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State of Washington Classified Job Specification

RADIATION HEALTH PHYSICIST 4

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RADIATION HEALTH PHYSICIST 4
Class Code: 400S
Category: Protective Services


Definition

Plans and directs activities and supervises staff of a section within the Office of Radiation Protection; or is assigned as the Radiation Safety Officer for the Office of Radiation Protection. Serves as a member of a radiation emergency response team.

Typical Work

Plans and directs the statewide program activities of the staff of the Materials, X-Ray, or Environmental Monitoring/Emergency Response Units of the Radiation Control Section;

With the section head, identifies the goals of the program and develops alternate programs for attaining these goals;

Prepares budget requests and the means of evaluating the activities of one of the three program units;

Supervises the necessary technical and investigative functions of licensing and registration to carry out enforcement authority of the Materials Unit; develops strategy for effective environmental monitoring and emergency response responsibilities;

Advises on selection and arranges appointments by the Secretary of DSHS, of members of advisory committees, and maintains their interest and participation in the Radiation Control Section;

Establishes and maintains a training program to assure a technically competent staff as well as a promotional training opportunity for staff members;

Plans and directs additional programs for technical, professional and lay groups on the safe use of sources of radiation;

Presents testimony on regulatory violations for court cases and public hearings; attends and participates in State, regional and national meetings on technical aspects of radiation control;

Plans and directs procedures to protect the health and safety of the public in cases of emergencies involving radiation;

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of: principles, practices and methods of radiation procedures; research design and techniques; laws and rules concerning control of ionizing radiation, radiation instrument use; decontamination and monitoring radiated materials; principles and practices of personnel administration and supervision.

Ability to: supervise an operational unit of a statewide radiation control program; plan and conduct research and write legislation based on results; cope with emergencies in radiation accidents; maintain liaison with local government personnel and professional people in fields providing information and guidance to advisory committees on radiation control; write and speak effectively.

Legal Requirement(s)

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

Desirable Qualifications

A Master's degree in radiological health, radiation safety, health physics or closely related field and three years' professional experience in an official radiation control program, including one year of experience equivalent to a Radiation Health Physicist 3. 

OR

A Bachelor's degree in a physical science, engineering or biological science and five years' professional experience in an official radiation control program, including one year's experience equivalent to a Radiation Health Physicist 3. 

A Master's degree in any of the above fields may be substituted for one year of non-supervisory experience. 

Note:  An official radiation control program is an activity operated by a State or Federal agency, or by a private entity large enough to devote full-time staff to the review and control of the uses of radiation as defined below in "Radiation Control". 

"Radiation Control" as used in this specification refers to the activities generally of a health physics nature, intended to limit human exposure to radiation to the greatest extent possible; monitoring the uses of radiation with respect to human and environmental exposure; reviewing human exposure records and taking appropriate steps to further reduce exposure as necessary; conducting activities with the intent of limiting exposure as opposed to participating in radiation exposure procedures.

Class Specification History

New class
Effective March 1, 1968
Revised November 9, 1979
Revises definition, minimum qualifications, general revision, and title change (formerly Radiation Control Specialist 4)
Revised January 15, 1982
Revises definition, minimum qualifications, and title change (formerly Radiation Health Physicist 3)
Revised March 3, 1986
Revises definition and minimum qualifications
Revised June 10, 1988
Revises definition
New class code, formerly 60900, effective July 1, 2007.

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.