Radiation Safety Program

Radiation safety at Tulane is the joint responsibility of the OEHS and the Radiation Safety Committee. University administration appointed the OEHS, through its Radiation Safety Manager, to provide the necessary administrative and technical services to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and provisions of the University’s radioisotope license. Further details on the radiation safety program (including purchasing, handling practices, spill cleanup) are provided in the Radiation Safety Manual or from the OEHS Radiation Safety Manager.

Radiation Safety Manual
Radiation Dosimeter Badge Monitoring Service
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) Radiological Services Division
Obtaining a Radioactive Material License
Ordering Radioactive Material
Radioactive Waste Disposal
Field Radiography
Other Information

TULANE RADIATION SAFETY PROGRAM

I. Obtaining a Radioactive Material License

1. Request a license application form by calling 504/988-2867. Applications take approximately 30
     days for review by the Tulane Radiation Safety Committee.

2. Ensure that weekly radiation/contamination surveys are performed and documented during periods
     of continuous use. Decontamination must be performed at levels twice background cpm.

3. Ensure that a Transfer of Radioactive Material form is completed and forwarded prior to transfer of
     any radioactive material to any other facility not under Tulane's Radioactive Material License.

4.  Ensure that thyroid scans are performed prior to and following all use of millicurie amounts of
      I-125 for radioiodinations. Due to the formation of elemental iodine vapors during these
      procedures, a filtered fume hood flowing at greater than 100 feet per minute must be used.

5.  Ensure that film badge dosimetry is obtained by calling 504/988-2868. Use of Dosimeter is
     optional for users of weak beta emitters such as H-3, C-14, P-33, and S-35. Personnel handling
     millicurie amounts of other radioisotopes should wear an additional ring badge.

6.  After completing the typed Application for Use of Radioactive Material form, sign and return to
     Charles Reindl, Radiation Safety Officer, TW16

II. Ordering Radioactive Material

1. Complete a Purchase Requisition

2. Ensure that the name of the licensed principal investigator is written on the ATTN: line of the
     purchase requisition.

3. Ensure that the Business Office has approved and stamped the form.

4. Bring the requisition to the Purchasing Office for placement of the order.

III. Radioactive Waste Disposal

1.  Aqueous liquid radioactive waste may be drain disposed in the laboratory "hot sink" along with
     copious amounts of water after recording activity discharged. This method cannot be used at
     facilities not connected to municipal sewer systems such as the Primate Center and Hebert
     Center. Total millicuries of each radioisotope drain disposed during the prior six month period
     must be reported on the Semi-Annual Radionuclide Inventory/Sewer Disposal report form.

2.  Short half-life radioactive waste can be held for ten half-lives, checked with a Radiation survey
      meter to ensure that it reads less than or equal to background, and then discarded in regular trash
      after removing/defacing radioactive labels. Notation must be made on the Use Record indicating
      the date, Bkg., Defaced and Discarded.

3. Solid (or liquid) radioactive waste may also be taken to room 1105 in the Tulane Medical School
     between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays. Solid radioactive waste includes tightly-
     capped biodegradable liquid scintillation vials in trays or bags. Toluene scintillation fluid will be
     disposed of through a commercial disposal firm and the cost billed to the generator.

IV.  Field Radiography

The use of radiography is a routine procedure in the construction industry. The energy source used is a high activity gamma ray source similar to x-rays. Radiographers are requred to control access and maintain a specified distance while performing radiography. Due to public perception and safety considerations, Tulane recommends scheduling these activities after hours.

The following minimum safety procedures must be followed:

1.  Project Managers must notify the Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) of the exact 
      dates, times, and locations of any radiography work.

2.  The radiographer must have a Radioactive Materials License issued by Louisiana Department of
      Environmental Quality (LDEQ) that is current for the duration of the project.

3.  The radiographer or Project Manager must provide the OEHS with a copy of the radiographer's
      Radioactive Materials License at least one day before the project is scheduled to begin.

4.  OEHS will conduct radiation monitoring/dosimetry as deemed necessary.

5.   Project Managers must notify, by way of written notice, affected building occupants prior to
      beginning radiography work.

6.   All entrances/access to the radiography work area must be restricted to authorized personnel.

7.   Entrances/ barriers around the radiography work area must be posted with "Caution, Radiation
       Area" warning signage.

V. Other Information and links

1.  FDA Center for Disease and Radiological Health-View FDA Regulations
2.  Radiation and Health Physics Homepage
3.   Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) Radiological Services Division
4.  Landauer

For further information, contact Charles Reindl, Radiation Safety Officer, 504/988-2867.