NATIONAL TRAINING COURSE FOR RADIATION SAFETY OFFICERS IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, IBADAN, NOVEMBER 28TH – 2nd DECEMBER 2011

The oil and gas industry is a major user of radioactive sources and radiation generators for nuclear well logging and industrial radiography. In addition radioactive sources are used as gauges and tracers. The presence of these radioactive materials and radiation generators results in the need to control occupational and public exposures to ionizing radiation. Furthermore, various radioactive wastes are produced in the oil and gas industry, including discrete sealed sources, e.g. spent and disused sealed sources; unsealed sources, e.g. tracers; contaminated items; wastes arising from decontamination activities, e.g. scales and sludge.

The oil and gas companies themselves are not experts in every aspect of the technology applied in their industry. Frequently, the necessary expertise is provided to the industry by specialized service companies. Obviously, it is in the interests of the oil and gas industry to demonstrate an appropriate standard of basic radiation safety, environmental control and waste management and to have a common understanding of the requirements and controls necessary to establish efficient and safe operations. The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority establishes requirements with respect to radiation protection, safety and security of radioactive sources in the extant Nigerian Radiation Safety Regulations which must be complied with by all users and handlers of radioactive sources and radiation generators.

The requirements for radiation protection and safety set in the regulations can only be met by users through an established comprehensive quality assurance (QA) programme that include justification, dose limitation and optimization (appropriate equipment, quality control tests, calibration, adequate trained personnel , safe procedures).

OBJECTIVE OF COURSE

Both international and national safety standards for protection against ionizing radiation and safety of radiation sources require that employers, registrants and licensees make suitable arrangements for the supervision of work with radiation sources. In order to realize these objectives, the NNRA published the Nigeria Basic Ionizing Radiation Regulations (NiBIRR) in 2003. Additionally, seven other practice specific regulations were published in 2006. Those of relevance to the oil and gas industry are: Nigerian Radiation Safety in Industrial Radiography Regulations, Nigerian Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources Regulations, Nigerian Transportation of Radioactive Sources Regulations and Nigerian Radioactive Waste Management Regulations. The implementation of this standard requires that a suitably competent worker be designated as the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) in the workplace. The RSO is to directly report to the senior management and should have power to stop unsafe practice. The role of Radiation Safety Officers described in general terms involves:

For the reasons stated above, the RSO must be appropriately trained and knowledgeable in the practice he or she supervises. The NNRA organizes training courses to help various categories of workers in the radiation industry acquire enough competence to carry out their duties safely and therefore contribute to safe use of radiation sources in Nigeria. This is one of such courses.

SCOPE AND COURSE SYLLABUS

The focus of this course is on technical and administrative framework necessary for protection against ionizing radiation and safety of radiation sources in the oil and gas industry. The course is based on the approved International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) training syllabus for RSO. The course consists of lectures, and practical sessions. An examination will be conducted at the end of the course and certificate awarded to successful candidates. The duration of the course is 1 week. 

The syllabus includes:

At the end of the course, participants are expected to:

This course and subsequent refresher courses are pre-requisites for NNRA accreditation of RSOs who are designated by licensees.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT OF APPLICANTS

 
Name:     National Training Course for Radiation Safety Officers (RSOs) in the Oil and Gas Industry

Target 
Audience: Oil Producing and Service Companies

Venue:   University Conference Centre, University of Ibadan,Ibadan, Oyo State

Date:      NOVEMBER 28TH – 2ND DECEMBER 2011

 COURSE FEES

The course fee for participation is One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira Only (N120, 000.00) per selected candidate payable in Bank Draft or money order to  ‘’ National Institute of Radiation Protection and Research’’. The fees cover course Materials, Practical and Coffee Breaks. Participants are to make arrangement for their travel and accommodation.

MODE OF APPLICATION

Interested participants are to indicate their intention in writing by filling-in the application form. The application with the appropriate course fee should reach the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority on or before 30th October, 2010. “Participation will be on a first come first serve basis”.

All applications are to be sent to:

The Executive Director
National Institute of Radiation Protection and Research
Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority
PMB 39, UI Post Office
Queen Elizabeth Road
University of Ibadan
Tel: 02-8767471
Mobile: 0805-781-2032
Email: f.balogun@nnra.gov.ng,  institute@nnra.gov.ng