Radiation Safety Training
Initial Radiation Safety Training
Module 4: Government Regulations and the Radiation Safety Program
This module provides information about the following topics:
- Regulations
- University Licenses
- Inspections and Audits
- the Radiation Safety Program
- Radiation Safety Committee
- Radiation Safety Office
- Approved Users
- Radiation Workers
Regulations
Miami University is authorized by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to procure, use, store, and dispose of radiation-generating equipment and radioactive materials on the Oxford campus. Copies of the relevant regulations are available from the Radiation Safety Office and from the ODH Web site.
A "NOTICE TO EPLOYEES" is posted in common places where employees frequently
pass. The Notice provides information about how to contact the ODH and describes workers' rights and responsibilities.
University
License/Registration
The University currently holds the following license/registration to possess and use radioactive materials and radiation-generating equipment:
- ODH Broad Scope Type B Materials License covering the use of radioisotopes on campus
- ODH Certificate of Registration for the use of radiation generating equipment.
The license issued by the ODH specifies the quantities, locations, and conditions under which radioisotopes may be used at Miami University. They require the University to establish policies and procedures to ensure the accountability and safe use of radioactive materials. Copies of the license/registration are available from the Radiation Safety Office.
Inspections and Audits
Regulatory Agency Inspections
The ODH conducts periodic inspections of the use of radioactive materials and radiation generting equipment at the University. If violations of the regulations or radiation safety program deficiencies are discovered, Notices of Violations may be issued against the University, and fines and other sanctions can be imposed.
Internal Audits
Miami University's Radiation Safety Committee conducts an annual audit of the radiation safety program, which includes a review of the Annual Report and supporting documentation.
Miami University's Radiation Safety Program
To meet the requirements of the ODH and to provide a safe working environment, Miami University has established a radiation safety program with three key components that have varying degrees of management responsibility:
The roles and responsibilities of each are described in the following sections.
The Radiation Safety Committee
The Radiation Safety Committee, which consists of faculty members, Radiation Safety Office staff, and management representatives, meets as often as necessary to conduct business (e.g., quarterly). The Committee:
- oversees the radiation safety program
- authorizes the use of radioactive materials
- reviews incidents involving radioactive materials
- sets policies for the use of sources of radiation
- gives general supervision to the implementation of those policies.
The Radiation Safety Office
The day-to-day operation of the radiation safety program is managed within the Radiation Safety Office by the University's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). The RSO and the Radiation Safety staff advise Approved Users and Radiation Workers on radiation safety and regulatory compliance issues and provide the following services:
- radiation safety training
- personal monitoring and dosimetry services
- bioassay
- radiation safety assessment for pregnant radiation workers
- laboratory radiation and contamination surveys
- incident, spill and contamination management
- radioactive waste disposal management
The Approved User
Approved User status is granted to Radiation Workers by the Radiation Safety Committee to faculty, students at the graduate level or above, and senior staff members based on training and experience. A Principle Investigator (PI) is a faculty member with Approved User status who is granted approval to possess and use specific isotopes only for the uses described in the authorization application and is issued a possession limit for each of those isotopes.
Each Authorized User is responsible for:
- The day-to day supervision of Radiation Workers under their direction and direct supervision of any guest faculty, student, staff, or visitor who enters a room where radioactive materials are used or stored.
- Providing performance-based and other radiation safety training specific to their research.
- Providing direct supervision to a Radiation Worker until confidence in his or her abilities and understanding of applicable rules and procedures have been achieved .
- Maintaining records, logs, and other documentation as required by the Radiation Safety Program
Radiation Worker Responsibilities - General
A radiation worker is anyone who uses radioactive materials or radiation-generating equipment. The radiation worker's thorough training, compliance with regulations and procedures, careful work habits and respect for the health and safety of fellow workers are an integral part of the radiation safety program.
A radiation worker's responsibilities include the following:
- Successfull completion of Miami University's Radiation Worker Safety traing course.
- Work under the supervision of an Approved User.
- Receive performance-based training conducted by an Approved User.
- Keep exposures as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).
- Wear the prescribed monitoring equipment (i.e., personal dosimeters) in controlled and radiation areas.
- Prohibit smoking, eating, drinking, and applying of cosmetics in laboratories.
- Prohibit the use of refrigerators/freezers in laboratories for the storage of food and drinks intended for human consumption.
- Monitoring the controlled areas for contamination at least once each day radioactive materials are used.
- Practice good housekeeping.
- Isolate and label equipment used in conjuction with radioactive materials.
- Immediately report any incident of inhilation, ingestion, or injury involving radioactive materials to the PI and the RSO.
This is the end of the Government Regulations Module, which is the fourth of the six Initial Radiation Basics modules. The next module is the External & Internal Dose Limits Module.
Miami University's Radiation Safety Office would like to thank Sue Dupre and Princeton University for the training materials used in this website.