NORM Worker

 

Prerequisites: This course has no formal pre-requisite.

Course Length: 4 hours - Course length will vary depending on the number of students. Total course time includes breaks.

Course Objective

  • Provide delegates assigned to work with or around NORM the necessary skills to safely perform their jobs.

  • Provide delegates with recommended practices and guidelines to perform safely while working with NORM.

  • Delegates should be able to demonstrate knowledge during a written examination.

Breaks: 10 minutes (approximately every hour)

Lunch: 1 Hour

Course Outline
About NORM

  • What is NORM?

  • Review Regulations

About Radioactivity

  • Natural Sources of NORM

  • Understanding Radioactivity

  • Understanding Atoms

Radiation

  • What is radiation?

  • Types of Ionizing Radiation

    • Alpha Particles

    • Beta Particles

    • Gamma Radiation

  • Penetrating Power of Different Ionizing Radiation

  • Periodic Table Groups

    • Review Periodic Table of Elements

    • Ionizing of Matter

  • Sources of Radiation

    • Natural

      • Discuss examples

    • Artificial

      • Discuss examples

NORM in the Workplace

  • Oil & Gas Industry

  • NORM within Oil & Gas Production Facilities

    • How Radium Flows

  • The Accumulation of Radioactive Materials

  • Radon Gas

    • How Radon Gas Flows

  • Technologically Enhanced NORM (TENORM)

Radiation & Contamination

  • Modifying Units of Measure

    • Milli

    • Micro

    • Nano

    • Pico

  • Measurement Terms for NORM Detection

    • Roentgen

    • Roentgen Equivalent Man (REM)

    • Roentgen Absorbed Dose (RAD)

    • Curie

    • Mico-Roentgen Per Hour

    • Counts Per Minute (CPM)

  • Radioactive Contamination

    • Loose Contamination

    • Fixed Contamination

Hazards of Contamination

  • Large Dose of Radiation (Acute)

    • General Effects of Body

    • Legal Limits

    • General Radiation Exposure Effects

      • 0-50 REM

      • 80-120 REM

      • 130-170 REM

      • 180-122 REM

      • 270-330 REM

      • 5,000 REM

  • Contamination Theories

    • Linear Dose Effect Theory

    • Threshold Dose Effect Theory

  • Health Effects of NORM Exposure

  • Internal Contamination Effects

  • Common Methods of Exposure

  • Other Radiation Risks

Worker Protection

  • Review Safe Work Practices

Signs & Labels

  • Postings in NORM Areas

    • Restricted Areas

    • Radiation Areas

    • Stored Material Areas

    • Airborne Radiation Areas

    • High Radiation Areas

  • NORM Container Markings

  • “Notice to Employees” Document

NORM Detection

  • Reliable Detection & Measurement of NORM

    • NORM Meters

      • Probe Attachment

      • Pancake Attachment

    • Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimeters

  • Establishing Safe Work Boundaries

  • NORM Radiation Surveys

  • Record Keeping

  • Recommended NORM Site Documents

Personal Protective Equipment

  • Discuss Common PPE

    • Gloves

    • Respirators

    • Safety Glasses/Face Shields

    • Coveralls/Disposable Clothing

    • Rubber Boots

    • Hard Hats

  • Discuss Techniques:

    • Proper Fit

    • Condition

    • Nature of Work

    • Donning PPE

    • Removing PPE (Potentially Contaminated)

Decontamination

  • Decontamination Procedures

  • Decontamination Concepts

Emergency Response Procedures

  • NORM Spill Emergency

  • Injured Worker

  • Fires & Explosions

Practical Session

  • None

Training Center Provided Material

  • Course Materials

  • NORM Meter

Delegate Requirements

  • None

Reference Material / Documents
Department of Transportation (DOT)

  • 49 CFR 173 – General Shipping Requirements

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

Cost $127.00