UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

1. UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training Topic: Radioactive Waste Management By: UCLA Radiation Safety Division Click ‘NEXT’

2. UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training Annual Continuing Training Credit Personnel working with radioactive materials are required to annually complete a continuing training credit and submit documentation of completion to Radiation Safety by the end of the calendar year. This module may be used as one option for completion. Module Topic: Radioactive Waste Management

3. Radioactive Waste Pickups • The UCLA Radiation Safety Division picks up radioactive waste throughout campus during designated pickup times and locations. • CHS – Monday • BSRB & MRL – Tuesday • MBI, MSB, & TLSB – Wednesday • Special pickups by appointment only • (call ext 5-5396) UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

4. In this training we will cover: • Radioactive waste streams • How to properly package waste • How to properly fill out radioactive waste tags for each waste stream • Any other special requirements UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

5. Radioactive Waste Streams There are 4 basic streams of radioactive wastes: • Dry Solid • Aqueous Liquid • Liquid Scintillation Vial (LSV) • Mixed UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

6. Here are some general requirements for packaging radioactive waste UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

7. Radioactive Waste Containers Must be: • Separated by isotope • Labeled with two (2) “Caution: Radioactive Material” stickers • Top and side • Closed at all times when not in use • Stored in a certified chemical fume hood when containing volatile chemicals UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

8. Radioactive Waste Shielding • Appropriate shielding should be used at all times when storing radioactive waste • Beta-emitting radionuclides – plastics • Gamma-emitting radionuclides – lead UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

9. Determining the activity of radioactive waste • The most acceptable means of determining activity of the waste container is to create a running sum • Record the amount of radioactive material you worked with for each experiment on a log for each waste container • Note: Radioactive waste activities must never exceed the isotope possession limit for your lab UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

10. Disposing of Dry Solid Wastes UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

11. What classifies as dry solid waste? • Consists primarily of waste materials from RAM procedures such as: • Bench coverings • Disposable gloves • Empty plastic stock vials • Petri dishes • Note: any contaminated lab equipment should be separated from regular dry waste UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

12. Deface Labeling & Markings • All radiation symbols and labels should be defaced prior to disposal • With a permanent marker, mark out all symbols and labels that say ‘RADIOACTIVE’ RADIOACTIVE UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

13. Radioactive Sharps Sharp objects such as pipette tips, non-biohazardous syringes, and broken glassware must be contained in a puncture resistant container and double-bagged separately UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

14. Preparing Dry Waste for Disposal • Double bag waste with 3 mil thick transparent plastic bags • Note: Opaque bags will be rejected at the waste pickup location • Seal waste bags with tape using a “J-Seal” as pictured to the right UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

15. No Free-Standing Liquid • In order to prevent the release of contamination if punctured, dry waste bags should not contain any significant amounts of free-standing liquid UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

16. Filling out a Waste Tag for Dry Solid Waste • Fill in: • Name of the PI & LA Number • Contact Information & Date of disposal • Radionuclide • Activity (as explained earlier) Before bringing the waste down to the regularly scheduled waste pickup location, the radioactive waste ID tags must be complete and accurate. • Indicate any handling precautions in the free space outlined (sharps) • Sign the waste tag at the bottom • For Dry Solid Waste, mark “SOLIDS”

17. Disposing of Aqueous Liquid Wastes UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

18. What classifies as Aqueous Liquid Wastes? • Liquids must be readily soluble or dispersible in water • Consists primarily of: • Radioactive samples • Contaminated liquid wash • Unused stock material UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

19. Aqueous Liquid Waste Containers • Carboys are used to contain liquid wastes • The liquid volume should not exceed 75% of the total volume of the container • Carboys should be inspected frequently to ensure that it is not cracked UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

20. Secondary Containment • Liquid waste containers should always have secondary containment • The secondary container must be large enough to contain the entire volume of the primary container • Liquid waste is rejected if they contain any solid waste (vials, pipette tips, etc.) UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

21. Filling out a Waste Tag for Aqueous Liquid Waste • As before, fill in: • Name of the PI & LA Number • Contact Information & Date of disposal • Radionuclide • Activity (as explained earlier) For aqueous liquid waste, more information needs to be collected prior to disposal. • In this section, include all the reagents that were disposed in the container with accurate volumes or weights (common names of compounds are preferred) • Sign the waste tag at the bottom • Mark LIQUIDS and indicate the volume in Liters

22. Disposing of Liquid Scintillation Vial (LSV) Wastes UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

23. What classifies as LSV Waste? LSV wastes primarily consist of: • Radioactive samples • Liquid Scintillation Counter (LSC) standards • Laboratory contamination survey swipe samples UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

24. LSV Waste Segregation • LSV wastes should be segregated according to: • Radioactive vs. Non-Radioactive • “hot” samples • Non-radioactive contamination wipes • Isotope • Brand of Liquid scintillation fluid used UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

25. LSV Waste Disposal • When possible, dispose of the LSV waste using the manufacturer provided trays • The trays should have secondary containment when in storage and double bagged in clear plastic bags when ready for disposal UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

26. Filling out a Waste Tag for LSV Waste • As before, fill in: • Name of the PI & LA Number • Contact Information & Date of disposal • Radionuclide • Activity (as explained earlier) • Please note that the radionuclide and the activity should be “N/A” and “0” respectively for non-radioactive swipe samples With LSV waste, it is important to note the brand of liquid scintillation fluid used by your lab. This will help us determine whether or not it’s biodegradable or hazardous. • Indicate any handling precautions in the free space outlined • Sign the waste tag at the bottom • Mark SCINTILLATION FLUID and indicate the volume and brand of the fluid

27. Disposing of Mixed Hazard Waste UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

28. What classifies as Mixed Hazard Waste? • Mixed waste consists of one or more hazards other than radioactive • i.e. toxic, caustics, bio-hazardous, etc. • When possible, try to incorporate the elimination of other hazards through the experimental protocol • i.e. neutralization (chemistry), autoclaving or bleaching, etc. UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

29. Disposing of Mixed Hazard Waste • Liquid waste containers with mixed hazard solutions will not be returned to the lab • When disposing lead, scan and wipe the lead to determine the presence of contamination (fixed or removable) • Separate cold lead from contaminated lead UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

30. Filling out a Waste Tag for Mixed Waste • As before, fill in: • Name of the PI & LA Number • Contact Information & Date of disposal • Radionuclide • Activity (as explained earlier) • Please note that the radionuclide and the activity should be “N/A” and “0” respectively for non-contaminated items With mixed waste, ensure that any special precautions or requirements from EH&S are addressed prior to disposal through Radiation Safety. • Indicate any handling precautions in the free space outlined • Sign the waste tag at the bottom • Mark OTHER and indicate the nature of the other hazard(s) i.e. flammable, corrosive, lead, etc.

31. Disposing of Animal Wastes UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

32. Animal Waste Disposal • All animal wastes must be delivered to CHS A6-060C and double bagged in opaque plastic bags (3 mil thick) UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

33. Filling out a Waste Tag for Animal Waste All information recorded on animal waste tags should directly correspond with the approved ARC protocol. • Fill in: • Name of the PI & LA Number • Contact Information & Date of disposal • Radionuclide • Activity (as explained earlier) • Indicate any handling precautions in the free space outlined • Sign the waste tag at the bottom • Mark ANIMALS and indicate the TYPE, NUMBER OF ANIMALS, and total WEIGHT

34. If you have any questions regarding the topics discussed during this presentation, please contact the radioactive waste manager at ext. 4-1876 UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

35. Training Record Form In order to satisfy your annual continuing training credit requirement, your lab group must submit the current year’s Principal Radiation Worker Training Record Form. This form must be sent to Radiation Safety before the end of the fall quarter. UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

36. Beside your name, check O for OTHER, date, and initial the form. If one of the workers listed is no longer with UCLA, please indicate the termination date for the worker under the column outlined. 1 Jan 2010 AE UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

37. If you have any questions regarding the continuing training credit requirement or need a copy of your lab group’s form, please contact your responsible health physicist or the Radiation Safety training manager at ext. 6-4633 or bruiz@ehs.ucla.edu UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training

38. Thank you for attention and congratulations on completing your annual continuing training credit with the Radiation Safety Division at UCLA. UCLA Radiation Safety Continuing Training END