I am Sandu Sonoc.
I was born and educated in Romania. I have a Masters Degree in Nuclear Engineering and a PhD in Nuclear Physics from the University of Bucharest. I moved to Canada in November 1994 and I reside in the city of Toronto. I am currently the Senior Radiation Safety Officer and the Laser Safety Officer for the University of Toronto. I am a registered Radiation Protection Professional with the Canadian Radiation Protection Association, a certified Laser Safety Officer with the Board of Laser Safety, and a Professional Engineer in the province of Ontario.
In March 1995, I began working for the University of Toronto in a chemical engineering laboratory. My first contact with lasers took place during my undergraduate studies. In the ‘90s, I worked directly with lasers in this laboratory. In February 2002, I moved from the Chemical Engineering Department to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at the University of Toronto and currently work as member of the Radiation Protection Services group.
Becoming an LSO
The University of Toronto Laser Safety Program was established in the ‘90s. The Occupational Hygiene group was responsible for coordinating the Laser Safety Program for the university and external contractors were used to perform training and inspections. In the spring of 2004, I was given the additional portfolio of Laser Safety Officer and I reorganized the program by bringing the laser safety training and inspections “in house”.
Becoming a CLSO
In August 2004, I participated in the laser safety training for laser safety officers organized by the Laser Institute of America (LIA). I passed the certification exam in the same year. The Laser Safety Officer certification was deemed a requirement by the University of Toronto Senior Management as our university had over 200 class 3B and class 4 lasers. My certification increased the credibility of the program and of the Office of Environmental Health & Safety in general. In addition, I feel certification provided a wealth of information that has proved very useful during training and inspections and when discussing spending considerations for engineering control requirements with users and with Principal Investigators.
I enjoy being a Laser Safety Officer and an active member of LIA. It is challenging to keep up-to-date in Laser Safety in a busy university environment. LIA helps me to do that. During the visits in laser labs, I can have meaningful discussions with laser users and Principal Investigators regarding current topics of concern.
|