Foreword
Radioactive materials and radiation‑producing equipment are highly regulated. Many aspects of acquisition, use, storage and disposal of these materials are subject to government regulation and inspection. The ability of Syracuse University to provide its researchers access to these materials is dependent upon satisfying the requirements of Federal, State and local regulatory agencies.
This Radiation Protection Program Handbook contains Syracuse University policies and procedures as well as applicable New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) regulations. This Handbook is an integral part of the Radiation Protection Program and provides guidance to ensure the safety of University personnel while allowing flexibility in the conduct of research. All work involving radioisotopes and radiation producing equipment must be done in accordance with the policies and procedures established in this Handbook, unless a written waiver has been obtained from the University’s Radiation Safety Committee (RSC).
Suggestions for improving the Radiation Protection Handbook should be directed to the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). Detailed information on regulatory requirements and additional reference materials dealing with radiation protection, radiation measurement and radiation biology are available on loan from the Environmental Health and Safety Service Office (EHSS). A list of the references available from the RSO is provided in Part Ten of this Handbook. A copy of the NYS Sanitary Code Chapter 1 Part 16 is included in Part Eight this Handbook.
Revised: 4/93, 3/96, 8/04
Statement of Policy
It is the policy of Syracuse University that all activities involving ionizing radiation shall be conducted in such a manner so as to keep exposure as low as reasonably achievable. Persons involved in such activities must comply with the New York State regulations and all rules and guidelines issued by Syracuse University.
A Radiation Safety Committee has been established following guidelines issued by the New York State Department of Health. The Radiation Safety Committee has the responsibility to provide direction to the Radiation Safety Program, to assure that proper documentation is maintained, to review the program’s effectiveness and to determine any changes which should be made. The Radiation Safety Committee is also responsible for resolving questions and issues pertaining to the Radiation Protection Program.
ALARA Statement
Syracuse University is committed to the program described in this Handbook for keeping radiation exposures ALARA (as low as is reasonably achievable). In accordance with this commitment, we hereby describe an administrative organization for radiation safety that will develop the necessary written policies, procedures, and instructions to foster the ALARA concept at Syracuse University. The organization will include a Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) and a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO).
To ensure our ALARA commitment, a formal annual review of the Radiation Protection Program will be made. This review shall include reviews of operating procedures, radiation exposure records, inspections and consultations with the Radiation Safety staff and Radiation Safety consultants.
Modifications to operating and maintenance procedures will be made where possible. Improvements and modifications to equipment and facilities will be made where they will reduce radiation exposures at reasonable costs per risk evaluation.
Doses to individuals will be maintained as far below the limits as reasonably achievable and the sum of the doses received by all exposed individuals will also be maintained at the lowest practicable level. However, it would not be desirable, for example, to hold the highest doses to individuals to some fraction of the applicable limit if this involved exposing additional people and significantly increasing the sum of the radiation doses by all involved individuals.
In addition, discharges of radioactive materials to the environment will also be kept as far below the effluent release limits as reasonably possible. Whenever possible, engineering or process controls will be employed to minimize the release of radioactive materials to the environment and radiation exposures due to these releases.
The Radiation Safety Committee will be delegated the authority to thoroughly review the qualifications of each radiation supervisor with respect to the types and quantities of materials and equipment and uses for which he or she has applied to ensure that the applicant will be able to take appropriate measures to maintain exposures ALARA. When considering a new use of radioactive material, the Radiation Safety Committee will review the efforts of the applicant to maintain exposures ALARA. The user should have systematized procedures to ensure the ALARA concept and shall have incorporated the use of special equipment where appropriate in his/her proposed use.
The RSC will also ensure that the user justifies his/her procedures and that doses will be ALARA, both individually and collectively. The Radiation Safety Committee will delegate authority to the Radiation Safety Officer for enforcement of the ALARA concept. The RSC will support the RSO in those instances where it is necessary for the RSO to assert his authority. The Radiation Safety Committee will also encourage all users to review current procedures and policies and develop new procedures as appropriate to implement the ALARA concept.
It will be the duty of the Radiation Safety Committee to evaluate Syracuse University’s overall efforts to maintain exposures ALARA on an annual basis. This review will include the efforts of the RSO, authorized users, approved workers and the management of Syracuse University.
Syracuse University stands ready to support and defend the ALARA concept. It is our commitment to provide a safe working environment in regard to the use of radioactive materials and radiation-producing equipment.