Washington State University
SAFETY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL

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Radiation Signs and Labels

Authorized users of radioactive materials or radiation machines are responsible for ensuring that all rooms, areas, and containers that contain radioactive materials or radiation machines remain properly posted or tagged. Deficiencies in compliance may result in suspension or cancellation of authorization to use radioactive materials or radiation machines.

Authorized users of radioactive materials or radiation machines must display the appropriate X-ray producing equipment (red on a yellow background) or radiation sign or label (magenta on a gold background). Examples are shown in the PDF version of SPPM 9.32.1.

Radiation Safety provides signs for labeling machines, laboratory doors, hoods, and storage areas.

All signs and labels must reflect current laboratory status for use of radioactivity or machines. Radiation Safety Office personnel conduct a checkout survey and remove signs and labels when not needed.

Label all radioactive materials, containers, and radioactively-contaminated equipment with radioactive warning tape.

Label each liquid waste bottle with a Liquid Waste Reporting label for liquid waste. (See example in the PDF version of SPPM 9.32.2.) Include the isotope, activity, reference date, and percent of chemical composition. Contact the RSO to obtain copies of the label.

If any area becomes contaminated, place radioactive warning tape around the area. Inform the RSO if an area is contaminated. The RSO will assist in the evaluation and ensure that required shielding and/or taping are installed.

Replace faded signs and labels. Contact the RSO to obtain replacement signs or labels; telephone 335-8916.

Authorized users must ensure that signs remain appropriately posted in all locations in which radioactive materials or radiation machines are stored or used. Such spaces include:

• Laboratories,
• Counting rooms,
• Cold rooms,
• Animal rooms,
• Refrigerators,
• Freezers,
• Cabinets,
• Hoods,
• Storage caves, and
• Radiology suites.

Radiation Safety Office personnel conspicuously post locations where radiation exists at such levels that a major portion of the body could receive a dose of five mrem (0.05 mSv) in any one hour at 30 centimeters from the source of radiation or from any surface that the radiation penetrates.

RSO personnel post such locations with a sign or signs bearing the radiation caution symbol and the following words:

High Radiation Areas

Radiation Safety Office personnel conspicuously post each location where radiation exists at such levels that a major portion of the body could receive a dose in excess of 100 mrem (1 mSv) in any one hour at 30 centimeters from the source of radiation or from any surface that the radiation penetrates.

RSO personnel post such locations with a sign or signs bearing the radiation caution symbol and the following words:

Use control devices approved by the Radiation Safety Office to restrict access to high radiation areas.

RSO personnel conspicuously post rooms and areas in which any radioactive material (other than natural uranium or thorium) is used or stored in amounts exceeding ten times the minimum quantity of radioactive material requiring labeling, in accordance with the table in WAC 246-221-300.

To view this table, go to the Washington Administrative Code web site at:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/

Select Title 246: Health, Department of

Select Chapter 246-221: Radiation protection standards

Select WAC 246-221-300: Appendix B-Minimum quantities of radioactive material requiring labeling.

RSO personnel post such locations with a sign or signs bearing the radiation caution symbol and the following words:

Radiation Machines

RSO personnel appropriately post radiation machines and rooms in which radiation machines are stored or used with a sign stating:

Exceptions

Posting is not required when:

• Radioactive material, constantly attended by an individual who shall take the precautions necessary to prevent the exposure of any individual to radiation in excess of limits, is present for less than eight hours. The room or area must be under the control of the authorized user.


• Material is in transit and is properly labeled and packaged in accordance with U.S. Department of Transportation regulations.


• Material is a "sealed source" and the radiation level is less than five mrem/hr (0.05 mSv/hr) at 12 inches from a properly labeled storage container.

Contact the Radiation Safety Office to verify each case of an exception to the posting requirements.

Label all containers of radioactive materials.

When an inner container is removed from an outer container, attach a CAUTION-RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL label to the inner container.

Label each outer container of radioactive material as follows:

• The label is to be obvious to anyone approaching the container and easily read without risk to the observer.


• Additional containment should not obscure the label; if it does, additional labels are required.


• Each container of radioactive material with amounts in excess of the minimum quantities to be labeled listed in the table in WAC 246-221-300 must be labeled with the radiation "propeller" sign and the following words:

CAUTION: RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

The label should also include, as appropriate:

• Kinds of material: isotope, chemical composition, etc.
• Activity
• Date of activity

Labeling is not required in certain situations, as set forth in WAC 246-221-130. Consult the Radiation Safety Office for specific guidance.