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2. Radiation Safety Retraining Updated 09/12

3. Why is retraining necessary? The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has determined that initial training is not sufficient to ensure that radiation workers know and understand the requirements for safe and compliant workplace behavior. Retraining is focused on new issues, issues that have high safety or compliance significance, or areas where improvement may be needed. There will be a quiz at the end of this presentation. To pass, you must get 75% of the answers correct.

4. Recent Compliance Issues • Use of Survey Meters • Surveys/Wipe Testing • Contamination Control • Security of Radioactive Material • Eating and Drinking in Laboratories • Waste Labeling and Packaging • Proper Use of Personal Protective Equipment • Recordkeeping • Unreturned Dosimetry • Shipping of Radioactive Material

5. Survey Meters • Geiger-Muller: Gives immediate results and is best for medium and high energy beta, as well as gamma • Not ideal for 125I (use thin window NaI) • Ineffective for 3H (use a wipe test) • Absolute efficiency is very low

6. Survey Meters (continued) • Prior to using your meter, check for: • Battery levels: is it in range? • Response: use a known source to see if meter gives feedback • Calibration tag: is it past the calibration due date? • Audio: make sure the “chirpings” can be heard • Always start on the lowest scale (x0.1) • Background Radiation: Find what level of background radiation is in your non-radioactive material area, so that you have a comparison (do this away from know sources of radiation). • Maintenance: • If you don’t use the meter often – keep its batteries stored next to meter • Do not let your meter become contaminated • This may lead to personnel contamination, and • You may not be able to determine what areas are/aren’t contaminated (no distinction)

7. Surveys (Contamination Control) • Lab surveys should be performed on a regular basis to prevent contamination in the laboratory and to keep exposures to personnel ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable). The frequency of surveys will depend on the amount of radioactive material used and the experimental procedures. • Proper technique is important – move the probe slowly over the area to be surveyed at a close distance. • The authorized user performing the experiment should also be the one performing the survey (this person should know the potential areas of contamination). • Survey the areas most likely to have contamination (e.g. floor, hood, equipment, bench top, hands (after removing gloves)).

8. How do I achieve ALARA? • Time • Decrease the amount of time you spend near radioactive material. • Distance • Increase the distance between you and radioactive material. • Shielding • Use appropriate shielding between you and radioactive material.

9. Survey Schedule • A survey of the use area shall be performed and documented: • If you have not used material, or use it infrequently: • Document the lack of use monthly (e.g. “No use this month”), and initial or sign, or • Make a statement in the survey logbook to this effect. For example, “No radioactive material use is expected to occur in this laboratory until Month/Year” would be acceptable. However, upon receipt of new material, periodic documentation is required.

10. When is a surface considered “contaminated”? • The survey meter reading is twice background, OR • Wipe test results indicate >200 dpm, OR • Survey meter and/or wipe test indicate presence of radiation in a non-radiation area or on equipment that is not labeled radioactive

11. What if I find contamination? • If a survey or wipe indicates contamination • Decontaminate using disposable towels and soap • Many household cleaners such as Fantastic 409 or Clorox Wipes can be very handy in decontaminating work areas. • Be sure to place any materials used in the cleanup process into the radioactive waste after they have been used. • If bench paper is contaminated, dispose in radioactive waste • Continue the process until the area is no longer contaminated • If there is floor OR personnel contamination -notify REM for immediate assistance • (765) 494-6371 : main office

12. Wipe Tests • A wipe test is the most sensitive way to detect removable contamination. • covers a large surface area • high efficiency when counted by liquid scintillation (LSC) • only practical measure of 3H contamination • Efficiency of removal - approximately 10% • For high energy beta emitters, wipes can be checked with GM meter

13. Example of Proper Survey Documentation1

14. Example of Proper Survey Documentation2

15. Example of Poor Survey Documentation • Inconsistent record keeping styles • Missing quantity info • Missing areas surveyed • Missing units in results section • Unclear info in follow-up section • Missing initials

16. Project Requirements: Recordkeeping • Use Radioactive Material Logbook • Keep the most recent authorization printout in this binder • Authorized users and locations listed • Authorized nuclides, compounds, and amounts • Survey Log • Waste and Inventory Logs • Radionuclide Receipts • KEEP YOUR RECORDS UPDATED!

17. Security • Security of Radioactive Material • Lock freezers or storage areas • Lock doors when lab is unattended (Do you want your laptops to walk off? You don’t want CNN reporting stolen radioactive material due to a security lapse) • Keep an accurate inventory of your radioactive material • NRC Places High Priority on Security • The NRC conducts security screens during campus inspections to evaluate security adequacy. Incidents at other campuses have kept the focus on security. • Labs have been found unsecured by the NRC in the past – repeat violations may negatively impact our license!

18. Eating and Drinking in Labs While the consumption of foodand beverages is generally discouraged in labs, the followingrestrictions apply and are found on the door stickers for each approved laboratory: • Type B labs: Eating, drinking, food preparation, food storage, and smoking are not permitted • Type C labs: Users are allowed to drink when not working with material. Preparation of beverages, and the preparation or consumption of food is not allowed. • Type D labs: Beverage preparation, and the consumption of food and beverages may be permitted when the user is not actually handling or using radioactive materials. However, storage of food and beverages is not permitted in the same storage location (refrigerator, etc.) as the radioactive materials.

19. Waste Management • The radiation safety group removes radioactive waste (that is in compliance) on Tuesdays. If a lab wants the radioactive waste removed, they will need to submit a radioactive waste pickup request on the radiation safety website (found at www.purdue.edu/rem). • If the waste does not meet labeling and pH requirements, it will not be removed by radiation safety until the following week. The laboratory is to make appropriate corrections prior to the next pick-up day. • The radiation safety group does not remove waste associated with radioactive material (e.g. lead bricks, equipment) that is not contaminated.

20. Radioactive Waste • Separate waste between long and short half-life. (Short is defined as less than 30 days) • Declare all chemicals in a percentage format • Record pH of solution • List all radionuclides and amounts in mCi • Date when container is sealed or full • Do NOT abbreviate or use acronyms for chemicals or solutions (e.g. use phosphate buffered saline, water NOT PBS or H20)

21. Rad Waste Reminders • Record the amount and the date every time something is added to the container. Use a separate sheet if necessary. • Request a waste pickup by fax or email submission formwhen container is near full or won’t be used for extended periods

22. Waste Poster

23. Waste Scintillation Vials • Label vials with rad waste label (labeling flats containing vials is acceptable) • Place upright in original tray and box • For vials shipped in bulk • Cap tightly • Use rigid container (radwaste drum) • To contain leakage, double bag with absorbent material* between bags *Absorbent material will be supplied by REM

24. Recordkeeping • Use the Radioactive Material Logbook • Keep the most recent authorization printout in this binder • Authorized users and locations listed • Authorized nuclides, compounds, and amounts • Survey Log • Waste and Inventory Logs • Radionuclide Receipts • KEEP YOUR RECORDS UPDATED!

25. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • A minimum of gloves, labcoat and shoes that cover the feet are required for work with unsealed sources of radioactive material • For operations with splash potential - safety glasses or goggles are required • Do not wear gloves outside of the lab – this has the potential to spread contamination. • If you saw someone in lab gloves touch an elevator button or door handle, would you want to touch the same surface?

26. Dosimetry: Your Responsibilities • Return dosimetry promptly! If dosimetry is not returned, it cannot be processed. Dosimeters returned late may be considered degraded and “unreadable”. Also, there is a cost (late fee) associated with unreturned dosimetry. • Notify REM if you will not work with materials requiring dosimetry for extended periods. We can suspend your service and reactivate it when it is needed.

27. Dosimetry Placement • Proper placement: • Whole Body: • Outside of clothing • Front side of body • Between neck and waist • Ring: • Under gloves (minimizes potential for contamination) • Chip side (name plate) facing palm • Worn on hand most likely to receive greatest dose. • Fetal: • Outside of clothing • Abdominal area

28. Shipping • Transportation of radioactive materials will be done through REM, as a general rule. • PIs on campus may only transport radioactive materials under the specific approval by the RSO. • DOT regulatory requirements must be met • Packaging • Labeling • Emergency Contacts • Other requirements

29. Ordering Radioactive Material • To assist us with your radioactive material order when ordering through SAP: • Download and save REM Form R-1 • Fill out the form every time you order – one catalog number on each form • Attach to the SAP order or email to your procurement center to place the order • Remember to use the Product Category code for Radioimmunoassay Isotopes – 12112114. This code adds REM in as a required approver for radioactive material orders.

30. Ordering RAM (cont’d) • Remember to submit your orders before 12PM (noon) ! • Orders received after that may not arrive the next day • Vendors may not check their fax machine prior to their shipment deadline each day • All individuals in the approval process must approve the order • Technical problems are not uncommon • Remember to figure in radioactive decay for your project. • Special Note: Vendors take holidays, too! On long holiday weekends, shipments will not be sent out until vendor returns from holiday.

31. Spills and Emergency Response • During the day call REM at 49-46371, after hours call Purdue Police at 49-48221. • For fire or injury call 911 • In case of personal injury, assist the injured to the best of your ability • Notify REM for the following items: • Any floor or personal contamination • Contamination of hoods or lab benches greater than a few microcuries • Any time you think you might need assistance

32. Our Goal • Prevent radioactive material from leaving the lab through surveys, inventory control, and security. • Keep exposure to personnel and the public as low as reasonably achievable • Thanks for your assistance and cooperation.

33. Test • Complete the test indicated below. You must have a minimum score of 75% to pass. • Your results will be sent to you through email, and, if you have passed, will be the documentation you would use to prove certification for renewal. • If the quiz does not automatically pop up after clicking the link below, it may be necessary to exit the slide show by hitting the ‘Esc’ key. Once out of the slide show, the quiz should be open in the internet browser. Click here to begin the test.