ANNUAL RADIATION SAFETY TRAINING

Mike Peters8/2011

Radiation Safety Office

• Office:Trafton N160• Phone: 1026• Email: mike.peters@mnsu.edu• Web Site:

http://cset.mnsu.edu/radiationsafety/

BRIEF OVERVIEW

• Requirements• Terminology• Safety• Reporting

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

• Initial Training on Radiation Safety.• “Radiation Safety Guide for Users of Radiation

Producing Devices” Yes there is a Test• RPD or Radiation Source Specific Training.

• 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.

AlphaBetaGamma

NON-IONIZING RADIATION

Not enough energy to displace an electron but cause damage through thermal energy.

RadiowavesMicrowavesVisible 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

• 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

• 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,MDOCUMENTS/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 & Shut-

Down).• 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

• 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

• Office:Trafton N160• Phone: 1026• Email: mike.peters@mnsu.edu• Web Site:

http://cset.mnsu.edu/radiationsafety/

QUESTIONS?