Washington State University
SAFETY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL

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Radiation Safety Courses

WSU personnel who work with radioactive materials and/or radiation machines are required to attend a radiation safety course conducted by the Radiation Safety Office (WAC 246-221-140, WAC 246-222-030). The Radiation Safety Office offers two separate courses; radioactive materials safety and radiation machines safety (see below).

This requirement applies to prospective authorized users (see 9.20) as well as employees who plan to work directly with radioactive materials or radiation machines.

An individual must complete the appropriate course before the Radiation Safety Office (RSO) fully authorizes the individual to use radioactive materials or radiation machines.

In the case of a radiation worker who is not an authorized user, the RSO may issue a temporary authorization if the worker receives basic training at the RSO, with the clear understanding that the individual must complete the appropriate course at the next offering.

Contact the Radiation Safety Office (RSO) to enroll in the appropriate safety course; telephone 335-8916.

In addition to completing the appropriate radiation safety course, each prospective radiation worker must receive safety training specifically for the laboratory areas where work will be performed.

The authorized user for the laboratory, or his or her specified designee, must conduct the laboratory training.

The training program for radioactive materials users includes the following topics:

• Basic radiation physics


• Types of radiation and characteristics


• Environmental radioactivity

• Somatic effects


• Genetic effects


• Acute exposure and immediate effects


• Chronic exposure and late effects


• Dose-effect relationship

• Control and measurement of radiation exposure


• ALARA philosophy


• Controlling external exposure


• Controlling internal exposure


• Security of radioactive materials


• Personnel dosimetry


• Bioassay


• Ordering and receiving radioactive materials


• Proper methods of disposal of radioactive waste


• Internal and external transfer of radioactive materials


• Radiation survey instruments and proper radiation survey techniques


• Personnel, equipment and laboratory decontamination


• Postings, signs, and labels

• Proper storage and periodic leak tests


• Inventory and control

• State and federal regulations


• Worker rights


• Radiation Safety Committee-its role in making policies


• Radiation Safety Office-maintaining the Radiation Protection Program


• Radiation Protection Program materials and RSO Newsletters

• First aid


• Reporting and investigating


• Decontamination

The training program for users of radiation machines includes the following topics:

• Basic radiation physics


• Environmental radioactivity


• Sources of ionizing radiation


• Methods of protection

• Somatic effects


• Genetic effects


• Acute exposure and immediate effects


• Chronic exposure and late effects


• Dose-effect relationship

• Control and measurement of radiation exposure


• ALARA philosophy

• Machine registration


• Types of machines on campus


• Safety features -- interlocks


• Operator training requirements


• Personnel monitoring


• Postings, signs and labels


• Beam characteristics


• Shielding and baffles requirements


• User training logs


• Machine maintenance and use logs


• Compliance radiation surveys

• State and federal regulations


• Worker rights


• Radiation Safety Committee-its role in making policies


• Radiation Safety Office-maintaining the Radiation Protection Program


• Radiation Protection Program materials and RSO Newsletters