Radioactive Material Storage and Security
Overview:
All radioactive material users have difficulty complying with the regulation, which requires that all licensed material be "positively secured" against unauthorized removal. ETSU faces a special challenge with this requirement because access by a broad spectrum of people is a vital part of our mission.
The facilities where licensed materials are used at ETSU are distributed over a large area and intermingled with areas where licensed materials are not used. The distribution makes it difficult to secure these facilities at all times and still allow for the necessary flow of people. Responsible Users should make reasonable effort to safeguard radioactive materials in their possession from unauthorized removal, use and/or disposal. As a minimum, Responsible Users should lock unoccupied storage and use areas to prevent removal of licensed materials. Unauthorized transfer or removal of any radioactive materials from any building, or from campus, is prohibited.
Responsible User must contact the Office of Radiation Safety (ORS) when devices/sealed sources/radioactive material will be disposed/transferred/sold and is transferred from its storage area. The Office of Radiation Safety will oversee the removal, tagging, and transfer of the sealed source. The Responsible User must follow the directions of Office of Radiation Safety. An enlarged copy of the Restriction Tag (Exhibit 1) can be found at end of this procedure.
Restricted Area:
A restricted area is an area, access to which is limited by ETSU to protect individuals against undue risks from exposure to radiation and radioactive materials. Radioisotope laboratories are considered restricted areas. The Responsible User or designee should maintain surveillance of the laboratory and control entry during radioactive materials use periods. The laboratories should be locked or otherwise secured during periods of nonuse.
Users will report any unauthorized entry into a restricted area to the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and campus security. Users will also report any loss or theft of radioactive material from a restricted area to the RSO.
Storage Areas:
Users will store radioactive material in secure rooms or areas. Users will ensure that unattended radioactive materials are stored in locations accessible only to authorized persons. Users will store penetrating beta and gamma emitting materials behind appropriate shields to minimize exposures to personnel in accordance with the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) concept.
Storage Containers:
Storage containers should be labeled with the radioisotope, total activity, date, chemical form, and name of the person responsible. Storage containers should be kept in restricted areas and secured against unauthorized removal.
Off Duty Hours:
Users shall secure areas housing licensed materials against unauthorized entry during off duty hours.
Radiation Areas:
A radiation area is an accessible area in which an individual could receive a dose equivalent of 5 millirems in one hour at 30 centimeters from a source of radiation or from any surface that the radiation penetrates. Users will maintain surveillance over and control access to radiation areas caused by the use or storage of licensed materials. Users will secure those areas against unauthorized entry at other times.
High Radiation Areas:
A high radiation area is an accessible area in which an individual could receive a dose equivalent of 100 millirems in one hour at 30 centimeters from a source of radiation or from any surface that the radiation penetrates. Users will maintain continuous surveillance over and control access to high radiation areas caused by the use of licensed materials. Users will lock those areas to prevent unauthorized entry at other times. If the high radiation area will exist for thirty or more days, users should contact the Radiation Safety Office for assistance.
Very High Radiation Areas:
A very high radiation area is an accessible area in which an individual could receive a dose equivalent of 500 rads in one hour at one meter from a source of radiation or from any surface that the radiation penetrates. It is highly unlikely that we will ever need to control a very high radiation area. Users should contact the Radiation Safety Office for assistance.
Inventory: The Responsible User, or the designee in his/her absence, will perform a semi-annual physical inventory of all radioactive materials under his/her control. The assigned individual should record the inventory and retain the inventory record within the department.
Inventory Discrepancies:
The Responsible User or designee should report any discrepancies discovered during the semi-annual inventory to the Radiation Safety Office as soon as they are noted.
Transfer/Disposed
The Radiation Safety Office will over see the transfer/disposal of radioactive material/sealed sources. The Responsible Users will check with Office of Radiation Safety before any movement of source or devices. The Radiation Safety Officer will tag and review what the Responsible User has to do to get his equipment released to be moved off campus. When the Radiation Safety Officer is satisfy, an e-mail will be sent to Responsible User giving permission for him or her to move the equipment.
Reporting:
The Radiation Safety Officer will report the loss or theft of licensed material to the Division of Radiological Health in accordance with state regulations.