hazards, inefficiencies, or maintenance needs.
- • Test and calibrate gamma detectors, dosimeters, and control instruments.
- • Apply lockout/tagout and radiation caution tags to equipment requiring maintenance.
- • Adhere to personnel radiation protection policies and wear assigned dosimetry.
- • Configure, adjust, or maintain collimators, fixtures, sample holders, and source drive components.
- • Monitor instruments, gauges, and data logs during irradiation runs under direction of engineers or scientists.
- • Warn workers of radiation hazards and direct evacuation from controlled areas when required.
- • Calculate exposure times, delivered dose, decay corrections, distances, and shielding using standard formulas and tables.
- • Measure dose rates and characterize radiation fields with survey meters, ion chambers, or gamma spectrometers.
- • Collect wipe samples or environmental samples to verify contamination control and sealed source integrity.
- • Identify and implement appropriate decontamination procedures for minor contamination events.
- • Decontaminate tools and work surfaces using approved cleaning methods or abrasion as needed.
- • Recommend decontamination methods based on equipment type, contamination level, and material compatibility.
- • Set up and test area radiation monitors and alarms for accurate detection.
- • Coordinate with maintenance personnel to ensure readiness of support systems, such as conveyors, shielding doors, ventilation, or power supplies.
- • Document operating parameters, survey results, and incidents in logs and reports.
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
