State of Maryland

A Health Physicist III is the lead or advanced level of work in the recognition, evaluation and control of radiological hazards to employees and the general public.  Employees in this classification performing lead level work assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Health Physicists.  Employees in this classification performing advanced level work function as technical experts overseeing special radiation control projects.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Health Physicist Supervisor or other designated administrator.  Employees may be assigned to work evenings and weekends and may be required to perform emergency response duties on a 24/7 recall basis.  The work is performed at hospitals, industrial firms, medical offices, dental facilities, laboratories and other facilities where travel is required and the environment may require radiation exposure monitoring.  Employees are required to enter areas where radioactive material and radiation producing devices are used and, therefore, must observe radiation control measures to prevent or reduce the risk of overexposure to radioactive materials or radiation machines.  Employees may be required to wear safety equipment and transport objects weighing over fifty pounds.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Health Physicist Lead/Advanced is differentiated from the Health Physicist II in that the Health Physicist Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Health Physicists and the Health Physicist Advanced performs advanced duties as a technical expert in charge of special radiation control projects, while the Health Physicist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Health Physicist Lead/Advanced is differentiated from the Health Physicist Supervisor in that the Health Physicist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Health Physicists.

Health Physicist Lead

Assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Health Physicists;

Trains lower-level Health Physicists;

Conducts field radiation surveys for verification of shielding;

Performs file reviews of x-ray machine and radioisotope users and schedules inspections;

Performs field survey procedures;

Conducts complex and detailed audits and inspections and summarizes inspection results;

Prepares and oversees preparation of inspection reports, summaries and compliance letters, records and files by Health Physicists;

Initiates the development of cases for escalated enforcement action;

Interprets and applies Maryland radiation control regulations and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission guidelines;

Uses and edits the computerized relational database;

Calibrates and maintains radiation monitoring instruments;

Uses radiographic film developing methods;

May assist in budget preparation, inventories and space planning;

Performs other related duties.

Health Physicist Advanced

Oversees radiological emergency responses as employee in charge;

Investigates circumstances at the scene of radiological incidents;

Schedules reenactments of incidents and makes recommendations to assure that all safety precautions are implemented;

Oversees a project team of Health Physicists on specialized radiation control assignments involving industrial radiography, teletherapy, irradiators, etc.;

Acts as consultant in special field problems and interprets results of investigations and analyses;

Writes radioactive material licenses for complex radiation operations, such as mega curie pool irradiation, radiography, radioactive materials source manufacture and re-encapsulation, and medical procedures including high dose rate brachytherapy, teletherapy and the treatment of brain tumors using a 240 curie gamma knife device;

Reviews and issues radioactive material licenses including licenses prepared by other Health Physicists and assists in determining licensing fees;

Assists in establishing regulations for users of radiation sources, such as radionuclides, x-rays, nuclear irradiators and non-ionizing radiation sources;

Gives presentations on a specific area of expertise, such as industrial radiography, pool irradiators, high dose rate, radiation/hot cell operations, brachytherapy, teletherapy, to schools and civic and professional groups;

Provides refresher training to other Health Physicists on specialized investigations, emergency response, field radiation surveys, high priority investigations and other topics in radiation safety for which specialized training is required;

Performs field survey procedures;

Conducts complex and detailed audits and inspections and summarizes inspection results;

Prepares and oversees preparation of inspection reports, summaries and compliance letters, records and files by Health Physicists;

Initiates the development of cases for escalated enforcement action;

Interprets and applies Maryland radiation control regulations and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission guidelines;

Uses and edits the computerized relational database;

Calibrates and maintains radiation monitoring instruments;

Uses radiographic film developing methods;

May assist in budget preparation, inventories and space planning;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the chemical, biological, physical and mathematical principles involved in the control and safe use of radioactive materials and devices producing ionizing and non-ionizing radiation;

Knowledge of State and federal regulations and the legal principles of radiation control enforcement activities;

Skill in interpreting and applying State and federal radiation control regulations;

Skill in recognizing areas in facilities where radiological health hazards may exist;

Ability to communicate clearly;

Ability to recognize actual and potential radiological health hazards;

Ability to operate and maintain electronic instruments;

Ability to apply statistical, mathematical and physical principles in the analysis of raw data;

Ability to interpret the results of inspection and laboratory data;

Ability to draw conclusions based on inspections, surveys, plan reviews, sampling data and test results;

Ability to interpret technical and legal standards for control of radiological hazards and to recognize violations of those standards;

Ability to prepare technical reports and analyses;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with State, federal and community representatives, licensees, registrants, co-workers and the general public;

Ability to train lower-level Health Physicists.

Experience: Eight years of experience performing in performing the recognition, evaluation and control of radiological hazards to employees and the general public.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 30 credit hours in mathematical, physical or biological sciences and four years of experience performing in performing the recognition, evaluation and control of radiological hazards to employees and the general public for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor’s degree in radiation safety, radiological health, health physics or a related radiation control field from an accredited college or university for five years of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master’s degree in radiation safety, radiological health, health physics, or related radiation control field from an accredited college or university for six years of the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master’s degree in mathematical, biological or physical science from an accredited college or university for five years of the required experience.

5. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Doctorate in health physics, nuclear physics, radiation management or related field of radiological health from an accredited college or university for seven years of the required experience.

6. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Health and Medical Physicist classifications or Health and Medical Physicist specialty codes in the Physicist field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G- Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.