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 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
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 Ethics in Communicating Robotic Failures
Online course of 300 h in Ethics in Communicating Robotic Failures. 6 modules covering CSN Instruction IS-10 (Spain) (event reporting criteria), 10 CFR 50.73 (reportable event…
Course in Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactors
300-hour online course in sodium-cooled fast reactors. 6 modules covering RCC-MRx (AFCEN, high-temperature reactor components), ASME BPVC Section III, Division 5 (high-temperature reactors) and SAS4A/SASSYS-1. Assigned…
Course in Nuclear Facility Decommissioning
Online 300-hour course in nuclear facility decommissioning. 6 modules covering IAEA GSR Part 6 (decommissioning of facilities), Directive 2011/70/Euratom (spent fuel and radioactive waste management) and…
More in Nuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies
All Nuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships