Transcript Radiation Safety Training: Procedures University of Alaska Fairbanks September 2013 Training Contents 1) UAF Radiation Safety Requirements • Authorized and Supervised Users • Requirements for labs •

Radiation Safety Training:
Procedures
University of Alaska Fairbanks
September 2013
Training Contents
1) UAF Radiation Safety Requirements
• Authorized and Supervised Users
• Requirements for labs
• Badges
• Ordering and receiving isotopes
• Recordkeeping
• Wipe tests and surveys
• Security
2) Radioactive waste disposal
3) Emergency procedures—spill response
UAF RADIATION SAFETY PROGRAM
CLASSES OF USERS
Authorized User (AU):
is primarily responsible for the authorized use,
supervision, and training of their laboratory
personnel. This is typically a Principal
Investigator.
Supervised User (SU):
is a staff member or student of at least 18
years of age and is supervised by the AU.
UAF Radiation Safety Requirements
UAF laboratories where radioactive materials are used
must have:
1. A radioisotope use notebook for records. This is
known as “The Redbook” and is often in a red
binder for easy recognition.
a) Notebook must contain a UAF Authorized
User application and any Supervised User
applications.
2. Impervious counter tops. Absorbent paper should
be used in radioisotope work areas.
UAF Radiation Safety Requirements (cont).
UAF laboratories where radioactive materials are used
must have:
3. Caution Radioactive Materials labels or tape on
containers, pipettes, and equipment used for
radioisotopes.
4. Dedicated lab coat(s), safety glasses, and
disposable gloves.
UAF Radiation Safety Requirements (cont.)
UAF laboratories where radioactive materials are used
must have:
5. A secure location to store radioactive materials.
This can be a locked room or a locked refrigerator.
6. Access to a calibrated scintillation counter and
Geiger counter (if appropriate) for conducting wipe
tests and surveys.
 Note: It is the User’s responsibility to pay for any
annual calibration fees for their survey
instrument(s).
UAF Radiation Safety Requirements (cont.)
Transfer of radioactive material from one user to
another is prohibited without prior approval from UAF
Radiation Safety Officer (RSO).
UAF Radiation Safety Requirements (cont.)
Monitoring badges
o are issued to users of gamma or high-energy beta
emitters such as 32P or 125I (except for RIA kits)
o are required to be worn when working with
radioactive material or when in a lab where
radioactive material is used.
o must be worn unshielded on the breast pocket or
collar of the lab coat.
o users of TLD finger rings must wear them facing
the palm of their dominant hand, and under the
glove.
o TLD finger rings are issued when beta or gamma
emitters with energies >150 keV are used
UAF Radiation Safety Requirements (cont.)
Fume hoods are required when your lab uses tritium
(3H), 35S, 131I, or 125I stocks (undiluted).
The face velocity must average 100 feet per minute
with the sash at a reasonable working height.
If your fume hood is not working, stop work
immediately. Close the sash and contact EHSRM
(x6771 or x5197).
Ordering and receiving radioisotopes
Ordering isotopes:
Notify RSO of your intent to order radioisotopes and provide the
name of the isotope and the activity—BEFORE you order.
When a package arrives:
Visually inspect the package for damage. If it is damaged,
notify the RSO immediately and attempt to notify the driver of
the truck who delivered it.
If it is not damaged, wipe test the outside of the box to verify
that it is not contaminated. Write survey results or affix LSC
wipe results to a Radioactive Materials Shipment Receipt
Record form, and keep in the Redbook.
Radioactive Materials Shipment
Receipt Record Example
Radioactive Materials Shipment Receipt Records
 NOTE: if packaged is damaged, STOP, and immediately contact the RSO at 4746771.


Date received: ___________________
Vendor: ______________________
 Radioactive isotope: ______________
Activity: ______________________
 Wipe test results:
 Blank: ___________ cpm
Wipe of box: _______________ cpm



Comments:
_______________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________



Name of person doing survey:
_________________________________________________
Signature: _______________________________________
Using radioisotopes—recordkeeping
When a new vial of isotope arrives:
1. Enter the isotope information on the Summary of
Radioactive Materials Received form in the Redbook.
2. Create a Radioactive Materials Transaction Form for each
vial of isotope that you receive. These are in the Redbook.
Using isotopes:
EVERY use of radioactive material must be documented on the
Transaction Form.
For each use, enter the date, the transaction, the quantity (in
µCi) used, the method of disposal, and any remarks.
When material is used up, write “GONE” and the date at the
bottom of the form.
Wipe test/survey requirements
32P, 125I:
After each work session, survey the area and
equipment where radioisotope work was conducted
with a survey meter. Record results on a survey/wipe
test form and keep in Redbook.
When vial of RAM has been completely used, perform
wipe test of areas where RAM was used. Count on
LSC and record results on a survey/wipe test form and
keep in Redbook.
Wipe test/survey requirements (cont).
3H, 14C, 35S:
Wipe test the area and equipment where radioisotope
work was conducted as follows:
 Routine use (3-5 days/week, for several months):
o monthly
 Periodic use (1-5 days per week for 1-2 weeks):
o at end of experiments for that time period
 New users (regardless of time frame):
o Daily until satisfied that you are able to work
without contaminating the area.
Performing a wipe test
1. Prepare a background wipe by wetting a piece of filter paper
(Whatman #1 works fine) with tap water and placing in a
scintillation vial.
2. For test areas, use a damp pieces of filter paper to wipe the
areas of interest.
a) Wipe an area of approximately 100cm2 (about the size of
a U.S. dollar bill) in each area that is to be surveyed.
b) It is ideal to use a template to accurately measure the
area and record this value on the survey form.
3. Add scintillation cocktail to each sample. Make sure the
filter papers are completely covered with cocktail.
Performing a wipe test (cont).
4. Count the samples in a liquid scintillation counter. Use
channels for the isotope(s) that you are using plus a “wide”
channel (counts all energies).
5. Record results on lab survey form and attach printout from
scintillation counter.
6. Determine level of contamination, if any:
a) If any wipe exceeds 2x the counts observed for the
background wipe, the area is considered “contaminated”.
b) Wash area with soap/water or solution of Count-Off or
Radiac and take another wipe test.
c) Repeat until the area is clean. If you are unable to get the
area clean, contact the RSO.
UAF Radiation Safety Requirements (cont.)
Security of Inventory
AUs and SUs shall provide security adequate to prevent
the unauthorized removal of any radioactive material
that is under their control.
All radioisotope stock vials must be secured (locked
storage cabinet or locked laboratory) when not in the
direct line of sight of the AU or SU.
Control access to laboratories. Close and lock all entry
doors when laboratory is unattended.
UAF Radiation Safety Requirements (cont.)
Maintain an inventory of all radioactive materials.
Conduct a visual check of stock vials during your
weekly wipe test of radioisotope storage boxes. Mark
the check box on (or add a note) the weekly lab survey
sheet that inventory was checked. This sheet must be
maintained in your radioisotope notebook. Report any
missing inventory to the UAF Radiation Safety Officer
immediately.
Know who is in your laboratory. Persons without
appropriate justification for being in a lab should be
asked to leave. Report concerns to proper authorities.
Radioactive Waste Disposal
There are three general categories of radioactive waste:
Dry solid radioisotope waste includes paper, gloves, pipet tips,
empty microfuge tubes, filters, small pieces of animal tissue, etc.
No scintillation vials are allowed in dry solid waste containers.
Liquid radioisotope waste includes any liquid containing
radioisotopes EXCEPT for scintillation cocktail. This must not
contain other hazmat (e.g., ethanol, butanol)!
Consult the RSO prior to beginning work if you need to
generate such mixed waste.
Scintillation (LSC) vials and animal carcasses must have a
specific activity of <0.05 µCi/gram. Use of scintillation cocktails
containing xylene, toluene, or other flammable solvents is NOT
permitted without prior written permission from the RSO.
Radioactive Waste Disposal (cont).
Wastes must also be segregated into separate waste
containers based on half-life:
1. Short-lived isotopes with T1/2 < 90 days (32P, 35S,
125I)
• These must be in their own containers unless
the isotopes are used together in the work.
2. Long-lived isotopes (3H, 14C)
• These may be placed together in a single
waste container.
Details for specific types of radioactive waste are
summarized in the RedBook (“Waste Sorting and
Packaging Instructions”).
Radioactive Waste Disposal (cont).
Wastes must be transferred to the RSO and
documented on the Waste Transfer Form for Wastes
Containing Radioactive Materials (found in RedBook).
Each type of waste (solid, liquid, or scintillation vial)
must have its own Waste Transfer Form.
Make a copy of the completed waste transfer form and
keep in RedBook for documentation of waste disposal.
The original must be attached to the bag(s) or box(es)
of waste.
Emergency Procedures
Major spills: Radioactive spills involving >50 µCi of
activity and/or a survey meter reading of >5 mR/h at
1 foot.
Notify others in the room of the spill and
evacuate the area. Contain spill if possible and
remove contaminated clothing and PPE.
CONTACT RSO IMMEDIATELY FOR ASSISTANCE
Minor Spills: Radioactive spills involving <50µCi of
activity and/or a survey meter reading of <5 mR/hr at
a distance of one foot. Minor spills require RSO
notification as soon as possible, but may be cleaned
up by user(s) if they are capable of doing so.
Emergency Procedures (cont.)
Clean up of minor spills:
1. NOTIFY persons in the lab that a spill has
occurred.
2. PREVENT THE SPREAD. Cover the spill with
absorbent paper.
3. REPORT incident to the RSO or to EHSRM. Utilize
the “Radiation Emergencies” contact list on the
lab door if necessary.
Emergency Procedures (cont.)
4. CLEAN UP SPILL
• Wear disposable gloves, lab coat, and safety glasses.
• Use absorbent paper to wipe up the spill.
o To localize the contamination, wipe inward toward the
center of the spill. Do not wipe back and forth or in a
random fashion.
• Place absorbent paper in a labeled plastic bag .
• Wash the area with soap and water, or use Count Off or
Radiac. Place any paper towels used in the spill waste
bag.
• When lab is clean, place all other contaminated materials
such as disposable gloves in the spill waste bag.
• Complete a Waste Transfer Form for the spill waste and
contact the RSO for pickup.
Emergency Procedures (cont.)
5. SURVEY THE AREA
If applicable, use a survey meter to check the area
around the spill, and your hands and clothing for
contamination (32P, 125I).
In all cases, a swipe survey must be performed to
demonstrate that contamination levels are below
the limit of 200 cpm (open window).
If levels are >200 cpm, clean again and retest the
area. Repeat until contamination levels are <200
cpm.
Retain all survey and wipe results in the Redbook.
Thank you!