ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Training

Radiation Safety Training Course

• Available online (log-in)
• This training course is for those individuals who wish to be approved for using radioactive materials at UVA!
• This course assumes some knowledge of basic science. After a brief introduction to radiation physics, this course covers the interaction of radiation with matter, biological effects and risks of radiation exposures, regulatory and administrative dose and exposure limits, personnel monitoring for radiation exposure, internal deposition and external exposure protection methods, radiation measurement and measuring equipment, radioactive waste and emergency procedures.

Annual Radiation Refresher Safety Training For Radiation Workers

• Available online (log-in)
• This training is required for all radiation workers likely to receive in a year an occupational dose in excess of 100 mrem per VDH regulation 12VAC5-481-2270.

Radiation Safety Training for Epilepsy Unit Staff

• Available online (log-in, Workday)
• The radionuclide Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) is used as an imaging agent to allow physicians to assess brain activity during an epileptic seizure. Because the timing of the seizure is unpredictable, the nurses caring for the epileptic patient must be prepared to quickly and safely inject the drug during a seizure. This training is required for the nursing staff who will be injecting the dose. The training also includes instruction for ordering a patient dose (using EPIC), how the dose must be properly stored before injection, how to properly dispose of the dose after injection, radiation surveys that will be performed to ensure no contamination has occurred during injection and what actions to take if radioactive material is spilled.

Radiation Safety Program Training for Patient Care Staff

• Available online (log-in, Workday)
• This training is mandatory for all UVA Health personnel who work in the vicinity of ionizing radiation and are required to be issued a dosimeter. This training will explain the proper use of a dosimeter, explain the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) policy, discuss the UVA pregnancy policy, identify the three basic radiation protection methods and identify resources for radiation safety. This training must be completed prior to a dosimeter being issued.

Radiation Safety Program Training for Research Personnel

• Available online (log-in)
• This training is mandatory for all independent users of radioactive material and radiation producing equipment at the University of Virginia. This training includes the contents of the UVA Radiation Safety Guide. The Radiation Safety Guide provides information about basic policies and procedures in place at the University that ensure compliance with State and Federal license requirements. Material covered by this this guide includes: organizational structure, authorization policies, exposure and release limits, receipt and transfer of radioactive material, basic laboratory operating requirements, waste handling procedures, use of radioactive material in humans, radiation producing equipment, bioassay requirements and emergency procedures.

Radiation Safety Training for Cardiac Cath Lab Staff

• Available online (log-in, Workday)
• Required annual training for Cardiac Cath Lab Staff.

Radiation Safety Training for Nuclear Cardiology Staff

• Available online (log-in)
• This course provides Radiation Safety Training for Nuclear Cardiology staff. All Nuclear Cardiology staff must complete this training before being allowed to work independently with radioactive material at the University of Virginia. This training may be used by Nuclear Cardiology staff to fulfill their annual retraining requirement as well. As outlined in NRC and State guidance for Medical Use Licensees, instruction on a comprehensive list of topics is provided. These topics along with other more specific University policies are covered in this training module. A test of the material covered in this module is included at the end of the module. A score of at least 80% is required to successfully pass this test.

Radiation Safety Training for Nuclear Medicine Staff

• Available online (log-in)
• This course provides Radiation Safety Training for Nuclear Medicine staff. All Nuclear Medicine staff must complete this training before being allowed to work independently with radioactive material at the University of Virginia. This training may be used by Nuclear Medicine staff to fulfill their annual retraining requirement as well. As outlined in NRC guidance for Medical Use Licensees, instruction on a comprehensive list of topics is provided. These topics along with other more specific University policies are covered in this training module. A test of the material covered in this module is included at the end of the module. A score of at least 80% is required to successfully pass this test.

Radiation Safety Training for New Residents and Fellows

• Required training for new residents and fellows in Radiology. Radiation Safety training topics include proper use of dosimetry, radiation protection methods and pregnancy declaration.
• No online module, in-person training only. Contact EHS at 434.982.4911 to schedule.

Radiation Safety Training for Safe Use of Analytical X-Ray Equipment

Analytical X-ray equipment is used for X-ray diffraction analysis, fluorescence analysis, or direct X-ray transmission analysis of materials. These analytical x-ray systems are comprised of components that utilize X-rays to determine elemental composition, or to examine the microstructure of materials. These analytical x-ray devices are used for non-medical purposes. The primary objective of this program is to keep occupational exposures to radiation as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) while utilizing these types of equipment. This safety program establishes UVa procedures for the safe operation of analytical X-ray equipment and the associated potential radiation hazards.

All analytical X-ray equipment must be inspected and registered with VDH. The Radiation Safety Office is authorized to perform these inspections and will maintain the registrations with VDH. Please contact us prior to purchasing analytical X-ray equipment so we can work with you in the proper set up, training, inspection and registration.

In order to use analytical x-ray equipment here at UVA, users must take radiation safety training, read the operator’s manual and be approved in writing by the x-ray device custodian.

The radiation safety training for analytical equipment is available here.

The radiation safety training for electron microscope equipment is available here.

Radiology Annual Radiation Safety Training (inactive)

Safe Handling of Radioactive Seeds in Surgical Pathology

• Available online (log-in, Workday)
• This training is intended for Surgical Pathology Staff, Residents and Fellows handling breast specimens containing Radioactive I-125 Seeds. This module provides required radiation safety training for individuals working in Surgical Pathology that process and handle breast specimens containing radioactive seeds. Topics covered include basic radiation safety concepts, seed recognition, safe handling and shielding of seeds, documentation of seed movement and inventory, radiation surveys and emergency response/notifications.

Safe Use of Radioactive Material in the Operating Room

• Available online (log-in, Workday)
• This module provides the training necessary to allow surgical staff to work safely with and around radioactive material encountered in the Operating Room (OR). For cases involving breast lesions, a small metal seed containing radioactive iodine (I-125) that has been implanted in the patient’s breast in the Breast Care Center will be removed during surgery. In addition, Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) may be injected into the patient, while in the OR, to identify the sentinel lymph node. Both the breast lesion containing the radioactive seed, and the sentinel lymph node containing radioactive Technetium, will be removed in the OR. All surgical staff must know how to work safely around these materials in order to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure and contamination.

Safe Use of Fluoroscopy

• Available online (log-in, Workday)
• Radiation Safety training required for physicians, operators and supervisors of fluoroscopic equipment. The use of X-ray fluoroscopy has increased dramatically in recent years. Advances in medical technology have resulted in the development of more powerful X-ray machines used during complex procedures requiring extensive use of fluoroscopy. The use of such equipment by personnel who have not received specialized training in the proper use of radiation creates the potential for excessive radiation exposure to personnel and patients.

Radiation Safety Training for Radioactive Seed Localization of Breast Lesions

• Available online (log-in, Workday)
• Required training for Breast Care Center Staff. This module provides the training necessary to allow Breast Care Center staff to work safely with and around radioactive seeds used for localization of non-palpable lesions and lymph nodes. All staff must know how to work safely around these materials in order to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure and contamination. Small metal seeds containing radioactive iodine (I-125) are implanted in the patient’s breast in the Breast Care Center and are later removed during surgery. The training includes review of the protocol which must be followed during the implant procedure, radiation surveys to prevent loss of the seeds, imaging verification of seed location and emergency response procedures.

Sealed Source Use Radiation Protection Instruction

• Available online (log-in)
• The information contained in this training module is for individuals who work with sealed sources of radioactive material or enter areas in which radioactive material or radiation sources are present and radiation exposure is possible.

Uranyl Acetate Management

• Available online (log-in)
• Recommended training for those individuals who will be working with uranyl acetate at UVA. This training will describe the recommended preventative measures while using uranyl acetate and the proper disposal methods.