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Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Working with Radiation

If you will be working with radiation or radiation producing machines in the scope of your research or job duties at the University, you will need to obtain approval from the Radiation Safety Committee. Please follow the procedures outlined below to receive approval.   More information can be found on the Radiation Safety Committee home page.

Requirements for Approval to Work with Radiation

  • For the purpose of this document, “radiation” means any work with radioactive material, radiation emitting equipment, or radiation of any kind in the course and scope of the mission of the University. This can include both work done on and outside of the campus.
  • These procedures apply to faculty, staff, research associates, contract workers (not contractors), visiting faculty and staff, graduate and undergraduate students.
  • The Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) must approve your work with radiation before it may commence. Principal Investigators (for research oriented work) or faculty/staff overseeing work with radiation (for non-research oriented work) must submit a Radiation Use Application Form (RUAF) via the IRBManager system for review and approval.
  • The RSC meets once monthly to review RUAF documents and vote on their approval. The RSC may hold RUAF approval pending additional information or investigation.
  • Your approval will be for the length of the project, with an annual report of radioactive materials and radiation producing equipment disposition. When you have changes in scope, location of materials, radioactive materials, methods or personnel you must submit an addendum to the approved application. The addendum will be made on the originally approved form. Personnel changes will be a notification with confirmation of training. All other changes will be reviewed by the committee.

Training Requirements

  • Everyone working with radiation must take a basic radiation safety training course. The basic course is available via Moodle.  Please contact the Office of Research Integrity for access to the training.
  • If you will be working with unsealed isotopes, NORM or X-rays, you must also complete a specialized training module through the Moodle website. Please contact the Office of Research Integrity for access to these trainings. In the specialized courses, you will view a video, and successfully complete a quiz (80% passing) in order to print a PDF of the completion certificate.  These trainings must be complete before radiation work is approved and commences.
  •  Your radiation safety training is good for three years from the date on the certificate. The RSO will notify you when you need to refresh this training.

Procedures Regarding Radiation Procurement

  • When you require radioactive material or equipment that emits radiation, you must have each purchase request approved by the RSO. This includes any material procured with a credit card.
  • Shipments of radioactive material will be sent to a pre-determined, dedicated location, unless alternate arrangements are made with the RSO. For more information regarding this, please contact the RSO or the Research Integrity Office. The RSO (or his designee) will inspect the shipment packages to ensure there is no radiation leakage before delivering the material to the ordering department.

Laboratory Inspections

  • You should prepare your laboratory for inspection via self-inspection using the Radiation Inspection Form.
  • All areas on the campus where work with radiation is being conducted will be inspected formally at least once annually by the RSO. The principal investigator and/or the supervising faculty/staff member will be given a copy of that inspection.
  • The RSO reserves the right to halt all work with radiation for issues of safety related to these inspections.

Inventory of Radioactive Materials

  • All applicable principal investigators and/or supervising faculty/staff are required to record on the inventory form an annual inventory of all radioactive materials and/or radiation emitting devices, and remit the inventory form to the RSO and/or the Research Integrity Office annually.

Please ensure that anyone under your supervision is aware of these procedures. If you have any questions, contact the RSO via email or at 482-5063.