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The University's arrangements for managing work with sources of ionising radiation are described in: Safe Working with Radiation.
The key administrative elements are:
- The Safety Office must be pre-notified of any intention to commence work with radiation sources for the first time, or at a new location, or with new sources, or for a new application using existing sources.
- Each School working with radiation sources must appoint at least one Radiation Protection Supervisor.
- Each School must develop a set of written Local Rules for safe working with radiation.
- Each School must register radiation workers with the Safety Office using the University Registration Form.
- Each School must pre-notify to the Safety Office the intention to acquire, relocate, modify, decommission or dispose of closed radioactive source or X-ray equipment.
- Each School must pre-notify to the Safety Office the intention to work with radiochemicals.
- Prior to working with radiation sources, a risk assessment must be completed and written procedures for use produced. (Closed/X-ray Source Risk Assessment Form; Open Source/Radiochemical Risk Assessment Form)
- No radiation work may be carried out without the knowledge and consent of the Radiation Protection Supervisor and the Safety Office.
One of the reasons for the above controls is to ensure that work is carried out in compliance with the licences (otherwise known as Certificates) issued to the University by the Environment Agency under the Radioactive Substances Act.
- Certificates of Authorisation regulate the accumulation and disposal of waste (principally radiochemicals) and place limits on isotopes and quantities by specified routes within a given time period.
- Certificates of registration allow the holding of stock or items of radioactive subtances - open sources ( i.e. radiochemicals), closed sources (i.e. discrete functional sources within items of equipment) and mobile sources (i.e. within portable measuring instruments)
Current versions of the University's Certificates can be accessed by Radiation Protection Supervisors. Username/Password will be issued by the Safety Office on request.
Some of this information is also listed below.
Further information on radiation within the University
Design Considerations for Radiochemical Laboratories - Environment Agency Guidance to Inspectors html
AURPO Guidance Notes: Safe Working with Ionising Radiation in Research and Teaching; July 2006 (PDF)
The HSE has published guidelines for expectant or breastfeeding mothers working with radiation (INDG334; 2001)
The Society for Radiological Protection has published a simple and comprehesive FAQ guide that is useful for those with limited knowledge.
New Radiation Workers training notes - If you have recently attended the University's Introductory Radiation Training Course for dosimeter wearers at either University Park or Sutton Bonington, the course handout and the presentation slides are available. There are also Ten Golden Rules for working safely with radiation.
The Contamination Control video illustating good practice in working with radiochemcials can be run in sections as follows:
Introduction - risks, licencing, laboratory design.
Getting started - laboratory signage, isotope selection, justification for use.
Setting up your workstation - use of benchkote, trays, screens, personal protective equipment.
Withdrawing stock - checking for contamination, practising the technique, record keeping.
Working with Iodine-125 - additional precautions and checks, disposal of aqueous waste (applies to any isotope).
Monitoring for contamination - when and what to monitor; how to monitor; selecting and using a radiation montor; wipe testing of surfaces; records of monitoring.
Dealing with a contamination accident - personal decontamination; decontaminating the laboratory; precautions to be taken; finding, assessing and dealing with the contamination (decay; shield or decontaminate?).
Radiation Dosimeters
These are issued to radiation workers using medium to higher energy beta and gamma emitters. They are not issued to those working with tritium, carbon-14 or sulphur-35 as these are too low an energy to be dectable and the particles only have a short range. Wearers are responsible for looking after their dosimeter and changing it via their RPS at the end of the wear period - usually the end of March, June, September and December.
The dosimeter provider is Landauer and the dosimety service is co-ordinated by the Safety Office (contact Paula Campbell). When returned the badges must be checked for contmination before being returned to the Safety Office. The RPS or other authorised person consigning them needs to complete a declaration that they have ben checked before being returned. This is to protect those handling the dosimeters subsequently (see: RAD 10 Declaration Form).
RPS Updates
8th February 2012 - Topics:
- Changes to Exemption Orders under the Environmental Permitting Regulations - session by Jennifer Poveda (RPA; Medical Physics, NUH NHS Trust) - Presentation
- Feedback on EA Audits - Presentation
- Isostock Workshop - Peter Gillett.
Radiation related web sites
- AURPO (Association of University Radiation Protection Officers) - This website has AURPO publications and newsletters which are relevant to Universities.
- Health and Safety Executive have an Ionising Radiation website. HSE also publish Radiation Protection News at regular intervals.
- NRPB (National Radiological Protection Board) - This website gives information about the NRPB, the services they offer and their information on various issues of radiation protection, including laser pointers, ultra violet radiation, radon, etc.
- SRP (Society for Radiological Protection) - This scientific society is concerned with the safety aspects of ionising and non-ionising radiation in education, central and local government, industry, medicine and research - link to website.
- Amersham Biosciences publish a range of practical information on their website. This includes
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- Transport of Dangerous Goods
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