*General Radiation Safety Protocols*
1.0 All personnel intending to become an Authorized User and work with radioactive material must first be approved by the University of Michigan (U-M)-Radiation Policy Committee (RPC). Complete and submit to Radiation Safety Service (RSS) an Application for Authorization to Use Radioactive Material (RSS-101 form). In addition, any significant changes in authorized radioactive material protocols must be approved by the RPC. The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) may grant temporary approval pending final approval by the RPC.
2.0 Authorized Users are responsible for:
(1) Ensuring the safe performance of authorized activities, security and control of radioactive materials, and compliance with regulations;
(2) Maintaining complete, accurate, and current radiation safety records as required by the NRC, RPC and RSS;
(3) Complying with current NRC regulations and U-M radiological safety and emergency protocols;
(4) Instructing individuals under their supervision in the proper handling, monitoring, storage, and disposal of radioactive materials; and
(5) Ensuring supervised individuals have received radiological safety training from RSS.
3.0 All personnel intending to work with radioactive material must complete and submit to RSS a Statement of Training & Experience form (RSS-101A).
4.0 All personnel intending to work with radioactive material must be informed of potential radiation hazards, radiological safety protocols, and applicable regulatory compliance issues. This information can be obtained by attending a scheduled Radiation Safety Orientation Course or a special in-house session conducted by a Radiation Safety Service (RSS) health physicist. Retraining will be required annually.
5.0 Notify RSS prior to establishing, relocating, or vacating a radioactive material laboratory. All new labs must be approved by the RPC and all vacated laboratories must be officially decommissioned by RSS. The RSO may grant temporary approval of location changes pending final approval by the RPC.
6.0 Contact and obtain RSS approval for all radioactive material orders, transfers, and shipments. Clearance from RSS must be received before ordering or procuring radionuclides from another institution, commercial vendor, or authorized user. Submit completed purchase requisition forms to RSS for approval.
7.0 Approval from RSS must be obtained prior to operating a x-ray unit or other radiation-producing device. All x-ray units and radiation-producing devices must be registered with the Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (MDCIS) before use. MDCIS x-ray device registrations are renewed annually by RSS.
8.0 Notify RSS prior to relocating, discarding, or junking x-ray units, liquid scintillation counters (LSC), or gamma counters. Liquid scintillation counters and gamma counters may contain a radioactive sealed source (Cs-137, Ba-133, or Ra-226) which must be removed by the manufacturer or RSS prior to disposition.
9.0 Notify RSS prior to procuring general licensed devices that contain radioactive material. RSS is responsible for ensuring such devices are properly labeled, inventoried, leak-tested, and/or disposed as radioactive waste. Such objects may include: liquid scintillation counters (LSC), static eliminator devices (air guns, bars, brushes, plastic rods), exit signs containing tritium (H-3), smoke detectors, G-C/ECD devices, etc.
10.0 All radioactive materials received at the U-M must be shipped to RSS for inventory, initial radiological surveys, and eventual distribution. Contact RSS for exceptions to this requirement or to arrange special-case shipments.
11.0 Packages containing radioactive material must be checked for external contamination, opened, inspected, and surveyed as soon as possible after receipt. Contamination surveys of radioactive material packages must be performed using smears or an appropriate radiation survey meter. Maintain documentation of all such surveys.
12.0 The radiation symbol, radioactive material wording, or radiation warning labels must be completely defaced or removed from radioactive material shipping boxes prior to discarding in normal trash or recycling stations. DO NOT recycle or discard in ordinary trash any package or container found to be contaminated.
13.0 A current inventory of all radionuclides must be maintained at all times and available for RSS review.
14.0 All radioactive materials must be secured from unauthorized use or removal at all times; secure stock solutions of radioactive material or sealed/plated sources in a locked storage area and/or laboratory room when left unattended. Stock solutions of radioactive materials, sealed/plated sources, and radioactive wastes must never be stored in an unrestricted and non-posted area or facility.
15.0 All personnel must wear a laboratory coat, disposable gloves, and/or other approved safety apparel when handling unsealed radioactive material or contaminated objects. Eye protection should also be worn.
16.0 Designated radionuclide work and storage areas must be clearly identified and all equipment or containers used for radionuclide work must be labeled properly with radioactive material warning tape. Refrigerators and freezers used to store radionuclides must be clearly labeled with specific labels provided by RSS.
NOTE: Radioactive material samples, stock vials, sealed & plated sources must be labeled with sufficient radiological information to identify the radionuclide, activity, and date.
17.0 Contamination surveys must be performed routinely by laboratory personnel working with unsealed forms (liquids or powders) of radioactive material in accordance with the U-M Contamination Survey Program. Documentation of contamination surveys must be maintained and available for RSS laboratory reviews or NRC inspections at all times. Contact RSS for a copy of the Contamination Survey Program brochure.
18.0 Appropriate shielding must be used for gamma, neutron, and high-energy beta emitting radionuclide work: low-density material such as Plexiglass or wood for beta emitters, high-density material such as lead for gamma emitters or x-rays, and hydrogenous material (water, paraffin, masonite) for neutron emitters.
19.0 Radiation survey meters used to detect radioactive contamination or verify shielding effectiveness should be checked for consistency on a regular basis using a small radioactive check source. Survey meters used to measure radiation exposure rates must be calibrated at least annually to a known radiation field.
20.0 Appropriate radiation monitoring dosimeters must be worn by individuals working with specified activities of gamma, neutron, high-energy beta emitting radionuclides and/or x-ray producing devices. Personnel dosimeters are not required for low- to medium-energy beta emitting radionuclides (H-3, C-14, P-33, S-35, or Ca-45). Contact RSS to obtain dosimeters.
21.0 All individuals handling radioactive material must maintain personal radiation exposures as low as is reasonably achievable (ALARA).
22.0 Volatile radionuclide work must be performed in an exhaust hood. Exhaust hoods should have an average face velocity of approximately 100 fpm at the working sash height.
22.1 Only non-volatile or low-activity (< 500 uCi) radionuclide work may be performed in biological cabinets which exhaust back into a laboratory room.
22.2 DO NOT use product protection hoods for radionuclide work due to the horizontal flow pattern in such hoods.
23.0 Radioiodinations must be performed in an exhaust hood specifically approved for radioiodinations by RSS and using an approved closed system procedure. In addition, each iodinator must have his/her first hot run observed and approved by a RSS health physicist. Refer to the U-M Iodination Safety Protocol brochure.
24.0 Only OSEH is authorized to dispose of radioactive wastes at the U-M. Adhere to established protocols for the segregation, storage, and identification of radioactive wastes. All radioactive waste must be disposed in OSEH-approved waste containers.
25.0 Radionuclide users are strongly encouraged NOT to generate mixed waste (radioactive & chemical combinations) at the U-M. Segregate radioactive wastes from hazardous chemicals whenever possible; DO NOT combine chemicals & radioactive wastes in the same container unless the combination is an inherent part of your experimental protocols. Isolate chemical and mixed wastes from all forms of radioactive wastes. Reduce the volumes of unavoidable mixed waste at all times. Contact the OSEH / Hazardous Material staff (3-4568) for guidance and recommendations.
26.0 Contact RSS prior to servicing equipment that had been used for radioactive material work. The equipment must be surveyed and decontaminated, if applicable.
27.0 Report all radioactive material spills and other incidents or accidents involving radioactive material or radiation-producing devices to Radiation Safety Service [4-4420] or the U-M Public Safety & Security Office [3-1131 or 911] as soon as possible after occurrence.