Tel: 01895 251496
CLEAPSS ® , Brunel Science Park, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PQ
E-mail: science@cleapss.org.uk
Fax / Answerphone: 01895 814372 Web site: www.cleapss.org.uk
Director: Steve Jones
The 2013 edition of CLEAPSS guide L93 replaces the 2008 edition.
There are two main reasons for this revision:
•
•
The first is a change to environmental legislation - this affects the disposal of waste radioactive materials.
The second is a change to the CLEAPSS model risk assessments, because there is clear evidence that some types of very old radioactive source are beyond their working life, and a risk assessment cannot any longer support using them in schools.
The section on risk assessments (chapter 6 of the 2013 edition) and the section on disposal (section 12 of the 2013 edition) have undergone the most change.
Note that the Environment Agency’s 2006 disposal guidance to schools has been superseded and is no longer valid.
The new edition of L93 has been reorganised to some extent. The guide is divided into four main parts:
Part A: Guidance about initially setting up arrangements for using radioactive substances for practical work in the school or college; and periodically reviewing the arrangements to ensure that they meet the legal requirements. This part is for subject leaders and for the person in the science department who is responsible for these arrangements - the Radiation Protection Supervisor
(Schools)
Part B: Practical guidance for all teachers and technicians who use or handle radioactive sources.
It tells you what you need to know and do when carrying out practical work with ionising radiations.
Part C : Reference material and information for dealing with various incidents, disposal of and transporting of sources. This section is written for the person who is responsible for the radioactive sources - the RPS (Schools).
Part D: Forms, checklists, letter templates, etc that you can copy, adapt and use.
Actions for the RPS (Schools)
You should go through the model risk assessments for sources in section 6 and identify if your school holds any of the radioactive sources which are marked with a red double-lined box. You should arrange to take any of these sources out of use, label them ‘ Do not use’ and store them securely in the radioactive store. You should begin to make arrangements to dispose of these sources – see section
12. If you consider that any of the sources identified in this way are suitable for continued school use, you should contact your Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) who may contact us for advice. If your school has appointed an RPA directly, then you can also contact your RPA.
Considering the changes, it would be a good idea for you to review your arrangements for managing your radioactive sources safely, perhaps within the next term or so. For this section 3 should be helpful.
We anticipate further changes to the transport regulations later this year that will once again allow for the disposal of sealed sources of up to 200 kBq by the grouting/dustbin route. In the interim, contact your RPO (or your RPA if you are not part of the CLEAPSS service), before disposing of such sources.
GL114 (03/13) RHW/SJ L93 2013 edition main changes