RADIATION SAFETY

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RADIATION SAFETY Refresher Training Part 2
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COURSE PART 2 OBJECTIVES

• Radiation dose limits dose monitoring
• Basic principles of radiation protection
• Contamination contamination control
  contamination survey
• Radioactive material regulations RAM project
• Signs, postings, labels
• RAM ordering, use and inventory
• Safe laboratory practices PPE
• Radioactive material security
• Radioactive waste disposal
• Emergencies

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DOSE LIMITS

• Occupational dose limits set by NRC and adopted
  by DHEC
• Whole body 50 mSv (5 rem)
• Skin, extremities 500 mSv (50 rem)
• Lens of Eye 150 mSv (15 rem)
• Embryo 5 mSv (0.5 rem)
• General Public 1 mSv (0.1 rem)
• In their rulemaking NRC uses Linear Non-Threshold
  (LNT) model of dose-effect. This model assumes
  increase in stochastic (cancer) risk with
  increase, however small, in dose. Therefore, when
  working with radioactive material, we must keep
  doses As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA).

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RADIATION DOSIMETRY

• External Dose From radiation sources outside
  the body
• Internal Dose From radiation sources inside the
  body
• When evaluating individuals dose, both external
  and internal doses must be taken into account

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RADIATION DETECTION INSTRUMENTS (hover over
instruments for more information)
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MONITORING EQUIPMENT CHECK

• Every day before use
• Check calibration expiration date. Contact
  radiation safety office when calibration
  expiration date is close or passed. Only use
  instrument with expired calibration in emergency
  and if all operational checks are OK.

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MONITORING EQUIPMENT CHECK

• Every day before use
• Check calibration expiration date.
• Check battery. Set switch to BAT position.
  Needle should be within sector BAT TEST (or
  BAT OK, or similar). Replace batteries if it is
  not. It is a good idea to always have extra
  batteries of proper size for your instrument.

Meter Dial mR/hr
Battery Check
On-Off Switch / Range Selector
Battery Compartment
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MONITORING EQUIPMENT CHECK
Meter Dial mR/hr

• Every day before use
• Check calibration expiration date.
• Check battery.
• Set switch to the proper range. Usually,
  radiation levels in research lab should be within
  the lowest range. If meter pegs, switch to higher
  scale and press Reset button. Highest scale
  usually has its own dial

x100 Dial
Reset Button
On-Off Switch / Range Selector
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MONITORING EQUIPMENT CHECK
Meter Dial mR/hr

• Every day before use
• Check calibration expiration date.
• Check battery.
• Set switch to the proper range.
• Check background radiation level in a clean area
  away from radiation sources. You may want to set
  Fast/Slow switch to S to have stable reading.

Fast/Slow Response
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MONITORING EQUIPMENT CHECK
Meter Dial mR/hr

• Every day before use
• Check calibration expiration date.
• Check battery.
• Set switch to the proper range.
• Check background radiation level.
• Check instrument response using dedicated check
  source or any other available known source of
  radiation (stock vial, sample, etc.)

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MONITORING EQUIPMENT CHECK
Meter Dial mR/hr

• Every day before use
• Check calibration expiration date.
• Check battery.
• Set switch to the proper range.
• Check background radiation level.
• Check instrument response
• When performing survey, move probe slowly (2
  in/sec) over survey area. Set Fast/Slow switch
  to F for immediate response to
  contamination, and Audio
  to ON.

Audio On-Off
Fast/Slow Response
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PERSONNEL DOSE MONITORING

• The use of personnel monitors is required for
• Anyone who could receive 10 of annual radiation
  dose limit
• Anyone who enters a high radiation area
• Your badge must remain at work. It is intended
  for measuring occupational dose only.
• Only wear your issued dosimeter.
• Store dosimeters away from radiation sources.

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TLD RING DOSIMETER

• Ring dosimeters are required for persons working
  with open beam x-ray systems.
• Radiation Safety Committee may require use of
  ring dosimeters for persons working with high
  activities of radioactive materials (eg., 1mCi of
  P-32).

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DOSE REPORT
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BASIC PRINCIPLES OF RADIATION PROTECTION
Radiation Dose is inversely proportional to the
square of the distance from the source.

Distance INcreases x2 -gt Dose DEcreases x4
Distance INcreases x3 -gt Dose DEcreases x9
Radiation Dose is directly proportional to the
exposure time
Heavier materials (eg., lead) provide better
shielding from radiation

• Time.
• Distance.
• Shielding.

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RANGE OF 5 MeV ALPHA PARTICLES
External sources of alpha radiation do not
require shielding. Even high energy alpha
particles are easily absorbed by air, clothing
and outer, dead layers of skin. Care must be
taken not to allow alpha emitting materials
inside human body.
Material Range
Air 3.58 cm
Aluminum 0.0022 cm
Water 0.0046 cm
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RANGE OF BETA PARTICLES
High energy beta emitters may require shielding.
To avoid production of bremsstrahlung
(breaking) x-ray radiation, use low-Z materials
(acrylic, Plexiglas, wood)
Radionuclide (Max. Energy) Air (cm) Plastic (cm) Glass (mm)
H-3 (18.6 keV) 0.47 0.0005 0.0002
C-14 (156.5 keV) 21.7 0.023 0.011
S-35 (166.7 keV) 24.8 0.0267 0.012
P-32 (1710 keV) 581 0.625 0.288
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PHOTON ATTENUATION

• Half-Value Layer Thickness of an absorber that
  reduces the intensity of a radiation beam by 50

Energy Water Lead
100 keV 4 cm 0.1 cm
400 keV 6.5 cm 0.3 cm
1 MeV 10 cm 1 cm
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BASIC PRINCIPLES OF RADIATION PROTECTION

• Time.
• Distance.
• Shielding.
• Contamination Control

Contamination is a source of both external and
internal contamination
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SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION

• Sloppy work practices, such as cross-contamination
  of tools, equipment, or workers.
• Not wearing gloves, or removing them prematurely.
• Poor housekeeping in contaminated areas.
• Opening radioactive materials/systems without
  proper controls.
• Leaking containers or tears in radiological
  containers such as barrels, plastic bags, boxes,
  or protective gear.
• Spills, glass breakage, and animal fluids.
• Airborne contamination depositing on surfaces.
• Not adhering to standard laboratory procedures.
• Emergencies including
• Fire.
• Earthquake, etc.

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CONTAMINATION PREVENTION

• Plastic backed absorbent paper
• should cover all surfaces where
• open radioactive sources are
• handled. Lab coats, gloves and
• safety glasses, goggles or face
• shield must be worn when
• working with radioactive
• material.
• When wearing gloves, never touch anything that
  you will handle without gloves pens, notebooks,
  telephones, switches, door handles, computer
  keyboard, etc.
• Secondary containment must be used for transfer
  and storage of all radioactive materials.

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CONTAMINATION SURVEY

• Contamination surveys should be performed after
  handling RAM, before breaks, lunch, at the end of
  work day.
• Recordable lab contamination surveys must be
  performed every week RAM is used in the lab.
• Use survey equipment suitable for detection of
  RAM used at location being surveyed.
• To survey for removable contamination,
  approximately a 100 cm2 area should be swiped
  in an S shaped pattern.
• Record results of the survey.
• Any area with an alpha or beta count rate
  significantly over background should be
  immediately cleaned.

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CONTAMINATION SURVEY RECORD

• Contamination survey report must contain
• Drawing of the surveyed area
• Locations of measurements and/or swipes taken
• Model and serial number of instrument(s) used for
  survey
• Date and time of survey
• Results of measurements
• Identity of the person performed survey

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CONTAMINATION LIMITS

• Contamination can be
• Fixed cannot be readily removed
• Removable can be readily removed with basic
  wiping or casual contact
• Airborne contamination suspended in air,
  presents the possibility of inhalation
• Contamination Limits
• Any detectable contamination should be cleaned as
  well as reasonably possible.

Type of Contamination Beta/Gamma Alpha
Removable lt 200 dpm/100 cm2 lt 20 dpm/100 cm2
Fixed lt 100 cpm above bkg, or lt 0.05 mR/h N/A
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SPILLS OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

• All spills of RAM require immediate response.
  Initial response to a spill rests with the lab
  personnel. Untrained personnel is not allowed to
  examine or clean RAM spill.
• Minor spills may be decontaminated by lab
  personnel.
• If contamination widespread, includes
  unrestricted areas, unauthorized personnel, or
  involves high-µCi or mCi amounts of RAM, notify
  RSO.
• Notify all lab personnel. Have all personnel not
  involved with the spill to vacate the area, but
  remain in one place to minimize possibility of
  contamination spread.
• Contain the spill from further spread. If the
  material is a liquid, place an absorbent material
  over the spill to prevent its spread. If the
  material spilled is a powdered solid, attempt to
  contain its spread by covering the area with a
  protective barrier (ex., wet cloth or absorbent
  paper). If appropriate, close doors and windows,
  turn off room ventilation fans.

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SPILLS OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL (continued)

• Monitor any personnel that were in the area at
  the time of the spill. Give special attention to
  the nose and mouth areas. Report any facial
  contamination to the RSO immediately.
• Remove contaminated clothing at once flush
  contaminated skin areas thoroughly.
• Decontaminate the area Plan ahead. Provide
  adequate protection and supplies for personnel
  involved in the cleanup. Besides required PPE,
  wear double gloves and shoe covers. Begin at the
  periphery and work toward the center of the
  contamination. Cover cleaned areas with plastic
  or paper to prevent its recontamination. Place
  all contaminated items in the proper waste
  containers.
• Monitor the area Survey area after each
  decontamination effort. If contamination persists
  after several decontamination efforts, notify RSO.

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INTERNAL EXPOSURE PATHWAYS

• Inhalation
• Gases, aerosols, dusts, mists, fumes, smoke
  (including cigarettes)
• Ingestion
• Food, water, hand contamination
• Absorption thru Skin
• Thru intact skin, cuts, abrasions, etc.
• Punctures
• Needle sticks

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ANNUAL LIMITS ON INTAKE (ALI), TEDE

• ALI - The amount of radioactive material taken
  into the body of an adult worker that would
  result in a radiation dose of 50 mSv (5 rem) to
  the whole body or 500 mSv (50 rem) to any
  individual tissue or organ per year
• ALI allows to account for effects of the internal
  exposure in conjunction with the external dose
• Total Effective Dose Equivalent (TEDE) takes into
  account both external and internal exposures.
  TEDE is the sum of effective dose equivalent
  from external exposure and committed effective
  dose equivalent from internal exposure

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ALI VALUES
ALIs for all radioisotopes have been calculated
and listed by the NRC. There are some examples
below
Radionuclide Ingestion Inhalation
Tc-99m H-3 (Water) S-35 I-123 C-14 P-32 I-125 I-131 80,000 µCi 80,000 µCi 10,000 µCi 3,000 µCi 2,000 µCi 600 µCi 4 µCi 3 µCi 200,000 µCi 80,000 µCi 20,000 µCi 6,000 µCi 2,000 µCi 400 µCi 60 µCi 60 µCi
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SKIN DECONTAMINATION
Mechanical Remove with Sticky Tape
Washing Soap or Detergent and Cool Water Surgical Scrub Brushes with Povidone-Iodine Complexing Agents (1 Citric Acid) Chelating Agents (1 Versene)
Biological Sweat it out
Washing affected areas with soap and cool to
lukewarm water is the first, and usually, the
only required action for skin decontamination at
a research lab of the Clemson University
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RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL AUTHORIZATION

• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is the
  Federal agency authorized by the Congress to
  regulate radioactive material use
• States that assume the function of the NRC are
  called Agreement States
• South Carolina became an Agreement State in 1969
• South Carolinas Department of Health and
  Environmental Control (DHEC)
• licenses radioactive material use
• regulates X-ray registration and use
• performs inspections of licensed facilities
• regulates use of lasers.

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RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL AUTHORIZATION

• Clemson University has a Broad Scope Radioactive
  Material License
• Allows use of radioactive isotopes with atomic
  numbers 1-98 in any chemical or physical form
• All activities involving radioactive material
  (projects) within the Clemson University must
  be approved by the Radiation Safety Committee
  (RSC)
• RAM Project includes
• Responsible Investigator (RI)
• list of authorized isotopes and possession
  limits
• list of personnel
• facilities where RAM use is authorized
• approved protocol(-s).

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PERIODIC INSPECTIONS

• Clemson Universitys Radioactive Material License
  requires semi-annual inspections of RAM projects
• Radiation safety personnel contacts projects RI
  to set mutually acceptable date and time for
  inspection
• RI does not have to be physically present during
  inspection, but (s)he has to assign AU to assist
  inspector. This AU has to be knowledgeable about
  projects activities and capable to answer
  inspectors questions.

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WHO MAY WORK WITH RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL?

• Only individuals listed on a Project may use RAM
• Must receive instructions from the RI
• To become Authorized User (AU), must complete
  Initial Radiation Safety training
• may start working with RAM before attending
  Initial Training, but only under direct
  supervision of RI or AU (status called Radiation
  Worker (RW))
• Must complete annual refresher training (online
  or classroom).

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WHO MAY WORK WITH RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL?

• Fill form R-003 Request To Add An Individual To A
  Radionuclide Project and submit to Radiation
  Safety.
• You may be listed on several Projects.
• Or, you may start your own project.

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SIGNS, POSTINGS, LABELS

• All entrances to the labs where RAM is used or
  stored must be posted with the Caution,
  Radioactive Material sign.
• Assume all materials within radioactive materials
  area are potentially contaminated.

• All areas where dose rate is above 5 mrem/hour
  must be posted with the Caution, Radiation Area
  sign.
• Do not enter radiation area unless absolutely
  necessary and you are authorized to do so.

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SIGNS, POSTINGS, LABELS

• All equipment, containers, glassware, tools, etc.
  that may come into contact with RAM must be
  labelled with Caution, Radioactive Material
  Sign.

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ORDERING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

• You can only order radionuclides that the project
  is authorized for and within your possession
  limits
• Use a licensed supplier (Amersham, MP
  Biomedicals, Perkin Elmer, etc.)
• All radioactive material shipments must be
  addressed to
• Radiation Safety Officer
• Clemson University
• 114 Long Hall
• Clemson, SC 29634
• For RN-ltyour projectgt, ltRI namegt
• Research Park (Rich, CETL) was recently added as
  approved destination for RAM packages

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RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL USE RECORD

• Upon RAM package receipt, radiation safety
  personnel
• checks radiation and contamination levels,
  package labelling and documentation
• assigns shipment number
• adds RAM to the projects inventory and checks
  against possession limits
• produces RAM Use/ Inventory Record
• notifies project personnel and delivers shipment.

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OPENING PACKAGE

• Follow these steps when opening RAM package in
  your lab
• Check paperwork to make sure that you are an
  intended recipient and you received what you
  ordered
• Open package, check integrity of the internal
  packaging. Notify Radiation Safety Office and
  manufacturer if internal package is broken and/or
  leaks
• Remove container with RAM from the packaging and
  mark it with the shipment number listed on the
  RAM Use form
• Survey inside of the packaging for residual
  contamination. Use appropriate survey equipment.
• Remove or deface Radioactive Material labels from
  the packaging and dispose of it.

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DEFACING LABELS

• Wrong
  Right

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RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL TRANSFER

• Inside Clemson make sure transferee is approved
  to possess RAM being transferred
• Outside Clemson obtain a copy of the other
  institutions RAM license
• Complete Radioactive Material Transfer Report
• For shipping outside Clemson RAM must be packaged
  according to DOT/IATA rules
• Package and paperwork must be inspected by the
  RSO.

43
GENERAL LAB RULES

• Working with radioactive material in a research
  laboratory may involve exposure to many other
  hazards chemical, biological, mechanical,
  electrical, etc.
• Following best lab practices described in the
  Laboratory Safety Manual is critical in avoiding
  these hazards.
• www.clemson.edu/research/safety/manuals/labSafety/
  index.html
• Besides general lab safety, radiation safety
  requires additional considerations.

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SAFE LAB PRACTICES

• All work areas should be kept uncluttered to
  prevent accidents and minimize cross
  contamination.
• There must be no eating, drinking, smoking, or
  storage of food in areas in which radioactive
  materials are used.
• No mouth pipetting is allowed in a radioisotope
  work area.
• Containers used in mixing, shaking, or
  centrifuging operations should be intact and
  sealed to prevent spillage.
• Heating, drying, distilling, and other operations
  which could result in volatilization of the
  material should be performed in a fume hood or
  glove box.
• Whenever possible, rehearse operations with
  non-radioactive materials to ensure that the
  technique will be reasonably free of incidents.
• Maintain accurate records of radioactive material
  use.

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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• When working with radioactive material minimum
  required PPE is lab coat, gloves and safety
  glasses or goggles.
• No shorts, no open-toe shoes, no short sleeves
  are allowed for any lab work.
• Depending on the scope of activities and hazards
  involved, additional PPE requirements may be
  imposed on a project personnel by the Radiation
  Safety Committee.

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RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL SECURITY

• Radioactive material must be secured against
  unauthorized use or removal
• Entrances to unoccupied labs must be closed and
  locked, or
• All radioactive material, including waste, must
  be kept in locked cabinets
• NRC commentary on 10 CFR PART 20The Commission
  believes that locking radiotracer laboratories
  when not being used is a small nuisance compared
  to the consequences of unauthorized access to or
  theft of radioactive materials, which could
  result in contamination of unrestricted areas or
  exposure of individuals, as well as having to
  report a loss of licensed material to the NRC.

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ESCORTING VISITORS IN THE LABORATORY

• Inform guests that they are entering a
  radioactive materials area.
• Point out locations of any hazards or high
  radiation areas.
• Do not allow guests to handle any materials from
  a radioactive materials area.
• Demonstrate how to perform a personal scan prior
  to exiting the lab (or, survey them yourself).
• If guests will be working with you in the lab,
  consult with RSO if personal dosimetry is
  required. But remember, only individuals listed
  on the RAM Project may work with radioactive
  material.

48
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL

• Dry solid waste must be separated into Short
  (less than 65 day) and Long half-life. Waste bags
  and containers are color-coded green for short,
  yellow for long half-life.

49
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL

• Deface all Radioactive Material labels before
  placing items into radioactive dry waste
  container.
• Prohibited for disposal into radioactive dry
  waste
• sharp objects
• sealed sources
• biohazardous waste or bags
• lead containers
• liquids
• Sharp objects must be collected
• in a special sharps waste
• container labelled with
• Radioactive Material sign
• Radioactive biohazard waste must
  be treated in the same manner as
  regular biohazard waste (i.e., autoclaving,
  bleach) before being placed into radioactive
  waste containers.

50
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL

• For mixed (hazardous radioactive) liquid waste
  follow hazardous waste compatibility guidelines.
• If possible, use biodegradable
  LSC cocktail.
• Do not wait for waste containers
  to overflow. Request waste pick-up
  when containers are about 2/3 full.
• Do not let housekeeping personnel to empty
  radioactive waste containers.

• Keep reasonably accurate waste disposal record.

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LIQUID RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL

• Some projects may be allowed to dispose liquid
  radioactive waste down the sewer. These disposals
  must be approved by the Radiation Safety
  Committee.
• Only materials that are soluble or miscible in
  water or biological materials that are readily
  dispersible may be disposed via sink.
• No hazardous chemicals! Mixed liquid waste
  containing short half-life RAM will be held by
  Radiation Safety Office for minimum of 10
  half-lives, and then disposed as hazardous
  non-radioactive waste. Long half-life mixed waste
  has to be disposed through approved waste broker,
  and it is expensive!
• It is very important to keep reasonably accurate
  record of all sewage disposals.

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EMERGENCIES

• Personal safety and health take
• precedence over radiological
• concerns.
• Notify Radiation Safety in the
• event of radiological emergency
• accidental uptake
• lost/stolen RAM
• fire (call 911 first), flood, etc.
• Konstantin Povod, RSO
• 656-3516,
• kpovod_at_clemson.edu
• Stephen Price, ARSO
• 656-7165
• price3_at_clemson.edu

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SUMMARY

• Follow general lab safety rules.
• Apply Time-Distance-Shielding to keep doses
  ALARA.
• Control contamination.
• Perform surveys at meaningful times.
• Maintain records of RAM use and disposal.
• If you cannot resolve a safety issue bring it to
  the attention of your peer/advisor/RSO.

You are the primary responsibility for your
safety and safety of your peers!
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This completes the online radiation refresher
training. Please use the following link to
access the quiz

• http//www.clemson.edu/research/safety/training/ra
  d/radQuiz.html
• There is also a link on the training page if
  powerpoint is not linking correctly.