Course on Safety in Liquid Waste Handling
Online 300-hour course on safety in liquid waste handling. 6 modules covering IAEA GSR Part 5 (predisposal management of radioactive waste), IAEA SSG-40 (radioactive waste management for nuclear power plants) and PHREEQC. Personal tutor assigned and open enrolment.
Course on Safety in Liquid Waste Handling — studying from Australia
Australia does not operate nuclear power plants, but nuclear science and technology play important roles in research, medicine, mining and regulation. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation operates research reactors and produces radiopharmaceuticals, while uranium mining is conducted in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. Nuclear engineering skills support regulatory oversight, radiation safety and decommissioning activities. Employers include ANSTO, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, mining companies and specialist consultancies.
Fees for Australia: A$868 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Does this programme meet Australian nuclear licensing or regulatory requirements?
No. SEIUM qualifications are private and are not accredited by any national body. Nuclear activities in Australia are regulated by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency and related authorities, which set their own competency requirements. Check directly with the regulator and your employer about any qualifications needed for a specific role.
Which Australian organisations might consider this training for nuclear-related roles?
Australian employers in this area include research organisations, radiation protection services, mining and resources companies, and consultancies working on nuclear-related projects. Hiring depends on each organisation's requirements and on security and licensing needs. A private qualification is unlikely to be sufficient alone, so combine it with relevant experience.
Is the programme workable alongside a job, and how is it funded?
The programmes are delivered entirely online in English with an assigned technical tutor, allowing study from Australia around work commitments. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Review the programme length, from 300 to 1,900 hours, and plan carefully.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Classify liquid radioactive waste according to its origin and activity.
Describe treatment processes such as evaporation and ion exchange.
Apply containment measures and leak prevention.
Assess the radiological and chemical risks of handling.
Apply the ALARA principle to liquid operations.
Control discharges within authorised limits.
Develop a safe procedure for handling liquid waste.
Who it's for
- Radioactive waste management technician who wants to specialise in Safety in Liquid Waste Handling.
- Effluent treatment engineer who wants to specialise in Safety in Liquid Waste Handling.
- Radiation protection technician who wants to specialise in Safety in Liquid Waste Handling.
- Nuclear chemical engineer who wants to specialise in Safety in Liquid Waste Handling.
- Facility safety manager who wants to specialise in Safety in Liquid Waste Handling.
- Radiochemistry laboratory technician who wants to specialise in Safety in Liquid Waste Handling.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter radioactive waste management.
What you'll work with
- IAEA GSR Part 5 (predisposal management of radioactive waste)
- IAEA SSG-40 (radioactive waste management for nuclear power plants)
- Directive 2011/70/Euratom (management of spent fuel and radioactive waste)
- Royal Decree 102/2014 (responsible management of radioactive waste)
- IAEA GSR Part 3 (radiation protection)
- ISO 10648-2 (containment enclosures: leaktightness)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Origin: power plants, hospitals, laboratories and industry1.2Classification by activity and by period1.3Chemical composition and its influence on treatment1.4Aqueous waste, organic waste and mixtures1.5Scintillation liquids and solvents1.6Compatibility and flammability issues1.7Regulatory framework for waste management1.8Exemption criteria and authorised discharge1.9Responsibilities of the producer1.10Exercise: classify a real inventory
2.1Segregation at source and labelling2.2Suitable containers and their compatibility2.3Double containment and retention bunds2.4Temporary storage areas and their design2.5Ventilation and leak detection2.6Inventory control and traceability2.7Controlled decay of short-lived isotopes2.8Concurrent non-radiological hazards2.9Chemical incompatibilities to avoid2.10Practice: design a temporary store
3.1Written decanting procedures3.2Tools and shielding for liquids3.3Prevention of aerosols and splashes3.4Appropriate personal protective equipment3.5Fume hoods, cabinets and enclosures3.6Pump and gravity transfer3.7Contamination checks after the operation3.8Responding to a spill: containment and absorption3.9Decontamination of surfaces and equipment3.10Practice: active liquid spill drill
4.1Evaporation and concentration4.2Ion exchange and resins4.3Filtration and ultrafiltration4.4Chemical precipitation and flocculation4.5Organic treatment: incineration and oxidation4.6Immobilisation in cement and polymers4.7Quality control of the conditioned product4.8Characterisation of the final waste4.9Generation of secondary waste4.10Practice: select the treatment route
5.1Limits and conditions for authorised discharge5.2Pre-discharge checks and recording5.3Monitoring of effluent and the receiving environment5.4Calculation of public dose from discharge5.5Preparing waste for collection5.6Transfer documentation for the waste contractor5.7Transport of radioactive liquids5.8Document archiving and deadlines5.9Audit of the waste management system5.10Practice: complete file for a waste collection
6.1Choosing the producing facility6.2Inventory and characterisation of the liquids6.3Design of segregation and storage6.4Handling procedures6.5Selection of the treatment route6.6Effluent monitoring plan6.7Emergency plan for spills6.8Staff training plan6.9Report on the waste management plan6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PHREEQC, MicroShield, advanced Excel, Aspen Plus, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case studies are based on real effluent treatment procedures using ion exchange, risk analysis of liquid handling, and control of radioactive discharges. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Classify liquid radioactive waste according to its origin and activity.
Describe treatment processes such as evaporation and ion exchange.
Apply containment measures and leak prevention.
Assess the radiological and chemical risks of handling.
Apply the ALARA principle to liquid operations.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical regulatory reading.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses PHREEQC, MicroShield, advanced Excel and Aspen Plus. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
Related programmes
Course on High-Power Laser Technologies in Fusion
Online course of 300 h in High-Power Laser Technologies in Fusion. 6 modules covering IEC 60825-1 (safety of laser products), Directive 2006/25/EC (artificial optical radiation) and…
Course in Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing of Materials
300-hour online course in destructive and non-destructive testing of materials. 6 modules covering ISO 6892-1 (tensile testing at room temperature), ISO 148-1 (Charpy impact test) and…
Course in Environmental Monitoring at Nuclear Sites
Online 300-hour course in environmental monitoring at nuclear sites. 6 modules covering IAEA RS-G-1.8 (environmental and source monitoring), Euratom Treaty, Articles 35 and 36 (control of…
More in Nuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies
All Nuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships