SENIOR RADIATION PROTECTION SPECIALIST

Position/Program Information

EXAM NUMBER :
PH5774E

F IRST DAY OF FILING :
Friday, March 31, 2023, at 8:30 a.m., Pacific Time (PT)

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT :

Open Competitive Job Opportunity

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

No out-of-class experience will be accepted

DEFINITION :

Conducts complex, specialized and sensitive investigations, inspections and evaluations to detect and control radiation hazards, and ensures compliance with State, Federal, and County laws and regulations arising from the use of X-ray equipment and radioactive materials and acts as lead-person over Radiation Protection Specialists.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS :

• Positions allocable to this class work under the general direction of a Principal Radiation Protection Specialist or the Head, Radiation Control in the Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division.
• Positions are responsible for performing the more difficult, complex, or non-routine inspections, investigations, and tests of radiation emitting equipment used in medical, dental, industrial, educational, or research facilities for proper licensing, shielding, safe operating procedures, and equipment calibration parameters and to ensure compliance with applicable State, Federal, and County laws and regulations.
• In addition, positions conduct studies, surveys, inspections, and investigations of radiologic health hazards; review plans and specifications of proposed X-ray or radioactive materials installations to ensure sufficient shielding and conformance with permissible exposures in controlled and uncontrolled environments.
• Senior Radiation Protection Specialist positions also serve as leads over Radiation Protection Specialists by providing technical guidance and training.

Essential Job Functions

• Performs routine and non-routine inspections or investigations on X-ray tubes at hospitals, clinics, mammography facilities, dental and other medical facilities at specified intervals including the most complicated types of high energy devices such as medical therapy linear accelerators; acts as lead-person for the Radiation Protection Specialist.
• Reviews plans and specifications of proposed X-ray or radioactive materials installations, including radiation therapy machines and Positron Emission Tomography Scanners, and performs complex calculations to determine shielding design accuracy.
  
• Utilizes a variety of radiation measuring instruments, test equipment, phantoms, and computers, following established procedures, to determine compliance with Federal, State, and County laws and regulations, and radiation safety practices.
  
• Measures the adequacy of shielding in walls using radiation detection instruments.
  
• Prepares written reports of inspection findings, including letters and Notices of Violations to users; follows-up on violations to ensure timely and appropriate corrective action; prepares written reports and letters to applicants of shielding adequacies or deficiencies.
  
• Enforces State, Federal, and County laws regarding the manufacture, installation, and use of X-ray equipment located in medical, dental, industrial, research, and academic facilities; enforces the State's certification law regarding licentiates, technologists, and technicians who use X-ray equipment.
  
• Provides consultation and training to physicians, dentists, X-ray personnel, and the public on proper practices, procedures, safety, and legal requirements in the use of radiation producing equipment.
  
• Reviews reports of personnel monitoring exposures, investigates incidents of radiation exposure and complaints, and requires appropriate control measures.
  
• Trains Radiation Protection Specialists in all phases of inspection techniques and procedures, program policies, and interpretation of regulations.
  
• Oversees the radiation exposure monitoring program of Radiation Management staff.
  
• Responds to emergency situations involving radiation incidents.
  
• Completes special projects such as the Nationwide Evaluation of X-ray Trends (NEXT) and Federal Compliance Tests.
  

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Option 1: Possession of a valid *certificate in diagnostic or therapeutic radiologic technology or nuclear medicine technology issued by the California Department of Public Health -OR- the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists - OR - Possession of a health physics technology *certificate from an accredited two-year program

-AND-

Six (6) years of experience in a regulatory program conducting investigations and surveying the use of radiological equipment, providing advice on safe practices in radiation, and compliance with rules and regulations governing radiation use.

Option 2: A Bachelor's degree from an **accredited college or university with a major in radiologic health, radiologic science , radiologic technology , health physics , physics , engineering , mathematics , physical science , or a ***closely related field -AND- Three (3) years of ****professional experience in health physics or a closely related field.

Option 3: One (1) year of experience performing the duties of a *****Radiation Protection Specialist with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health.

LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS III - Moderate:
This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
You must POSSESS and CLEARLY EXPRESS detailed years of experience performing relevant duties, related to the requirements within your online job application under the "Experience" area .
*Please ensure the License and Certificate Section of the application is completed for the required certificates. Provide the title of your required license and certifications, number, date of issue, date of expiration and the name of the issuing agency as specified in the Requirements on your application at the time of filing or e-mail the information to hrexams@ph.lacounty.gov within fifteen (15) calendar days of filing.
**ACCREDITATION : Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies which are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references.

• In order to receive credit for any type of college or university degree, such as a Bachelor's Degree or higher, you must attach a legible copy of the Official Diploma, Official Transcript(s), or Official Letter from the accredited institution, which shows the area of specialization and the date the degree was awarded, with Registrar's signature and school seal, to the application or within fifteen (15) calendar days from application submission to hrexams@ph.lacounty.gov .
• Foreign studies must be evaluated for equivalency to United States accredited institutions standards by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE) . (see Employment Information under Accreditation Information)

*** Examples of c losely r elated fields: Nuclear Engineering, Physics of Instrumentation, Geologic Science, or Chemistry.

**** Professional experience in health physics : Experience gained in the field of radiation protection subsequent to receiving a bachelor's degree.

*****In the County of Los Angeles, a Radiation Protection Specialist c onducts inspections, investigations, and tests to detect and control radiation hazards arising from the use of X-ray equipment, and ensures compliance with State, Federal, and County laws and regulations.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

Credit will be given to applicants who possess the following desirable qualifications:

• Experience beyond the Minimum Requirements.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

This examination will consist of an Evaluation Experience based upon the application, desirable qualifications, and supplemental questionnaire weighted 100%.

Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination in order to be added onto the register of eligible candidates.

Passing this examination and being added to the Eligible Register (hiring list) does not guarantee an offer of employment.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION :

The names of candidates will be added to the Eligible Register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of eligibility.

NO PERSON MAY COMPETE IN THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TWELVE (12) MONTHS .

Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the register of eligible candidates accordingly.

VACANCY INFORMATION :

The Eligible Register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the Department of Public Health as they occur.

AVAILABLE SHIFT :

Appointees will be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays.

______________________________________________________

SPECIAL INFORMATION

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION :

Applications must be submitted ONLINE ONLY. Applications submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the 5:00 p.m. (PT) deadline on the last day of filing as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on the County of Los Angeles Job Opportunities Website, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button located on this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the REQUIREMENTS . Fill out the application and Supplemental Questionnaire accurately and completely to receive full credit for any relevant education and/or job experience you include.

In the space provided on the application for education, include names and addresses of schools attended, dates attended, degree(s) received, and degree major. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job/position title, start and end dates, the number of hours worked per week, and detailed description of work and duties performed. If the application and/or Supplemental Questionnaire is/are incomplete, the application will be REJECTED .

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Please note that ALL information supplied by applicants and included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made.
• Applications may be rejected at any stage of the examination and selection process.
• FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION or RESCISSION OF APPOINTMENT .
• Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification(s) and/or Minimum Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. In doing so your application will be dispositioned as INCOMPLETE and will not be accepted.
• Comments such as "SEE RESUME" or "SEE APPLICATION" will not be considered a valid response; therefore, using such statements will also result in your application being rejected as INCOMPLETE .

FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE:

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) :

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the in equalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES :

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Check the website for updated information at https://lacountylibrary.org/library-locator/ .

NO SHARING OF USER ID, E-MAIL AND PASSWORD :

All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.


SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER :

Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922

ADA Coordinator Phone: (323) 659-6546

Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099

Alternate Teletype Phone : (800) 897-0077

Department Contact Name: Exam Analyst

Department Contact Phone: (323) 659-6546

Department Contact E-mail: HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov

For detailed information, please click here

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• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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