Radiation Safety Training: Procedures

University of Alaska Fairbanks

September 2013

Training Contents1) 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 disposal3) Emergency procedures—spill

response

UAF RADIATION SAFETY PROGRAMCLASSES OF USERSAuthorized 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 RequirementsUAF 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 badgeso 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 radioisotopesOrdering 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 474-6771.   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 requirements32P, 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 InventoryAUs 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 DisposalThere 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 ProceduresMajor 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!