Commission a New Radlab

Steps for New Faculty to Commission a Radiation Lab

1. Complete trainings
2. Become an authorized user
3. Compose a document detailing the laboratory procedures
4. Permit approval provided

TrainingTrainings

The radiation safety trainings (modules and in person) will provide all occupants/users with the familiarity and understanding of their responsibilities and regulatory requirements to ensure safe radioactive material use.

All users complete radiation safety new worker trainings (all steps) located on our Radiation Worker Training page.

PIPrincipal investigator (PI) Approval for Radiation Use (Authorized user)

As a PI you must:

• Understand your responsibilities of being an authorized user.
• Understand that it is the PI’s responsibility to obtain proper radiation safety equipment for maintaining a safe lab (radiation detectors, trays, radiation containment, shielding containers, wall shielding if necessary, etc.).
• Fill out authorized user application form HP-2: Application to become an Authorized User of Radioactive Materials and return it by email to: Radiation_Safety@uml.edu along with a copy of your curriculum vitae (CV).

LabNew Laboratory Approval for Radiation Use

The Radiation Safety Office can assist in any question you may have on setup, commissioning, and use. A document detailing the laboratory and material usage allows the university to determine if the use and lab setup is sufficient to handle the desired materials. The summary document will be reviewed by the Radiation safety Office, and the Radiation Safety Committee.

Compose a lab commissioning document detailing laboratory usage and send draft by email to: Radiation_Safety@uml.edu.

The lab commissioning document shall include the following:

1. Summary of radioactive Protocols
2. Radioactive Sources Used
3. Radiation Safety
4. Radiation Security
5. Radioactive Waste
6. Emergency Response
7. Floor Plan

LabSummarySummary of Protocols:

This where you will describe your experiment and how you intend to use radioactive materials. Please describe the planned procedures within the laboratory (e.g. evaporations, dissolving in 70% nitric acid, etc.).

Please include the text in the summary document as well as:

• All radioactive material will be used in compliance with regulations and procedures.
• All radiation users will comply with the requirements of the radiation safety guide, understand their responsibilities, and will not use or be around the material until they are completely radiation safety trained by the Radiation Safety Office and site specific trained by the Principal Investigator/ Authorized User.

LabSourcesSources Used:

Detail the sources being utilized, as well as their activity (addressing the following items):

• What isotopes are being utilized?
• Are sources sealed or unsealed?
• What is the maximum activity needed in the lab?
• What is the maximum activity per experiment (amount used at any one time)?

LabSafetySafety:

Detail how radiation safety will be maintained within the laboratory, including PPE, structural changes such as shielding in walls, and contamination management.

• What controls are needed (hoods, shielding, source cabinets, papering benchtops, etc.)?
• What PPE will be utilized (gloves, eyewear, lab coats, etc.)?
• What radiation detectors will be utilized (ion chambers for dose, contamination meters (LSC, geiger, etc.))? Please note that UMass Lowell can provide portable survey meter annual calibrations.
• If using unsealed sources, how will contamination be detected (LSC, counting system)?

LabSecuritySource Security:

Detail how the source will be contained, as well as what measures will be taken to prevent unwarranted usage.

• Describe the level of lab security (card access, locked door, etc.)
• Describe method of source security (locked cabinet, authorized individuals, sign out sheet, etc.)?
• Describe that all users will be instilled with a questioning attitude, as described in the training, to ensure source security.

LabWasteWaste Management (for unsealed sources):

Detail what radioactive waste will be generated, as well as how it will be segregated. Detail what containers will be used for containment of waste and the frequency of generation (e.g. 1 liter per week, 5 liter per year, etc.). Below are some clarifying item to be addressed, if applicable.

• What waste will be generated (solid, liquid (aqueous, inorganic, etc.) gas) and describe the constituents?
• How much waste, of each of the above waste types, will be generated per month, or per year?
• Will you segregate the waste by type (metals from papers, etc.) and half life (short<20days, Med <120 days, and long lived >120 days)
• Will you be using shielded (acrylic, lead) containers? How thick will they be?
• If using radioactive sharps, needles, broken glass, etc. Will you be using sharps/puncture proof containers?
• Will you be generating biological waste?
• Will you create Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) mixed waste (chemical / radioactive)?

Lab_EResponseEmergency Response:

Describe your actions to a radiation emergency (for example: Follow actions listed in the radiation safety guide, and contact the Principal investigator as soon as possible and is safe to do so.)

LabFloorFloor Plan:

Detail floor plan- where entrances/exits are, where the sources will be stored and used, and where waste will be stored.

Create floor plan showing:

• Entrances/exits, include passthrough doors.
• Where sources will be stored.
• Where sources will be used.
• Where waste will be stored.
• Any controls (tape on floor, ropes demarking the radiation space, etc.)

PermitPermit approval

After successful completion of the above mentioned items, the Radiation Safety Office will review the content, lab, trainings, records, and then provide notification of AU and laboratory approval to use radioactive material.