Radiological Safety
Office: (412) 268-7502

Last updated September 2, 2008 12:02 PM

Carnegie Mellon University’s radiation safety policy applies to the use of sources of radiation in the various teaching, research, and operating activities. The purpose of the Radiation Safety Program (RSP) is to provide a structure and organization that ensures continuing implementation of the radiation safety policy throughout the university.

The RSP has recently undergone a comprehensive and thorough review and restructuring. This was done to better carry out the responsibility the university assumes to prevent, to the best of our ability, noncompliance. The program also enables the institution to discharge its regulatory obligations more effectively and efficiently. The Radiation Safety Office primarily manages these efforts.

New initiatives are continually being developed and many existing programs are in place now. Please refer to this site often to remain informed of our program.

Carnegie Mellon University operates under a license and regulations set forth by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)-Bureau of Radiation Protection, Title 25, for the procurement, possession, transportation, and use of all radioactive materials and radiation-producing machinery.

As part of these regulations, the university is required to develop and maintain a radiation safety program. This program must assure compliance with these regulations and maintain radiation exposures to all individuals “as low as reasonably achievable” (ALARA).

The university has put forth various policies, procedures, and guidelines to establish a safe work environment for personnel who work with radioisotopes, x-ray producing equipment, and other sources of ionizing radiation.

Radiation Guidelines, Requirements and Recommendations

Radiation Programs

Radiation Safety Committee

Radiation Safety Forms, Policies and Links of Interest

Radiation Safety Plan for Materials and Devices

Services Offered

Training

Radiation Guidelines, Requirements, and Recommendations

The guidelines, requirements, and recommendations have been put forth to aid the investigator in establishing safe procedures and to comply with existing radiation safety policies.

• Iodinations Guideline


• S-35 Methionine Labeling Guideline


• Moving a Radioactive Materials Laboratory


• Moving Equipment from a Radioactive Materials Laboratory


• Establishing a Radioactive Materials Laboratory


• Procuring and Receiving a Device Containing Generally Licensed Radioactive Material


• Leaving Carnegie Mellon


• Reporting Medical Administration of Radioisotopes

Radiation Programs

Various programs have been instituted to ensure the safe handling and use of radioactive materials and or radiation producing equipment.

• Air-Monitoring


• Bioassay


• Training


• Respiratory Program

Radiation Safety Committee

The Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) has been established at Carnegie Mellon University and operates under the authorization of the university's president. It consists of faculty, research staff members, and university administrators, several of whom are knowledgeable in the safe use of sources of radiation. The committee develops and recommends radiation safety policy and monitors the progress and continuity of the RSP. Formal meetings of the committee are held quarterly, at which time it reviews all applications for proposed use of sources of radiation and either approves or denies these applications. A list of membership is below.

Radiation Safety Plan Governing The Use of Radioactive Materials and Radiation Producing Devices

The Safety Plan For The Use of Radioactive Materials and Radiation Producing Devices inform Carnegie Mellon University personnel of the basic requirements for the use of radioactive material (RAM) and radiation-producing machines (RPMs) within the Radiation Safety Program. The purpose of these rules and regulations is to provide a safe working environment for lab personnel, to ensure public safety, and to avoid contamination of equipment and facilities.

The Radiation Safety Program at Carnegie Mellon University must:

• Ensure personnel are exposed to doses of radiation "as low as reasonably achievable" (ALARA)


• Achieve full compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the use of RAM and RPMs.

The Safety Plan For The Use of Radioactive Materials and Radiation Producing Devices references a series of radiation safety (RS) procedures. These procedures apply to all university faculty, staff, and students who purchase, transport, or use radioactive material or radiation-producing machines. They are administrative tools that the Environmental Health and Safety Department uses to ensure the safe handling of these items.

Each RS procedure references a series of forms. These forms are an extension of their corresponding procedure and must be used by all university faculty, staff, and students who purchase, transport, or use radioactive materials or radiation-producing devices. They are administrative tools that the Environmental Health and Safety Department uses to ensure the safe handling of these items.

RS2.1 Forms - *Please note that these forms can be completed in Adobe Acrobat using the hand tool. However, you can not save the form unless you have Adobe Acrobat Professional. The professional version will enable you to save the form with your changes.

• Request for Authorization to Procure and Use Radionuclides for Non-Human Use


• Training Summary


• Request for Amendment to Authorization


• Statement of Agreement

RS2.2 Forms

• Radionuclide Order Form


• Radioactive Material Package Receipt and Disposal Record. The RS Office issues this form at time of RAM receipt. A trained user acknowledges receipt by signing two copies of this form. The user retains one copy and the RS Office retains a copy.

RS3.1 Forms

• Radiation-Producing Device Registry Form


• Safety Device By-pass Application


• Radiation-Producing Device Transfer Form

RS3.2 Forms

• Radiographic/Fluoroscopic Equipment Registry Form


• Safety Device By-pass Application


• Radiographic/Fluoroscopic Equipment Transfer Form


• Radiographic/Fluoroscopic Training Outline and Certification

RS4.1 Forms

• Dosimetry Application and Training Certification

RS7.1 Forms

• Underconstruction

Services Offered

The Radiation Safety Department offers several services to faculty, staff, and students of Carnegie Mellon University .

• Training


• Receive and ship RAM


• Radiation dosimetry and bioassays


• Radiation and radioactive contamination surveys


• Waste collection


• RPM Inspections


• Radiation detection and personal protective equipment recommendations

Training

• Ancillary Safety Training


• Electron Microscope Safety Training


• Radionuclide (RAM), New User Training


• Specialized Safety


• X-ray, Initial New User Training

Ancillary Safety Training

Ancillary Training is required for those persons who do not work with radioactive materials themselves, but who work in an area posted for radioactive materials, or who have cause to enter such an area as part of their work.

• Web-based Ancillary Training
  • If you are NOT a CMU Staff/Faculty/Student please contact the Radiation Safety Office at (412) 268-7502 for assistance.
  • Web browser with Flash Player 6 or later

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection requires that all users of Electron Microscopes (EM) receive radiation safety training. This training is available to EM users at Carnegie Mellon through an online powerpoint presentation. A short quiz and user information request follows the training and functions as proof that the user has met the requirement.

• Web-based Electron Microscope Safety Training
  • If you are NOT a CMU Staff/Faculty/Student please contact the Radiation Safety Office at (412) 268-7502 for assistance.
  • Web browser with Flash Player 6 or later

Radionuclide (RAM) New User Training

The initial training for new users of radionuclides is in two parts, an electronic presentation and quiz and a practical session conducted by the Radiation Safety staff. Part 1 consists of a web-based power point presentation that illustrates many fundamental concepts of radiation, radioactive decay, and basics of radiation protection principles. The electronic session may be accessed at the web-based New RAM User training link below. After you complete the web-based radionuclide safety training, you will be prompted to complete an on-line radioactive material safety training evaluation. You will be asked 20 questions pertaining to the information presented to you in the web-based training. It is the intention of this evaluation to assess your comprehension of the material presented in the web-based training session. An incorrect response will prompt you to return to the web-based training session or the previously asked question, and will not permit you to proceed until you provide a correct response. At the end of the on-line assessment you will be prompted to submit a request for the radiation safety practicum. This practicum is offered upon request and includes hands-on training applicable to your work and requires approximately 2.5 hours. For additional information, please call 268-7502.

Completion of the on-line web-based training, on-line evaluation, and the practicum fulfill the requirements for you to be approved to use radioactive material, under an existing principal investigator’s authorization, at Carnegie Mellon University.

Please note that this course does NOT fulfill the requirements for use of x-ray machines or other radiation producing equipment. This course will NOT grant you an AUTHORIZATION to use radioactive material as a PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, although it is a requirement for principal investigator authorization. Click here for instructions on obtaining the "Authorization to Procure and Use Radionuclides for Non-Human Use".

• Web-based RAM User Safety Training
  • If you are NOT a CMU Staff/Faculty/Student please contact the Radiation Safety Office at (412) 268-7502 for assistance.
  • Web browser with Flash Player 6 or later

Specialized safety training is developed and administered on an as needed basis by the Radiation Safety Office. The RS office customizes the training to satisfy safety requirements of each radionuclide or radiation-producing machine authorization request.

In the event that a radionuclide authorization (RA) does not stipulate specialized training and you wish to receive supplemental training, forward requests to the Radiation Safety Officer.

X-Ray Safety Training

The X-ray safety training consists of an electronic and practical training presentation. The electronic session is a web-based power point presentation that illustrates many fundamental concepts of ionizing radiation and basics of radiation protection principles. The electronic training session may be accessed at the web-based initial x-ray training link below. After you complete the web-based x-ray safety training, you must contact the manager of the specific x-ray device to schedule the practical training session.

Completion of this course and a passing grade of at least 70% on the written exam fulfill the requirements for you to be approved to use x-ray diffraction equipment, under an existing principal investigator’s authorization, at Carnegie Mellon University .

Please note that this course does NOT fulfill the requirements for use of fluoroscopy units or radionuclides. This course will NOT grant you an AUTHORIZATION to use radiation-producing machinery as a PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, although it is a requirement for principal investigator authorization. Click here for instructions on obtaining the "Authorization to Procure and Use Radionuclides for Non-Human Use" or "Authorization to Procure and Use Radiation producing-Devices".

• Web-based Initial X-ray Training
  • If you are NOT a CMU Staff/Faculty/Student please contact the Radiation Safety Office at (412) 268-7502 for assistance.
  • Web browser with Flash Player 6 or later


• Additional Requirements for Fluoroscopy X-Radiography
  

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