Course in Non-Nuclear Radiation Accident Cases
Online 300-hour course in non-nuclear radiation accident cases. 6 modules covering IAEA GSR Part 3 (radiation protection and safety of radiation sources), the IAEA Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and MicroShield. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Non-Nuclear Radiation Accident Cases — studying from South Africa
South Africa is one of the few African countries with an operating nuclear power programme, centred on the Koeberg power station near Cape Town, operated by Eskom. The country also has nuclear research and fuel cycle activity through the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, known as Necsa, based at Pelindaba near Pretoria. Nuclear engineers work on reactor operation, safety, fuel management and decommissioning. The National Nuclear Regulator is the independent authority that licenses and oversees nuclear activities.
Fees for South Africa: R 10 200 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the professional bodies in South Africa for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any South African body, so they are not official state degrees. Nuclear activities in South Africa are regulated by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), and professional registration runs through ECSA. Acceptance of a private qualification in this regulated field rests with employers or the relevant authority, so verify before enrolling.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in nuclear engineering?
Nuclear employers, including Eskom and specialist contractors, typically require formally recognised qualifications, security clearances and regulatory competence. A private SEIUM qualification may add background knowledge but is unlikely to meet formal requirements on its own. Discuss this with employers in the nuclear sector to understand how they would view it.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from South Africa without a student visa. Master's programmes require 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments and employer sponsorship is possible. Ask SEIUM about time-zone and workload details before enrolling.
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
Analyse significant radiological accidents outside the nuclear field.
Identify the root causes of incidents in industrial radiography.
Examine radiological accidents in the medical field and their consequences.
Explain the risks associated with lost, stolen or recycled sources.
Evaluate the response of authorities in historical cases.
Draw lessons learned applicable to prevention.
Prepare a case report with improvement recommendations.
Who it's for
- Radiation protection expert who wishes to specialise in Non-Nuclear Radiation Accident Cases.
- Radiological event analyst who wishes to specialise in Non-Nuclear Radiation Accident Cases.
- Supervisor of radioactive facilities who wishes to specialise in Non-Nuclear Radiation Accident Cases.
- Radiological emergency response technician who wishes to specialise in Non-Nuclear Radiation Accident Cases.
- Radiological safety inspector who wishes to specialise in Non-Nuclear Radiation Accident Cases.
- Consultant in radioactive source safety who wishes to specialise in Non-Nuclear Radiation Accident Cases.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter industrial radiology.
What you'll work with
- IAEA GSR Part 3 (radiation protection and safety of radiation sources)
- IAEA Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources
- Directive 2013/59/Euratom (basic safety standards)
- Royal Decree 1029/2022 (protection of health against ionising radiation)
- IAEA GSR Part 7 (preparedness and response for a nuclear or radiological emergency)
- Royal Decree 451/2020 (control of orphan sources in scrap metal)
- INES scale (International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Overview of documented radiological accidents1.2Difference between a nuclear accident and a radiological accident1.3Sectors involved: industry, medicine and research1.4Orphan sources and their origin1.5Melting of sources in scrap metal1.6International event scale and its use1.7Databases and event repositories1.8Training value of case studies1.9Methodology for analysing a case1.10Exercise: timeline of an event from sources
2.1Typical sequence of a radiography accident2.2Source not returned to the container2.3Failure of the operating mechanism2.4Dosimetry absent or not used2.5Undelimited areas and presence of third parties2.6Retrospective dose estimation2.7Local radiation injuries and their progression2.8Response by the company and the authority2.9Barriers that failed and barriers that worked2.10Practice: reconstructing the dose of a real case
3.1Patient identification errors3.2Planning errors in radiotherapy3.3Equipment calibration failures3.4Software and data transfer problems3.5Overexposures in interventional radiology3.6Radiopharmaceutical incidents3.7Accidental exposure of pregnant women3.8Late detection of errors and worsening3.9Notification systems in the healthcare sector3.10Practice: root cause analysis of a clinical case
4.1Loss of control during transport4.2Theft of containers and equipment4.3Abandoned facilities and forgotten sources4.4Appearance of sources in waste and scrap4.5Contamination of metal products4.6Dispersal of material in urban environments4.7Detection through portal monitors and alert chains4.8Safe recovery and subsequent management4.9Social and economic cost of the event4.10Practice: response plan for an orphan source
5.1Organisation of the initial response5.2Triage and medical care of the exposed5.3Biological and cytogenetic dosimetry5.4Public communication during the crisis5.5Official investigation and liabilities5.6Recurring lessons learned5.7Strengthening barriers: technical, administrative and cultural5.8Control of inventory and the source lifecycle5.9Specific training based on cases5.10Practice: checklist of barriers applicable to a facility
6.1Selection of a documented case6.2Reconstruction of the sequence of events6.3Identification of direct and latent causes6.4Estimation of dose and consequences6.5Evaluation of the response given6.6Missing barriers and improvement proposal6.7Transfer of learning to a specific facility6.8Training material derived from the case6.9Analysis report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
Fully 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 intake, which makes it possible to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MicroShield, RESRAD, advanced Excel, NVivo, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: analysing IAEA accident reports, reconstructing doses in case studies and response drills for orphan sources. Assessment is continuous per 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.
Analyse significant radiological accidents outside the nuclear field.
Identify the root causes of incidents in industrial radiography.
Examine radiological accidents in the medical field and their consequences.
Explain the risks associated with lost, stolen or recycled sources.
Evaluate the response of authorities in historical cases.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level 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 an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with full-time work.
You work with MicroShield, RESRAD, advanced Excel and NVivo. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
SEIUM's own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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