Home
Volume 5.2 For the University of Maryland Campus February 2003
As you may have read in the January 2003 issue of our newsletter film badges are required by law for some of our radioactive material and radiation machine workers, for others they are not. The Radiation Safety Office is required to maintain records of your dose, which is based on the isotopes, the activity, and the potential for you to be exposed in your workplace. COMAR 26.12.01.01 regulations require individuals be monitored if they potentially may receive 10% of the exposure limits. By following ALARA and using the basic protection principles of Time, Distance and Shielding a good majority of you have eliminated your need for badges. In March our office will begin contacting Principal Investigators and laboratory workers to discuss the need for badges in your lab. Changes in the requirements for dosimetry will be made to the Radiation Safety Manual and distributed to PIs, Authorized and Individual Users on Campus.
As a reminder on dosimetry requirements, all dosimeters must be returned within 1 week of receiving your new batch. The 1/25/03 badges will be due no later than the 8th of April. Our office will begin charging individuals for lost/late/damaged badges. The charge for a first time offense is $10.00, second time $15.00, and third and final time $20.00. In addition to the charge the individual will receive a "strike" for each time the badges are lost/late or damaged. This new policy will allow only 3 strikes per individual. An individual receiving a 3rd strike will be suspended from use of radioactive material and/or radiation producing devices until further action is taken up at the next Radiation Safety Committee Meeting. The Committee meets 3 times per year.
Wipe test records: Don't forget to maintain at least one full year of wipe test records. This record must include the results (your printout from the LSC), the date, and locations where wipes were taken. Our office routinely checks wipe log records during our quarterly inspections. Waste Records: Maintain your waste records by recording the information on the waste containers. If you are in need of additional forms contact our office.
GM detectors: If you are using P-32, S-35 and/or C-14 you can use the GM detector for a quick scan of your area after each use. Check your gloves and other items before disposing of them in the radioactive waste - you can minimize waste by only throwing hot radioactive waste away. You still need to conduct your monthly wipe test but this is a quick, easy and good procedure to minimize contaminations in your lab. Signs and Labels: Take a minute to check your signs and labels - each lab using unsealed sources of radioactive material must have the radiation symbol and the words "Radioactive Material" on their lab signage at the entrance to the lab. Emergency Procedures and Notice to Employees are required postings. Your work areas and equipment must also be labeled with radiation stickers. Don't forget to completely deface these labels before placing them in the radioactive waste containers.
If you have any comments or would like to discuss any issues please contact me at (301) 314-8336.
Radiation Safety Officer
We would greatly appreciate your feedback about this site.
 RSS FeedCopyright © 2009 University of Maryland DES |
 |
UM Home | Directories | Search | Calendar Maintained by Department of Environmental Safety Direct questions and comments to safety@umd.edu |