2004 Radiation Safety 2004 Radiation Safety Refresher TrainingRefresher Training

Sue Dupre, Radiation Safety Sue Dupre, Radiation Safety OfficerOfficer

Stephen Elwood, Health & Stephen Elwood, Health & Safety SpecialistSafety Specialist

The Refresher Training NewsThe Refresher Training News

New user-friendly EHS websiteNew user-friendly EHS website

No incidents this year!No incidents this year! No spills, contamination incidents, no missing No spills, contamination incidents, no missing

materials during the last yearmaterials during the last year

Results of intensive audit of eight labsResults of intensive audit of eight labs

Policy changes and administrative changesPolicy changes and administrative changes

NRC inspection expected this springNRC inspection expected this spring

This year’s refresher training topics include:

EHS websiteEHS website

A new EHS website was introduced last fall.A new EHS website was introduced last fall.

The website is intended to be much more user-friendly The website is intended to be much more user-friendly and easy to search and easy to search

The next four slides show examples of the new Radiation The next four slides show examples of the new Radiation Safety pages on the EHS siteSafety pages on the EHS site

Go to Go to www.princeton.edu/ehswww.princeton.edu/ehs for the main EHS page for the main EHS page

EHS websiteEHS website

Audit Observations Audit Observations

Lab Inventories Lab Inventories Lab inventories are sometimes excessive Lab inventories are sometimes excessive

because labs hold onto old samples and old because labs hold onto old samples and old stocks, just in case. Be sure to regularly discard stocks, just in case. Be sure to regularly discard old stock vials and unneeded materialsold stock vials and unneeded materials

Actual lab inventories are sometimes much Actual lab inventories are sometimes much smaller than the electronic RITA inventories smaller than the electronic RITA inventories because Vial Use Logs are not returned to EHS because Vial Use Logs are not returned to EHS after the vials are discarded.after the vials are discarded.

• Return Vial Use Logs after vial is discardedReturn Vial Use Logs after vial is discarded

EHS will reinstitute quarterly reconciliation of lab EHS will reinstitute quarterly reconciliation of lab inventories through RITAinventories through RITA

Audit Observations Audit Observations

Survey DocumentationSurvey Documentation Most of the labs audited were seriously deficient in maintaining Most of the labs audited were seriously deficient in maintaining

survey logs.survey logs.

Remember to record every postoperational survey!Remember to record every postoperational survey!

For each withdrawal from a vial (noted on the Vial Use Log), there For each withdrawal from a vial (noted on the Vial Use Log), there should be an accompanying survey for that day (noted on the should be an accompanying survey for that day (noted on the Survey Log).Survey Log).

Wipe surveys for H-3 use must also be noted on the Survey Log.Wipe surveys for H-3 use must also be noted on the Survey Log.

Audit ObservationsAudit Observations

Labeling and Housekeeping IssuesLabeling and Housekeeping Issues Be sure to label individual pieces of contaminated Be sure to label individual pieces of contaminated

equipment even if the equipment is located within a equipment even if the equipment is located within a radioactive work area.radioactive work area.

Label samples as radioactive (i.e., trays of liquid Label samples as radioactive (i.e., trays of liquid scintillation counting samples). Include isotope, date, scintillation counting samples). Include isotope, date, etc.etc.

Remove labeling when no longer needed.Remove labeling when no longer needed.

Keep rad work areas as organized and free of Keep rad work areas as organized and free of extraneous items as possible.extraneous items as possible.

Audit ObservationsAudit Observations

Security and WasteSecurity and Waste

Unsecured stock vials were foundUnsecured stock vials were found Lock away stock vials as soon as you are done Lock away stock vials as soon as you are done

with themwith them Don’t leave stock vials unattendedDon’t leave stock vials unattended

We found a liquid waste bottle labeled as We found a liquid waste bottle labeled as “Not P-32”“Not P-32” Label wastes clearly with the isotope, date, etc. Label wastes clearly with the isotope, date, etc.

that the container actually that the container actually doesdoes contain contain

Audit ObservationsAudit ObservationsLack of Familiarity with Isotopes in UseLack of Familiarity with Isotopes in Use

During the audit we found some inexperienced isotope users who During the audit we found some inexperienced isotope users who did not understand the properties of the isotopes they were using. did not understand the properties of the isotopes they were using. For instance, one new user was using an I-125 scintillation meter to For instance, one new user was using an I-125 scintillation meter to survey for C-14 (impossible to detect C-14 with that kind of meter)survey for C-14 (impossible to detect C-14 with that kind of meter)

Know the hazards, properties, shielding requirements, appropriate Know the hazards, properties, shielding requirements, appropriate survey techniques, waste disposal requirements for the isotope you survey techniques, waste disposal requirements for the isotope you useuse

Review of Incident ProceduresReview of Incident Procedures

Incidents include:

• Spill of radioactive materials

• Widespread or unusual contamination

• Any case of contamination on skin or clothing

• Missing radioactive materials

• Exposure to an x-ray machine

One of the inexperienced users said that she would call the Princeton Medical Center if she discovered contamination on her hand. This is incorrect! Be sure to review radiation incident procedures.

Radiation Incident NotificationRadiation Incident Notification

• Call EHS during work hoursCall EHS during work hours

• Call Public Safety at 8-3134 after work Call Public Safety at 8-3134 after work hourshours

Shipping Radioactive and Other Shipping Radioactive and Other Hazardous MaterialsHazardous Materials

This is a reminder that all This is a reminder that all hazardous materials must be hazardous materials must be shipped in compliance with shipped in compliance with U.S. DOT regulationsU.S. DOT regulations

Contact EHS if you have any Contact EHS if you have any question at all that your question at all that your shipment might contain an shipment might contain an officially defined hazardous officially defined hazardous material.material.

EHS will assist you with the EHS will assist you with the shipmentshipment

Complete the online Complete the online Shipping Shipping Hazardous MaterialsHazardous Materials form form found on the EHS sitefound on the EHS site

Allow several days in advance Allow several days in advance to make sure that to make sure that arrangements can be madearrangements can be made

Mixed WastesMixed Wastes

Definition:Definition: Any waste that Any waste that is radioactive and is also is radioactive and is also a RCRA-listed hazardous a RCRA-listed hazardous chemical waste.chemical waste.

Recent examples include Recent examples include radioactive acetonitrile radioactive acetonitrile (byproduct of HPLC) and (byproduct of HPLC) and methanolmethanol

Complete the Mixed Complete the Mixed Waste Tracking Form on Waste Tracking Form on the EHS website when the EHS website when the waste is generated.the waste is generated.

Policy and Procedural ChangesPolicy and Procedural Changes

New Waste Containers & ProceduresNew Waste Containers & ProceduresNew radioactive waste containers and waste instruction cards have been placed in all the laboratories.

Waste Can CategoriesWaste Can Categories Liquid Scintillation Liquid Scintillation

Counting WastesCounting Wastes Any isotope; flashpoint > 140Any isotope; flashpoint > 140°° F F

P-32 Solid WastesP-32 Solid Wastes

DIS Solid WastesDIS Solid Wastes tt½½ < 120 days (P-33, S-35, I-125) < 120 days (P-33, S-35, I-125)

Long-Lived Solid WastesLong-Lived Solid Wastes tt½½ > 120 days (H-3, C-14) > 120 days (H-3, C-14)

New Eating/Drinking PolicyNew Eating/Drinking Policy

A new Eating/Drinking policy has been implemented that will allow a very few labs to establish Eating/Drinking Areas.

The new policy is intended for those labs in which there is wide separation between research areas and desk areas.

Eating/Drinking AreasEating/Drinking Areas

New policy approved by the Radiation New policy approved by the Radiation Safety Committee to allow eating and Safety Committee to allow eating and drinking in very limited areas and under drinking in very limited areas and under very strict conditions.very strict conditions.

Not applicable to most labs (all desk areas Not applicable to most labs (all desk areas must be totally separate from lab areas). must be totally separate from lab areas).

Interested labs must apply to the RSCInterested labs must apply to the RSC

Transferring Radioactive MaterialsTransferring Radioactive Materialsbetween University Labs between University Labs

The Radiation Safety Committee has just The Radiation Safety Committee has just approved a new policy regarding the transfer approved a new policy regarding the transfer of radioactive materials between Princeton of radioactive materials between Princeton University labs:University labs:

The The transferringtransferring lab must go to the EHS website to lab must go to the EHS website to check whether the check whether the recipientrecipient lab is authorized to lab is authorized to possess the radioisotope in question. possess the radioisotope in question.

If authorization exists, the transferring lab will send If authorization exists, the transferring lab will send a notification e-mail to EHS via the website and a notification e-mail to EHS via the website and may proceed to make the transfer. may proceed to make the transfer.

EHS will follow up to adjust inventories and send EHS will follow up to adjust inventories and send out a new Vial Use Log if necessary.out a new Vial Use Log if necessary.

NRC InspectionNRC Inspection An NRC inspection is expected this spring (it’s An NRC inspection is expected this spring (it’s

been two years since the last inspection)been two years since the last inspection) Check lab conditions and recordsCheck lab conditions and records Make sure training for all lab personnel is up-to-Make sure training for all lab personnel is up-to-

datedate Pay attention to security mattersPay attention to security matters Can your lab personnel answer the sample NRC Can your lab personnel answer the sample NRC

Interview questions? Check with your lab Interview questions? Check with your lab manager if you did not receive a copy of the manager if you did not receive a copy of the sample interview questions.sample interview questions.

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