NORM Worker

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.

Course Design

• Power Point© / Lecture / Audio Video / Visual Aids

Successful Course Completion

• Requires a minimum score of 75% or better.
• Grades shall be calculated by dividing the number of questions answered correctly by the total number of exam questions.
• Delegates will have no more than thirty (30) minutes to complete the exam.

Course Content Summary

• Classroom

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)
Implementation Manual for Management of NORM in Louisiana
Radiation Protection Division