ANNUAL RADIATION SAFETY
TRAINING
Mike Peters
8/2011
Radiation Safety Office
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Office:Trafton N160
Phone: 1026
Email: mike.peters@mnsu.edu
Web Site:
http://cset.mnsu.edu/radiationsafety/
BRIEF OVERVIEW
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Requirements
Terminology
Safety
Reporting
TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS
• Initial Training on Radiation Safety.
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“Radiation Safety Guide for Users of Radiation
Producing Devices” Yes there is a Test
• RPD or Radiation Source Specific Training.
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Given by a RSO approved Trainer
• Annual refresher on Radiation Safety.
TRAINING
• Is required of all persons who work with
radiation producing devices or radiation sources.
• All workers, student and worker who may be
exposed the radiation are required to complete
annual training.
• The training is done on an academic calendar
schedule.
SIGNAGE
All areas that contain Radiation Producing
and/or Radioactive material must have signage
to indicate the level activity present. Signage is
available from the RSO.
SIGNAGE LOCATION
Should be posted at each entrance to the lab
and within the work area.
EMPLOYEE
NOTIFICATION
A “Notice to Employees” must be displayed in
all areas that may contain radiation. Available
from RSO.
UNAUTHORIZED
SIGNAGE
Only Areas that contain or may contain
radiation are to have signage. They are not to
be use in any other way. Please report any
misuse of signage.
Terminology.
ALARA
Basic principle to follow whenever working
with radioactive material. All exposures should
be As-Low-As-Reasonably-Achievable.
RADIOACIVITY
Refers to the process by which nuclei
spontaneously decay or disintegrate by one or
more energy steps until a stable state is
reached.
RADIATION UNITS
Are specified for activity, absorbed dose, dose
equivalent and exposure.
ACTIVITY
• Normally expressed in units of Curies
(millicurie or microcurie). 1 Curie is equal
to 3.7 X 10 (10) disintegrations/sec.
• 1 Becquerel equals 1 disintegrations/sec
UNITS OF
RADIATION DOSE
 A Rad is equal to an absorbed dose of 0.01
joule/kg.
 A Rem is equal to the absorbed dose in
rads multiplied by the quality factor. 1Rem
is equal to 0.01 Sievert.
EXPOSURE
• Expressed in Roentgen (R).1R is equal to
2.58 X 10(-4) Coulomb/Kg(-1).
• Exposures at MSU are generally measured
in microR (uR). This is a very low level. In
terms of exposure it is insignificant.
IONIZING
RADIATION
Radiation capable of displacing electrons from
atoms or molecules producing ions.
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
NON-IONIZING
RADIATION
Not enough energy to displace an electron
but cause damage through thermal energy.
Radiowaves
Microwaves
Visible Light (Laser pointers)
BACKGROUND
RADIATION
The average American receives 240-500
millirems of radiation from all background
sources.
WORK AREA SURVEYS
Following the use of unsealed sources the work
area must be surveyed for possible
contamination and cleaned as needed.
Exposure
REGULATORY DOSE
LIMITS
Radiation Worker
• Whole body-5rem/yr
• Extremities-50rem/yr
• Skin-50rem/yr
• Organs-50rem/yr
• Lens-15rem/yr
Non Radiation Worker
• Fetus-0.5rem
• Public-0.1/yr
Declared Pregnant Rad
Worker
• Fetus-0.5rem
ACUTE EXPOSURE
Absorption of a relatively large amount of
radiation over a short period of time. Seen in
early radiologists, atomic bomb survivors,
people near Chernobyl and certain medical
treatments.
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
Absorption of radiation over a long period of
time.
BIOEFFECTS
May be prompt and appear quickly or delayed
which may take years to appear.
GENETIC EFFECTS
May be somatic which damages genetic
material in the cell and may lead to cancer or
heritable changes which are passed on to
offspring.
RADIATION DAMAGE
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Is more likely in rapidly dividing cells such as:
Blood forming cells
Intestinal lining
Hair follicles
fetus
RADON
• A problem in the Minnesota Valley area.
• MSU Radon Project
http://www.mnsu.edu/radon/
PRENATAL EXPOSURE
Very hazardous because the rapidly dividing
cells are very radiosensitive. Potential adverse
effects include low birth weight, retardation
and increased risk of cancer.
DOSIMETRY
Quarterly dosimetry is used for persons who
work with x-ray units and certain isotopes. Labs
that use C14 or Tritium are not issued dosimetry,
the energy is too low to be detected.
LAB SECURITY
Make sure your lab is locked at all times when
no one is present. If the area is a shared space
than all persons using that space must have
Radiation Safety Training.
BASIC PROTECTION
GUIDELINES
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Time-limit your time around radiation.
Distance-stay as far away as possible.
Shielding-use shielding whenever possible.
Do not modify or disable any device safety
features.
MSU,M
DOCUMENTS/FORMS
• Radiation Protection Manual.
• Initial Training and Annual Refresher.
• RPU and Radioactive Material Self-Audit
Checklist.
• Radiation Safety Guide For Users of Radiation
Producing devices.
REQUIRED
LABORATORY
DOCUMENTATION
• RPD Logbooks.
• RPD Training records.
• RPD Operating Procedures (Start-up & ShutDown).
• Complete inventory of radioactive material in
area.
• Emergency Contact.
DOCUMENTATION ON
FILE IN RSO
• Up to date experiment procedures.
• Users training experience form.
• Dosimetry records.
GOVERNING RULES
AND REGULATIONS
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Minnesota Rules 4731: Radioactive Materials
Minnesota Rules 4732: X-Ray Ionizing Radiation
NRC 10 CFR Part 20: Standards for Protection against
Radiation
ANSI Z136.1: American National Standard for Safe Use of
Lasers
OSHA: 29 CFR 1910 Subpart G: Occupational Health and
Environmental Control
MNDOH INSPECTION
The Minnesota Department of Health does
unannounced inspections. The last inspection
was in 2006. We are due.
Radiation Safety Office
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Office:Trafton N160
Phone: 1026
Email: mike.peters@mnsu.edu
Web Site:
http://cset.mnsu.edu/radiationsafety/
QUESTIONS?