Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Radioactive Material
Use these links to jump to a question, or scroll down to read them all.
- How do I become an authorized user of radioactive material?
- How do I order radioactive material?
- I'm moving my laboratory or leaving the University; how should I proceed?
- Extra information: Radiation Safety and You by Bradford Taylor, Associate Radiation Safety Officer
How do I become an authorized user of radioactive material?
Answer:- P. I. must submit to EHS:
- Laboratory Safety Plan (LSP)
- Schedule C is the radiation use portion of the LSP
- Appendix B (Lab/Radiation Worker Registration Form) for laboratory workers
- Laboratory Safety Plan (LSP)
- Mandatory attendance at a radiation safety training course
- Have a consultation with the RSO
- Gain approval from the UNC-CH Radiation Safety Committee
Please contact Jonathan Moore for more details.
How do I order radioactive material?
Answer:Steps for placing order:
- Complete Purchase Requisition for each vendor
- Send completed Requisition to EHS
- EHS approves; Requisition to Purchasing
- Purchasing will establish a "standing order" good for a year (typically)
- Lab receives PO number for each vendor and places orders with vendors. Each time an order is placed, the lab faxes an Appendix C to EHS
Contact Annette Bridges, EHS Dosimetry Technician for more details.
I'm moving my laboratory or leaving the University; how should I proceed?
Answer:Are you moving your laboratory or leaving the University? Are you adding or deleting the use of radiation in rooms on your Radiation license? Please follow these steps:
- Written notification to the UNC Health and Safety Office is required prior to adding a new room, vacating a lab room or moving into a new lab space. Prior to moving into a new lab, the room/s must be added to you radiation license and posted for radiation use.
- When vacating a lab, remove all sources of radiation from the lab space, source vials, aliquots of radioactive material, experiments containing radioactive material and radiation waste.
- Decontaminate all areas where radioactive material was used, and decontaminate all equipment (refrigerators, freezers, incubators, centrifuges, microfuges, etc.) that contained radioactive material.
- Perform a radiation survey of the whole lab including all equipment that may have contained radioactive material (Geiger counter survey and wipe test).
- The Safety Clearance Form (Appendix F) is to be used for rooms/equipment that contained radioactive material, were decontaminated and surveyed, and are considered safe for unrestricted use.
- After survey of equipment and if equipment is to be moved, transferred, surplused or remain in the vacated space, remove the radiation labels on the equipment, and attach a Safety Clearance Form (Appendix F) to the equipment. This form verifies that the equipment is considered safe for any use. Contact EHS for new radiation stickers as needed after moving/repairing equipment. Do not allow maintenance staff or the moving crew to repair/move/transfer equipment with radiation labels affixed to it.
- Notify EHS that the lab space is ready for a final clearance survey by one of our EHS Safety Officers, and place the Safety Clearance Form (Appendix F) on the door of the vacated room.
- Never remove the room sign. Environment, Health and Safety will remove the room sign after an EHS Safety Officer has completed the final clearance survey of the vacated lab space.
- Call EHS at 962-5507 or email Jonathan Moore for questions.