Radiation Safety & Legislation
Dr. Rosaleen Devery
Radiation Safety Officer
2nd February 2011
Safelab Module II
1
Radiation License 0211-0169-09
Sealed Sources
Am-241, Be7, Hg-7, Ag-105,Th-232, Yt169, Ba-133, Cd-109, Cs-137, Cs-137/Zn165, Co-57, Co-60, Mn-54, Ni-63, Ra-226,
Na-22, Po-210,Sr-90, Ur-238,uranyl nitrate,
Thorium oxide, Thorium carbonate
Unsealed sources
Iodine-125, Phosphorous-32, Sulphur-35,
Tritium, Carbon -14, Calcium-45
X ray equipment
2nd February 2011
School of Physical
Sciences
NG13, NG24
School of Biotechnology
(X175) & NICB (B01)
Schools of Physical Sciences
(NG04, NG22, N205), Chemical
Sciences (XB12) & Electronic
Engineering (S124 & NG11)
DCU Exwell Medical Centre
Safelab Module II
2
ALARA Principle
All radiation should be kept as
low as is reasonably achievable
• Keep time to minimum
– Practice using ‘dry runs’
• Keep distance to a maximum
– Use forceps
– Use adequate shielding
• Restrict access
2nd February 2011
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General Rules for working with
unsealed radioactive materials
• Conduct risk assessment
• Control quantities of
materials
• Contain materials
• Confirm dose rates and
lack of contamination
• The Laboratory
• Personal Behaviour
• Wear TLD when working
with 32P and 125I
• Contamination Monitoring
• Receiving & storing
• Radioactive waste
• Housekeeping
– Registration Form
– Isotope record form
– Record all disposal in log
book
2nd February 2011
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General Rules for working with
sealed radioactive materials
&
X ray equipment
•
•
•
•
•
•
Handle all sealed sources by forceps
Ensure annual wipe test
Ensure supplier provides take back clause
Use Radiation survey meter
Return dosimeter badge to RPII
Arrange with school/unit secretary for keeping
records
2nd February 2011
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Annual Limits
• Normal employees
• General Public
1 mSv
0.05 mSv
• Natural Background Ireland
2.5 mSv
2nd February 2011
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New users of radioisotopes
• Discuss with supervisor
• Complete and Submit to RSO
– Registration form
– Isotope record form
Obtain relevant copy of :
– Requirements for working with unsealed/sealed
radioisotopes (b and g emitters)
– Intervention Plan for dealing with a radiological
emergency
– L:\ALL\Radiation
2nd February 2011
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Intervention Plan for dealing with
a radiological emergency
Initial identification
Incident response
recovery
Follow up
2nd February 2011
• Avoid panic
• Never touch a radioactive
source
• Prevent unauthorised
access to site of incident
• Retire to safe distance,
plan subsequent actions
and implement
• Seek advice of experts
• Seek additional
assistance
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Procedures in Emergency
Situations
Theft/ Loss
RSO
Gardai
USO
Security
RPII
Calculate Likely exposure
Review Security system
Report to Head of School/ Unit, School Safety Officers, H&S committee
2nd February 2011
Safelab Module II
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Procedures in Emergency
Situations
Damage
– Initiate personal decontamination
– Evacuate
– Place barrier at safe distance from source
– Identify area as radiation hazard
– Report to RSO
•
•
•
•
Time, date, place
Names involved/affected
Results of dose assessments
Probable cause of incident
2nd February 2011
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Procedures in Emergency
Situations
Malfunction of irradiating apparatus
– Switch off X ray unit
– Refer to Beaumont Hospital for medical
examination
– Put up ‘MUST NOT BE USED’ sign on unit
– Disconnect, lock
– School safety officer to contact Service/repair
representative
– RSO to seek accurate assessment of dose;
report etc
2nd February 2011
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Procedures in Emergency
Situations
Spillage / aerosol release
• Stop work ; secure cause
• Warn others
• Isolate and absorb hot spot
• Don’t spread
• Seal hot spot with bench
coat/perspex /lead
• Treat all cleaning materials as
radioactive waste
• Check for contamination of
people, floor, bench
• Inform supervisor & RSO
2nd February 2011
• RSO to determine
quantity of radioisotope,
volume of spillage and
assess exposure dose
• School safety officer and
RSO to conduct enquiry
into cause
• RSO to report
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Procedures in Emergency
Situations
Ingestion/inhalation
• Get buddy / first aid staff to call Beaumont
Hospital Poison Centre / ambulance
• Warn others
• Leave immediately
• Secure lab
2nd February 2011
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Procedures in Emergency
Situations
Damage during transport
– Monitor package for surface contamination
– Obtain contact details for distributor
– Contact distributor
– Replace in emergency container box
– Seal, label and arrange for replacement
– RSO to report
2nd February 2011
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Emergency equipment
• Contamination monitors ( eg Mini monitor E
series)
• Latex gloves, white coat, perspex glasses
• Perspex screens, warning notices
• Long handled forceps
• Storage container (perspex, lead, concrete)
• Equipment manuals
• Bags of lead shot, lead sheet
• Fire blankets, extinguishers
2nd February 2011
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http://www.rpii.ie/
Thank you
Any questions?
2nd February 2011
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