Washington State University
SAFETY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL

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Radiation Safety Philosophy

WSU personnel working with ionizing radiation are required to make every practicable effort to maintain radiation exposures and releases of radioactive materials as low as is reasonably achievable (ALARA). (WAC 246-221-005)

WSU personnel must exert this effort in addition to efforts to ensure compliance with the requirements of this chapter (S90, Radiation Safety) and Washington Administrative Code Title 246.

The phrase, as low as is reasonably achievable, means as low as is readily achievable taking into account:

• The state of technology, and


• The economics of improvements in relation to:

The state of technology,

Benefits to the public health and safety,

Other socioeconomic considerations, and

Utilization of nuclear energy, ionizing radiation, and radioactive materials in the public interest.

See WAC 246-220-007.