The University of Washington's Radiation Safety Committee recently approved a few changes to University requirements that affect research-related RUA permit holders, including the following:
- All unsealed radioactive material storage locations must now be surveyed monthly, regardless of use of the radioactive material.
- Radiation safety refresher training is required annually for all individuals listed on an RUA.
- An individual must complete the applicable initial radiation safety training course before being added to an RUA. If more than one year has passed since an individual completed the initial radiation safety training course, they must complete the applicable refresher radiation safety training course within the prior year before being added to an RUA.
These new requirements are already in effect and have been added to the RUA Inspection Checklist. Radiation Safety staff are working with research personnel to address these new changes, which are described in detail below.
Monthly contamination surveys of unsealed radioactive material storage areas
EH&S Radiation Safety inspections have found contamination in freezers and other locations where unsealed radioactive material is stored, even if the radioactive material has not been used in a long time. There have been instances where unsealed radioactive material (especially H-3) has migrated out of storage containers. As such, labs are now required to survey unsealed radioactive material storage locations monthly, even if the radioactive material has not been used since the last survey. This new requirement is found in Section 13.B.4 of the Radiation Safety Manual.
Refresher Radiation Safety Training
Refresher radiation safety training is now required annually for all individuals listed on a RUA. When adding an individual to the RUA who has previously completed the applicable initial radiation safety training course, that individual must be current on the annual refresher radiation safety training requirement. This new requirement is found in Section 5.A.2.b. of the Radiation Safety Manual.
Initial Radiation Safety Training
The University’s initial radiation safety training courses for users of unsealed and sealed radioactive material, as well as users of uranium compounds, are now fully online. Because these training courses may be accessed by an individual at any time, the applicable initial radiation safety training course must now be completed prior to adding an individual to a RUA. For individuals with previous radiation safety training at another institution, the initial training courses provide a mechanism for those individuals to test-out of the training modules. This new requirement is found in Section 5.A.2.a. of the Radiation Safety Manual.
As a reminder, radiation safety training courses can be accessed on the EH&S website.
Exemptions to some of these requirements may be approved on a case-by-case basis, which will be documented in an RUA condition. We will work with you to implement any changes that are needed to your lab’s processes or documentation.
Please contact EH&S Radiation Safety at radsaf@uw.edu with questions.