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Number 29, May, 2000

Semiannual Self-Audit

It has been six months since the inspection by Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety. This is a good time to perform a self-audit of radiation safety and compliance in your laboratory. Go over this checklist with your radiation workers. Their signatures on the back of this NUtrino provide documentation of required annual refresher training.

____ The laboratory door is locked when the laboratory is unattended.
____ Every stock vial has a corresponding inventory form.
____ Radiation workers wear disposable gloves when handling potentially contaminated items.
____ A written log is maintained of radionuclides placed into waste containers.
____ Workers immediately record all use of radioactive material on the inventory form.
____ All radiation workers are registered with the Office for Research Safety.
____ All radiation workers are trained in laboratory-specific radiation safety practices and controls.
____ Annual refresher training is provided to all radiation workers (use the NUtrino as a refresher training tool).
____ Initial and annual refresher training is documented in writing (dates, names and topics).
____ Eye protection is worn whenever hazardous materials are handled.
____ Contamination checks are performed on a routine basis.
____ Contamination is cleaned up immediately upon discovery.
____ All containers of radioactive material bear a warning label.
____ Storage locations (freezers, refrigerators) have a visible warning sign or label.
____ Workers know the bioassay requirements and complete the bioassay column on inventory forms.
____ Complete, legible names are entered onto inventory forms (no initials).
____ Proposed transfers of material between investigators are reported to ORS in advance of the transfer.
____ Plastic shielding is used for P-32 and other high-energy beta emitters.
____ Wipe tests counted in liquid scintillation are used to find H-3 contamination.
____ Consumption, preparation and storage of food and beverages in the lab is prohibited.
____ Survey meters have been calibrated within the past year, have good batteries and are in operating condition.

Waste Cards

The three-part radioactive waste cards attached to your drums and jugs are among the most important pieces of radiation program documentation, because we make regulatory and economic decisions based on the information you provide. Errors can be costly or result in noncompliance.

  • Every drum and jug we deliver to your laboratory will have a blank waste card attached to it.
  • You will need to keep extra cards on-hand if you generate liquid scintillation vial waste.
  • If you generate scintillation vial waste, write "solvent-based" or "biodegradable" on the card.
  • If you generate any waste containing hazardous chemicals you must list each chemical component.

Use this NUtrino as a training tool. Circulate it among the radiation workers in your group and have them sign and date the training form on the back. File it with your authorization and other radiation safety documents for review during regulatory inspections. Discuss it during laboratory meetings. We have back issues, or you can print them off the Web.