All radiation workers should periodically review the items listed in this guide to gauge th 聽their knowledge and understanding of our radiation safety program.聽

  1. Am I familiar with my annual radiation exposure limits (dose limits) as dictated in federal regulation 10CFR20 and state regulation 105CMR120?聽
    • Whole Body: 5 rem/year聽
    • Organ/skin: 50 rem/year聽
    • Eye: 15 rem/year
  2. Have I undergone proper training for working in a radiation lab?聽
    • Have I undergone through the mandatory initial basic radiation safety training session offered by the Radiation Safety Office?聽
    • Have I been given an introductory safety tour by the authorized user or his/her designee to help me become familiar with specific laboratory safety and safety related procedures?聽
    • Have I been trained in the procedures for which I am expected to perform?聽
    • Do I need retraining in any of the above topics?
  3. Am I familiar with the radioactive sources located within the laboratory?聽
    • What isotopes are used in the laboratory?聽
    • Are there any special safety concerns for any of these isotopes? 聽(Example, tritiated water (3H2O) absorption through skin)聽
    • Am I familiar with the experimental protocols for these isotopes?聽
    • Have I been trained in the use of these isotopes?
  4. Do I understand the requirements for using radioactive materials?聽
    • Do I record the use or removal of radioactive material from a stock solution (Rad Use and Disposal Form, or equivalent)?聽
    • Do I use or have available portable survey meters during an experiment* ?聽
    • Do I wear proper dosimetry when applicable (film badge, ring badge)?聽
    • Do I survey my work area at the end of each experimental work day?聽
    • Do I document my survey and place the results on file?聽
    • Do I properly handle any radioactive waste generated during the course of the experiment (as per HPP-5)?聽
    • Do I document radioactive waste production as per HPP-5?
  5. Am I familiar with the radioactive devices located within the laboratory?聽
    • Where are the devices located聽
    • What are the safety protocols observed when the device is operational?聽
    • If I am an operator of the device, have I been trained in its operation? 聽Is the training documented (memo, etc鈥�)?
  6. Where are all radiation related records/documents kept?聽
    • Area/contamination surveys聽
    • Radioactive material inventory (e.g. Rad Use and Disposal Form or eqv鈥檛)聽
    • Waste inventory聽
    • Radiation related memos
  7. Do I understand radioactive waste handling and storage procedures?聽
    • Waste handling procedures specific to my laboratory聽
    • Procedures required by HPP-5?
  8. Am I comfortable in using a portable survey instrument? Do I:聽
    • Check battery signal before use聽
    • Check instrument response before聽
    • i. Check background response or rad. source response for GM
    • ii. Check response to radioactive check source if ion chamber.聽
    • Check to make sure that the instrument is calibrated and within its calibration period?聽
    • Set the instrument to the proper meter scale (x1, x10, etc) and understand how to interpret the instrument response reading?
  9. Am I familiar with the general laboratory emergency response procedures such as radioactive material spill handling, area decontamination, etc鈥�?

  10. Am I familiar with university controls for contaminated areas?聽
    • Beta radiation 鈥� maximum 500 dpm per 100 cm2 area.
    • Alpha radiation 鈥� maximum 50 dpm per 100 cm2 area.聽
    • Tritium (special beta case) 鈥� maximum 1,000 dpm per 100 cm2 area.聽
    • Have I been instructed what to do if any of the above levels 聽 of contamination are exceeded?
    • Alert the Authorized User and/or Radiation Safety Office
    • If not cleaned up, have the Radiation Safety Office post the area as a Contamination Area聽
    • If I am working with radioactive material and I accidentally spill a small 聽 quantity of radioactive material onto my workplace, do I know how to properly clean /decontaminate the area?
  11. Do I understand posting requirements for radiation fields?聽
    • Radiation Area 鈥� 5 mrem/hr 30 cm or greater from a source
    • High Radiation Area 鈥� 100 mrem/hr 30 cm or greater
  12. Do I understand that I am responsible for the security of the laboratory and of the radioactive material used within?
*Not applicable for tritium (3H) use and not required for 14C use.