Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 8:57 PM AWST
23/07/2026 8:57 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Work safely with radiation-sealed source equipment
Work safely with radiation-sealed source equipment
Unit of competency
National Code
PSPRAD304
PSPRAD304
State Code
WE675
WE675
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
04/07/2014
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
04/07/2014
Nominal Hours
55
Description
This unit covers the ability to work safely when operating sealed source equipment that emits ionising radiation. This involves assessing risks before conducting the assigned work tasks, using recommended controls, applying safe working rules and emergency response procedures, monitoring radiation levels and completing required documentation.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare for assigned tasks
- 1.1. Use organisation's radiation management plans to obtain information about hazards associated with the assigned tasks and monitoring equipment and safe working rules to be followed, and refer to radiation protection safety standards, codes and guidelines if necessary.
- 1.2. Liaise with site management to arrange access and confirm the nature and likely duration of assigned tasks.
- 1.3. Check that equipment required for assigned tasks is present and fit for purpose.
- 1.4. Record movement if required of source equipment in accordance with regulator's requirements and organisational procedures.
- 1.5. Stow source equipment and monitoring equipment to prevent damage and to ensure safe, secure transport to the site and within the boundaries of the site if required.
- 1.6. Check that transport vehicle is fit for purpose and has the required signage, if required.
2. Perform assigned tasks safely
- 2.1. Assess hazards at the site or prior to commencing assigned tasks, and seek advice if necessary.
- 2.2. Establish, or activate existing, boundaries and signage to control access to work area.
- 2.3. Perform pre-use andsafety checks of source equipment and monitoring equipment and confirm they are fit for purpose.
- 2.4. Apply safe working rules and any other site control measures to minimise exposure to personnel and/or members of the public during assigned tasks.
- 2.5. Perform assigned tasks in the minimum safe time and in accordance with regulator's requirements, equipment manufacturer's recommendations and organisation's procedures.
- 2.6. Verify that radiation measurements are below specified levels throughout assigned tasks.
- 2.7. Seek advice to deal with any situation beyond own technical competence.
- 2.8. Record required data and note any atypical site conditions or problems encountered and the actions taken.
3. Complete assigned tasks
- 3.1. Confirm that source has been returned to the fully shielded position within its container.
- 3.2. Check for contamination and if necessary perform personal decontamination in accordance with radiation management plan.
- 3.3. Re-stow source equipment and monitoring equipment to prevent damage and to ensure safe, secure transport from the site and within the boundaries of the site, if required.
- 3.4. Record use of radiation source equipment and monitoring equipment in accordance with radiation management plans.
- 3.5. Check the condition of all equipment before storing it in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations and radiation management plans.
- 3.6. Manage all waste in accordance with regulator's requirements and organisational procedures.
- 3.7. Survey the work area following completion of assigned tasks prior to leaving the site.
4. Report findings and outcomes
- 4.1. Record monitoring data in accordance with requirements.
- 4.2. Compare monitoring results with relevant radiation limits and note any significant differences or atypical results.
- 4.3. Identify potential or actual radiation protection or safety issues revealed during monitoring of assigned tasks.
- 4.4. Identify potential improvements that could be made to monitoring or work practices at the site.
- 4.5. Report findings and outcomes of assigned tasks in accordance with organisation's procedures.
- 4.6. Maintain required records that are complete, accurate, legible and secure.
5. Respond to potential or actual radiation incidents
- 5.1. Recognise unusual situations, unexpected hazards, and potential or actual emergency radiation incidents.
- 5.2. Inform relevant personnel about the situation, hazard or incident and seek their advice.
- 5.3. Initiate appropriate workplace emergency first response in accordance with instructions, radiation management plans and organisation's response procedures.
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Radiation management plans should include details of:
work practices, such as safe working rules and emergency response procedures
roles and responsibilities of personnel
radiation monitoring requirements, including details of how the availability or accessibility requirements for the monitoring equipment are to be achieved
control of an incident involving the source
storage of the source
transport of the source
what to do with the source when it is no longer required, such as sale, transfer or disposal
accountability and records
other requirements that may have a bearing on safety
Hazards may include:
inhalation of radioactive dust or gas
ingestion of radioactive dust or contaminated food or water
unexpected exposure to sealed radiation sources or partially enclosed equipment that emits ionising radiation
Monitoring equipment may include:
radiation instruments and survey meters, such as:
air proportional
gas proportional
gas ionisation
Geiger-Muller
ionisation
scintillation
solid state
wipe test equipment
Safe working rules will vary according to the type of source equipment and should include monitoring details, such as:
for example, RPS No. 13 Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Safe Use of Fixed Radiation Gauges (2007), which specifies that working rules should include details of:
expected radiation levels around each fixed radiation gauge under the control of the responsible person
tests for non-fixed surface contamination, where appropriate
occasions on which radiation surveys and contamination tests will be carried out
methods for conducting radiation surveys, wipe tests and any other examination required by the code, and for reporting and recording results
information relating to:
operation of source or shutter controls
locking of source containers
arrangements of locks and safety procedures and equipment for preventing exposure of persons to a radiation beam
arrangements for preventing or minimising occupational and public radiation exposure
methods for ensuring that no part of any person can enter the item of equipment to which the gauge is attached while the gauge is in the 'beam on' condition
licence and registration requirements and conditions of the relevant regulatory authority
special instructions from, or requirements of, the relevant regulatory authority
arrangements for security of a gauge when it is in storage or being transported within the establishment
regular inspection of all equipment, including:
source containers or housings
survey meters
personal monitoring devices
labels
markings
notices
types and occasions for use of personal monitoring devices
steps to be taken in the event of an emergency
arrangements for the calibration, repair and maintenance of a fixed radiation gauge
instructions concerning the posting of radiation warning signs in the vicinity of the gauge
contact addresses and telephone numbers, including the after-hours emergency number, where relevant, for:
responsible person
relevant regulatory authority
service provider
provider of the personal monitoring service
arrangements for disposal of a radioactive source, x-ray tube or neutron generator tube from a fixed radiation gauge, which need to be in accordance with the requirements of the relevant regulatory authority
where necessary, details of a radiation isolation procedure for the gauge
Radiation protection safety standards, codes and guidelines may include:
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) radiation protection series publications, such as:
RPS No.1 Recommendations for Limiting Exposure to Ionizing Radiation (1995) and National Standard for Limiting Occupational Exposure to Ionizing Radiation (republished 2002)
RPS No.2 Code of Practice for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (2008)
RPS No.7 Recommendations for Intervention in Emergency Situations Involving Radiation Exposure (2004)
RPS No.13 Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Safe Use of Fixed Radiation Gauges (2007)
RPS No.5 Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Portable Density/Moisture Gauges Containing Radioactive Sources (2004)
Radiation Health Series produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC):
RHS No.31 Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Industrial Radiography Equipment (1989)
RHS No.28 Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Sealed Radioactive Sources in Borehole Logging (1989)
requirements of commonwealth, state and territory legislation, such as Victorian Radiation Act (2005) and Radiation Regulations (2007) and associated licensing requirements
definition of a responsible person
Site may include:
fully enclosed laboratories or specialist facilities with permanent shielding and entrances that are locked/interlocked with alarms or signs
partially enclosed sites, such as an exposure bay or a fixed radiation gauge with shielding, controlled access, alarms or signs
open sites, such as field locations and processing plants where temporary boundaries, shielding and signage are erected and access is controlled by patrolling personnel
Pre-use and safety checks may include:
confirmation that no unauthorised people are within boundaries
confirmation that radiation instruments and survey meters are functioning within specifications
inspection of:
source containers, housings, shielding, shutters and locks
personal monitoring devices
labels, markings, signage and notices
boundaries, locks and interlocks
confirmation of source position
confirmation of radiation levels in the vicinity of the radiation sealed source equipment
Site control measures may include:
hierarchy of control measures, including:
avoiding exposure, where practicable
isolating sources of radiation where practicable through shielding, containment and remote handling techniques
engineering controls
adopting safe work practices, including work methods which make appropriate use of time, distance and shielding to minimise exposure
using approved PPE where other means of controlling exposure are not practicable
designation of controlled or supervised areas within workplaces with appropriate working rules for each, such as:
controlled exposure times
logging of personnel on entry and exit
Required records may include:
estimates of doses received by employees and members of the public
site radiation measurements
calibration, inspection and maintenance of radiation instruments and equipment
transport of radioactive sources
details of incidents and accidents involving exposure to radiation and the actions taken
Radiation incidents may include:
exposure of unauthorised personnel entering a controlled area
exposure from an uncontrolled, high hazard radioactive sealed source that:
has loss or destruction of shielding
is involved in a transport accident
is lost, missing or stolen
has a malfunction of its shutter or interlocks
has been dropped during removal from its container
has jammed in an unsafe position
exposure from equipment that emits ionising radiation and has:
loss or destruction of shielding
malfunction of its shutter or interlocks
exposure from dispersed radioactive material caused by:
industrial or laboratory accident resulting in radioactive contamination
dispersion of contaminants following destruction of a high activity sealed source
Response procedures will include:
instructions for keeping exposures to a minimum, consistent with essential operations through evacuation or otherwise
instructions for notifying the relevant competent authority if required
Radiation management plans should include details of:
work practices, such as safe working rules and emergency response procedures
roles and responsibilities of personnel
radiation monitoring requirements, including details of how the availability or accessibility requirements for the monitoring equipment are to be achieved
control of an incident involving the source
storage of the source
transport of the source
what to do with the source when it is no longer required, such as sale, transfer or disposal
accountability and records
other requirements that may have a bearing on safety
Hazards may include:
inhalation of radioactive dust or gas
ingestion of radioactive dust or contaminated food or water
unexpected exposure to sealed radiation sources or partially enclosed equipment that emits ionising radiation
Monitoring equipment may include:
radiation instruments and survey meters, such as:
air proportional
gas proportional
gas ionisation
Geiger-Muller
ionisation
scintillation
solid state
wipe test equipment
Safe working rules will vary according to the type of source equipment and should include monitoring details, such as:
for example, RPS No. 13 Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Safe Use of Fixed Radiation Gauges (2007), which specifies that working rules should include details of:
expected radiation levels around each fixed radiation gauge under the control of the responsible person
tests for non-fixed surface contamination, where appropriate
occasions on which radiation surveys and contamination tests will be carried out
methods for conducting radiation surveys, wipe tests and any other examination required by the code, and for reporting and recording results
information relating to:
operation of source or shutter controls
locking of source containers
arrangements of locks and safety procedures and equipment for preventing exposure of persons to a radiation beam
arrangements for preventing or minimising occupational and public radiation exposure
methods for ensuring that no part of any person can enter the item of equipment to which the gauge is attached while the gauge is in the 'beam on' condition
licence and registration requirements and conditions of the relevant regulatory authority
special instructions from, or requirements of, the relevant regulatory authority
arrangements for security of a gauge when it is in storage or being transported within the establishment
regular inspection of all equipment, including:
source containers or housings
survey meters
personal monitoring devices
labels
markings
notices
types and occasions for use of personal monitoring devices
steps to be taken in the event of an emergency
arrangements for the calibration, repair and maintenance of a fixed radiation gauge
instructions concerning the posting of radiation warning signs in the vicinity of the gauge
contact addresses and telephone numbers, including the after-hours emergency number, where relevant, for:
responsible person
relevant regulatory authority
service provider
provider of the personal monitoring service
arrangements for disposal of a radioactive source, x-ray tube or neutron generator tube from a fixed radiation gauge, which need to be in accordance with the requirements of the relevant regulatory authority
where necessary, details of a radiation isolation procedure for the gauge
Radiation protection safety standards, codes and guidelines may include:
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) radiation protection series publications, such as:
RPS No.1 Recommendations for Limiting Exposure to Ionizing Radiation (1995) and National Standard for Limiting Occupational Exposure to Ionizing Radiation (republished 2002)
RPS No.2 Code of Practice for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (2008)
RPS No.7 Recommendations for Intervention in Emergency Situations Involving Radiation Exposure (2004)
RPS No.13 Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Safe Use of Fixed Radiation Gauges (2007)
RPS No.5 Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Portable Density/Moisture Gauges Containing Radioactive Sources (2004)
Radiation Health Series produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC):
RHS No.31 Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Industrial Radiography Equipment (1989)
RHS No.28 Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Sealed Radioactive Sources in Borehole Logging (1989)
requirements of commonwealth, state and territory legislation, such as Victorian Radiation Act (2005) and Radiation Regulations (2007) and associated licensing requirements
definition of a responsible person
Site may include:
fully enclosed laboratories or specialist facilities with permanent shielding and entrances that are locked/interlocked with alarms or signs
partially enclosed sites, such as an exposure bay or a fixed radiation gauge with shielding, controlled access, alarms or signs
open sites, such as field locations and processing plants where temporary boundaries, shielding and signage are erected and access is controlled by patrolling personnel
Pre-use and safety checks may include:
confirmation that no unauthorised people are within boundaries
confirmation that radiation instruments and survey meters are functioning within specifications
inspection of:
source containers, housings, shielding, shutters and locks
personal monitoring devices
labels, markings, signage and notices
boundaries, locks and interlocks
confirmation of source position
confirmation of radiation levels in the vicinity of the radiation sealed source equipment
Site control measures may include:
hierarchy of control measures, including:
avoiding exposure, where practicable
isolating sources of radiation where practicable through shielding, containment and remote handling techniques
engineering controls
adopting safe work practices, including work methods which make appropriate use of time, distance and shielding to minimise exposure
using approved PPE where other means of controlling exposure are not practicable
designation of controlled or supervised areas within workplaces with appropriate working rules for each, such as:
controlled exposure times
logging of personnel on entry and exit
Required records may include:
estimates of doses received by employees and members of the public
site radiation measurements
calibration, inspection and maintenance of radiation instruments and equipment
transport of radioactive sources
details of incidents and accidents involving exposure to radiation and the actions taken
Radiation incidents may include:
exposure of unauthorised personnel entering a controlled area
exposure from an uncontrolled, high hazard radioactive sealed source that:
has loss or destruction of shielding
is involved in a transport accident
is lost, missing or stolen
has a malfunction of its shutter or interlocks
has been dropped during removal from its container
has jammed in an unsafe position
exposure from equipment that emits ionising radiation and has:
loss or destruction of shielding
malfunction of its shutter or interlocks
exposure from dispersed radioactive material caused by:
industrial or laboratory accident resulting in radioactive contamination
dispersion of contaminants following destruction of a high activity sealed source
Response procedures will include:
instructions for keeping exposures to a minimum, consistent with essential operations through evacuation or otherwise
instructions for notifying the relevant competent authority if required
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
safely conduct assigned tasks involving sealed radiation sources or equipment
monitor radiation levels and contamination
decontaminate people and surfaces
process radiation data and report results
keep accurate, complete and relevant records
initiate appropriate workplace emergency first response
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated by safely completing assigned tasks in a range of contexts, including sites, sealed sources, radiation equipment and complexity.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency should be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.
Assessment must comply with:
local regulations regarding the registration of operators, premises and sources at workplaces where radioactive materials and/or ionising radiation equipment are present
organisation's radiation management plan
Access may be required to:
registered premises and sources
supervision by a radiation safety professional
radiation instruments and monitoring equipment
appropriate PPE
organisation's radiation management plan or procedures
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
review of radiation data, results and records generated by the candidate
feedback from peers and supervisor that the candidate consistently applies relevant radiation protection and safety requirements
oral/written tests and calculations involving:
radiation terms, principles and quantities
set-up, calibration and basic maintenance of radiation instruments
selection and use of PPE
analysis of case studies and reports of relevant emergency incidents and exercises
observation of the candidate:
using, retrieving or containing dummy/actual radiation sources
using radiation equipment and monitoring equipment
undertaking a variety of tasks in a simulated radiation environment
In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency that are difficult to assess directly.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
PSPRAD703A Perform basic radiation measurements
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
safely conduct assigned tasks involving sealed radiation sources or equipment
monitor radiation levels and contamination
decontaminate people and surfaces
process radiation data and report results
keep accurate, complete and relevant records
initiate appropriate workplace emergency first response
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated by safely completing assigned tasks in a range of contexts, including sites, sealed sources, radiation equipment and complexity.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency should be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.
Assessment must comply with:
local regulations regarding the registration of operators, premises and sources at workplaces where radioactive materials and/or ionising radiation equipment are present
organisation's radiation management plan
Access may be required to:
registered premises and sources
supervision by a radiation safety professional
radiation instruments and monitoring equipment
appropriate PPE
organisation's radiation management plan or procedures
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
review of radiation data, results and records generated by the candidate
feedback from peers and supervisor that the candidate consistently applies relevant radiation protection and safety requirements
oral/written tests and calculations involving:
radiation terms, principles and quantities
set-up, calibration and basic maintenance of radiation instruments
selection and use of PPE
analysis of case studies and reports of relevant emergency incidents and exercises
observation of the candidate:
using, retrieving or containing dummy/actual radiation sources
using radiation equipment and monitoring equipment
undertaking a variety of tasks in a simulated radiation environment
In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency that are difficult to assess directly.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
PSPRAD703A Perform basic radiation measurements
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWU04 | PSPRAD006 | Work safely with radiation-sealed source equipment | Unit of competency |
