Course Description

Radiation in industrial systems is not a single phenomenon; it is classified into two broad categories. Ionizing radiation, which includes gamma rays, X-rays, and neutrons, has enough energy to remove electrons from atoms, creating ions that can damage DNA. Non-ionizing radiation, such as ultraviolet light, laser radiation, and radiofrequency fields, has lower energy but can still cause thermal burns and eye damage. As an industrial engineer, you must manage both types because they appear in very different equipment. Ionizing sources are found in non-destructive testing cameras, density gauges, level switches, and food irradiators. Non-ionizing sources are found in UV curing lines, industrial lasers for cutting, and RF sealers for plastic packaging. Beyond man-made sources, naturally occurring radioactive material, or NORM, can accumulate in oil and gas pipelines, water treatment plants, and mineral processing facilities; this is often overlooked until a maintenance worker receives an unexpected dose. Uncontrolled radiation exposure leads to two categories of health effects: deterministic effects, which have a threshold and increase in severity with dose, such as skin burns or cataracts, and stochastic effects, which have no threshold and include cancer and heritable genetic changes. Your job as an industrial engineer is to design systems that prevent both.

What you'll learn in this course?

• By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Identify the types, sources, and biological effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation in industrial settings.

• Apply ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principles using engineering, administrative, and personal protective controls.

• Calculate safe distances, shielding requirements, and exposure times using inverse square law and half-value layer concepts.

• Select and interpret dosimetry devices and survey instruments for workplace monitoring.

• Comply with local and international radiation safety regulations (IAEA, ICRP, NRC equivalents).

• Develop a radiation protection plan for industrial systems such as non-destructive testing, gauges, and irradiators.

• Radiation in industrial systems is classified into ionizing (e.g., gamma, X-rays, neutrons) and non-ionizing (e.g., UV, laser, RF) types.

• Industrial engineers must manage radiation sources in nondestructive testing (NDT), density gauges, level switches, and food irradiators.

• Naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) can accumulate in oil/gas pipelines and mineral processing plants.

Prerequisites

• Basic engineering knowledge and familiarity with industrial systems and engineering units Wiscademy | Radiation Protection 2