Radiation Safety

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Radiation Safety

• Training Workshop

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What is radiation ?

• Radiation is energy in the form of waves or
  particles.

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Electromagnetic Spectrum
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Background Radiation

• We all receive background radiation whether we
  are occupationally exposed or not

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Regulation of radioactivity in Canada

• Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
• Occupational Health Safety Act
• Radiation Emitting Devices Regulations
• IAEA Regulations for the Safe Transport of
  Radioactive Material

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Radiation Safety Commitment

• Dalhousie University is committed to provide a
  safe work environment.
• Radiation Safety is an important part of the EHS
  program.

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Radiation Safety Committee

• Dr. S. Cameron - Chemistry
• Dr. A Chatt SLOWPOKE
• Dr. M. Dobson Biochemistry (Chair)
• Dr. R. Dunlap Physics
• Dr. K. Hall Physics
• Dr. K. Hewitt - Physics
• Dr. D. Hoskin - Microbiology
• P. Jones (Secretary RSO)
• Dr. W. Louch, Director EHS
• K. Murphy Pharmacology
• Dr. N. Ridgway ARC
• Dr. M. Zentilli Earth Sciences

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Licensee (Dalhousie) Obligations

• Ensure the presence of a sufficient number of
  qualified workers to carry out the licensees
  activity in accordance with all applicable Act
  and Regulations.
• Train workers to carry out the licenses
  activities in accordance with applicable Act and
  Regulations

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Classification of Workers

• Nuclear Energy Worker (NEW)
• Maximum permissible dose 20mSv/yr

• A person who is not a NEW
• Maximum permissible dose 1 mSv/yr

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Radiation Safety Program

• Organization Administration
• Employee qualifications
• RS personnel qualifications
• Exposure and dose control
• Instrumentation equipment
• Inventory management
• Dosimetry
• Contamination control
• Emissions monitoring

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Ionizing Radiation

• We cant feel, taste, smell or hear ionizing
  radiation so we must follow established safety
  procedures when we are around known sources

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Ionizing Radiation

• Alpha particles
• Beta particles
• Gamma rays
• X-rays

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What are the hazards ?

• External exposure
• Internal exposure
• Spread of contamination

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External Radiation Exposure

• Exposure from a source of radiation in the
  workplace.
• Once the source is stored or you leave the area
  you are no longer exposed and you are not
  radioactive.

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Internal Radiation Exposure

• Exposure from a source that has inadvertently
  been deposited into the body

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Routes Leading to Internal Exposure

• Ingestion
• Inhalation
• Absorption

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Critical/Target Organs

• I-125
• P-32, P-33
• S-35
• H-3
• C-14
• Tc-99m

• Thyroid
• Bone
• Whole body, testes
• Body fluid
• Fatty tissue
• Lower large intestinal wall

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Keys to Radiation Safety

• Careful Planning
• Safe Work Habits
• Routine Monitoring and Record Keeping
• Proper Waste Disposal
• Consultation with the RSO

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Careful Planning

• Be aware of the hazards
• Is your lab approved?
• Determine your monitoring and shielding
  requirements

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Nuclear Substance User Permit

• An example of a Dalhousie University
  authorization to use nuclear substances

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Required Postings
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Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
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Personnel Monitoring
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Workplace Monitoring
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Shielding
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Safe Work Habits
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Proper Lab Bench Set Up

• A proper lab bench including
• survey meter
• whole body shield
• spill trays
• waste container
• labeling
• etc.,

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Time

• Accumulated time from external radiation exposure
  is directly proportional to the amount of time
  spent in the area

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Distance

• The radiation field is inversely proportional to
  the square of the distance from the source

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Shielding

• The amount of shielding required depends on the
  type of radiation, the activity present and the
  dose rate acceptable outside the shielding
  material
• lt 2.5 uSv/hr

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Radiation Protection Concepts

• Time
• Distance
• Shielding
• Risk/Benefit

ALARA
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Routine Monitoring Recordkeeping

• Personal exposure records
• Bioassay records
• Receipt of radioactive material
• Inventory records
• Daily direct monitoring
• Weekly wipe tests
• Incident reports
• Radiation worker list
• Self-audits

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Radioisotope Inventory Record Sheet
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Proper Waste Disposal

• Solid
• Liquid
• Storage for decay
• Shipment for disposal

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Consultation with RSO

• Telephone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-mail pauline.jones_at_dal.ca
• Web site http//www.dal.ca/ehs