2011 Radiation User Refresher Radioisotope Laboratory Safety Refresher Class 2011 UCSC Conrad...

2011 Radiation User Refresher

Radioisotope Laboratory SafetyRefresher Class 2011 UCSC

Conrad Sherman x9-3911RSO/Health Physicist

Marcus Balanky x9-5167ARSO/ Health Physicist

Vern Ares x9-5167Assistant Health Physicist

Environmental Health & SafetyRadiation Safety


Annual Refresher Training is Required• Option 1 –Challenge the test• Option 2 – review this presentation, radiation safety manual,

fundamentals workbook (ucsc radiation)• Option 3 –request a class

then

• Pass the Test • Test is on e-commons• Please complete within 30 days of your last test date (if you don’t know it,

then look on e-commons, in your PI’s radiation safety folder/training is a report showing training for all users within your lab group.

Location of EHS/Radiation published materials http://ehs.ucsc.edu/lab_research_safety/radiation_safety.php


Radiation Safety Functions


You Have the Right to Report Radiation Safety Concerns and Violations

• Report concerns or suspected radiation safety violations to your supervisor. If it is not adequately corrected, notify the RSO

• RSO Conrad Sherman, [email protected] or 9-3911• EH&S Director Brent Cooley [email protected] or 9-2553• Chair, Radiation Safety Committee George Brown,

[email protected] or 9-2327• EH&S e-mail [email protected]• Web Form http://ehs.ucsc.edu/I2P2/pubs/hazalert.html


Survey Meter Use

• You should know how to use the survey meter. • Remember that you must perform a preoperational check

each time you use the meter.• Battery• Background• Calibration• Check source

• If you’re uncertain about how to perform the preoperational check or to do a survey, review the process with your lab manager or ask EHS.


Dosimeters are required

• Are likely to receive >10% of an occupational dose limit.

• Enter a high radiation area. • Routinely work with >5 mCi quantities of I-125. • Routinely work with >1 mCi quantities of P-32. • As per your RUA


Dosimeters

• Dosimeters cannot detect low-energy beta radiation from radionuclides such as C-14, H-3, P-33 and S-35.


Dosimeters

• A whole body dosimeter is worn on the to torso in a location where it is likely to receive the highest exposure.

• Ring dosimeters are worn underneath disposable gloves.

• Wear ring so chip faces source.


Internal Exposure• Occurs when a radioisotope enters the body by inhalation,

ingestion, absorption through skin, or through an open wound. If this happens, any kind of radiation can directly harm living cells. Radiation produces damage depending on the following factors:

• The amount of radioactive material deposited into the body• The type of radiation emitted• The physical characteristics of the element;• The half-life of the radioisotope (how fast it decays away)• The length of time in the body.

Radioactive material inside human body will cause an internal dose.

You can NEVER eat or drink in a posted radioactive material lab!


Examples of Compliance Issues

• Eating/drinking/smoking/storing food in RAM areas.

• Inventory and survey records that do not reflect actual radioactive materials on hand and/or in use.

• Failure to secure RAM and/or rad waste from unauthorized use or removal.

• Improper radioactive waste storage.


Required Actions on Identification of Issue

• Document Issue - RS or Lab

• Take Corrective action - lab

• Evaluation of cause - RH (PI)

• Sanctions for serious, willful violations - RSC


Consistently fill out records

• Survey Logs, Sink Disposal Logs, etc. • Are your records easy to find?• Be sure radioisotope areas and contaminated items are

appropriately labeled. Remove unnecessary labeling. • Clean out your rad inventory and remove build-ups of

radioactive waste.• Is training for all lab personnel up-to-date?• Pay attention to security matters. Is your lab locked

when no one is there?


Documenting Surveys

• Contamination surveys must be documented• Record the following:

– date performed– area(s) surveyed (a map helps!)– results– identity of surveyor– instrument used– action taken if contamination is found


RAM shipment

• Verify you received the correct RAM, chemical form, and activity.

• Wear PPE to open RAM shipment. • Immediately include received material into your lab’s

RAM inventory and record activity in units of millicuries. • Assume that the inner surfaces of the package (source

vial and packaging material) may be contaminated and handle accordingly until proven otherwise by survey.

• Before discarding the packing material from the shipment. Obliterate all radiation warning labels before discarding as normal trash.


Radioactive waste

• Store all liquid waste containers within a secondary container – this is mandatory.

• Use labels provided to indicate what is placed in waste containers as soon as you add waste. This prevents unlabeled and unknown waste from accumulating in your lab.

• Avoid overfilling solid or liquid waste containers. • Never mix organic solvent wastes with water or other aqueous

wastes. • Special provisions for labs with mixed waste.• Radioactive waste containing biological, pathogenic, or infectious

material must be disinfected with biocide prior to depositing into radioactive waste containers.


Practice ALARA

• The less TIME spent near RAM, the less dose received. • The more DISTANCE between you and RAM, the less

exposure received. Doubling the distance from RAM reduces exposure by ~1/4. Use tongs or other remote-handling tools to reduce exposure to fingers and hands.

• For SHIELDING BETA emitters use Plexiglass.• For SHIELDING X- or gamma ray use Lead

– one size doesn’t shield all. – Contact the Radiation Safety Office to determine the proper

thickness and types of shielding material to use.


(s)WIPES and Smears

• They are used to determine if removable contamination is present from any type of radioactive material when counted in a liquid scintillation counter.

• They are the best method for detecting contamination from low-energy beta emitters (C-14, S-35, and P-33)

and the only way to detect H-3 contamination. • Use disc for LSC counting• Use disc or paper towel for large area if a GM is used to

check survey media


Remember to Document Your Surveys!

• Surveys must be done at a frequency to ensure that exposure to RAM is kept ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable).

• Keep your survey records in a form that the RSO can audit.

• Keep blank survey record forms.


User Responsibilities

• Keep RAM use authorization current. • Complete radiation safety training. • Maintain up-to-date inventory records. • Perform and document RAM surveys

frequently to control contamination and keep exposure ALARA.

• Follow required radiation safety and radioactive waste handling and disposal policies.


Contamination Control and Security

• Wear PPE when working with RAM. • Monitor hands, shoes, and PPE frequently. • Use bench paper and spill trays. • Use warning labels on RAM items and areas. • Use a fume hood when working with volatile

materials or materials that produce aerosols. • Secure RAM from unauthorized removal. • Immediately report missing RAM


Wear your Lab Coat

This is from a historical poster

^ and woman


Regulations

• Comply with all pertinent regulations of the Campus Radiation Safety Manual.– A copy of the RSM is to be maintained by the

RH (electronic or hardcopy).– All personnel listed in the permit are required

to read and be knowledgeable regarding provisions of the RSM.


Required Postings

• Sign on Door

• Notice to Employee

• Emergency Numbers

• Work Area Marked

• Frig/Freezer Sign

• Sink Marked ‘ no drain disposal ‘


Lab Conditions Frequently Identified by Inspector

• Work Area Covered and marked• Evidence Food/Drink• Solid/Vial Waste • Liquid in Secured Container• Gloves/Coat Worn• Dosimeter(s) Worn• Meter Available• Meter Check-Okay• Evident RAM Security


Surveys and Waste Disposal

• A suitable survey instrument must be maintained in the lab.

• Periodic wipe tests are to be made on all working surfaces and equipment.

• Known radioactive waste shall be collected and packaged for waste disposal.


Radioactive Material Transfers

• Radioactive materials may not be acquired for trans-shipment.

• No radioactive materials are to be transferred between authorized users without the prior approval of the Radiation Safety Office.


Receipt and Use Log•Record

–Use (%, volume, or activity)

–Name–Date–Purpose

•Use blank column for other units


Laboratory and Material Security

Avoids deliberate misconduct 1. Lock and key storage

2. Lock lab

3. Challenge response to unknown intruders


Avoid Ingesting Radioactive Material

NO–Eating

–Drinking

–Smoking

–Applying Cosmetics

–Mouth Pipetting


Protective Clothing

• Gloves

• Lab coat

• Eyewear

• Pants

• Closed toe footwear


General Tips LSC Wipe Survey

• Survey discrete areas so that if contamination is found the spot will be easy to identify

• Avoid cross contamination of samples


Removing Your Gloves


Decontamination Procedures

• Area and Material Decontamination– Wear protective clothing– Clean in an inward direction

• Personnel Decontamination– Flush with water first– Soap and water only!!!– Report to RSO before attempting any more

stringent measures


Radioactive Waste Disposal Procedures

• Guidelines at UCSC

• Minimizing waste production

• Reducing mixed waste

• Decontamination

• “Getting the lead out”

• Special rules if hazardous and radioactive are mixed


Radioactive Waste

• Research involving radioactive material generates contaminated waste. EHS Radiation Safety supplies containers and removes radioactive waste from campus labs.

• The laboratory staff is responsible for monitoring, labeling, maintaining and preparing their waste for disposal.


Dry Solid Radioactive Waste

• No sharps

• No Liquids

• No lead or metals

• No high activity (stock vials)


Liquid Radioactive Waste

• Store in 2.5 gal plastic carboys with secondary-containment.

• pH must be adjusted to between 6 and 9.

• Identify chemical contents including non-hazardous and hazardous components.


Radioactive “Sharps”

• Radioactive sharps are items such as razor blades, scalpels, syringes and hypodermic needles.

• Plastic and glass pipette tips, broken glassware, etc. should not be disposed of as radioactive sharps.

• Contact the Natural Science Stockroom for radioactive sharps containers.


Emergency Procedures


Small (Minor) Spill

• Most spills that occur in the lab are minor, and should be cleaned up by lab personnel ASAP.

• You do not need to inform EH&S Radiation Safety in the event of a minor spill.


Small Spill Procedures

• Confine the spill

• Decontaminate the area

• Notify your supervisor

• Make a record.


Large Spills - What to Do

• Confine contamination do NOT track contamination outside the area.– Restrict access to the spill area

• Notify EH&S Radiation Safety (9-2553), then your supervisor.

You will not be penalized for reporting a spill, but on the other hand...


Personal Contamination

• Notify the RSO immediately of any case of personal contamination.

• Uninjured persons should remove contaminated clothing and wash or use emergency shower or eyewash as needed. Do not delay.

• If an injured person is contaminated, do not delay medical attention.


Test• To receive credit for this online training course,

you must complete the exam and receive a score of 80% or greater.

• You may take test up to 3 times• Some questions have multiple correct answers• You can review answers at end of each test• Each test is a new set of questions randomized

from test bank• If you do not pass, we will go over failed

questions with you


Test Completion

• Online e-commons RADSAFE EXAMS

• PAPER PRINT A COPY OF TEST,

• Send to ehs trailer


Verify you have viewed this powerpoint

• Logon to ecommons RAD SAF Exams and take 2011 isotope user Refresher quiz

e-commons portal (https://ecommons.ucsc.edu/xsl-portal)

2011 Radiation User Refresher Radioisotope Laboratory Safety Refresher Class 2011 UCSC Conrad...

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