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News and training for radiation workers at Northwestern University                           Number 57         November, 2002

 

 

Friendly Reminders of Holiday Preparation

 

Think ahead! That is the message you want to convey to all of your radiation workers as the holidays approach. Here are a few of the things you want to be aware of, and prepare for.

 

1.      Package deliveries by courier sometimes suffer during the holidays. It's caused by the heavy workload and by substitutes for regular drivers who don't always know that they must deliver packages directly to ORS. If they are delivered directly to your lab instead, be sure to bring them immediately and unopened to ORS.

 

2.      Holiday Schedules vary and a University holiday may fall on a regular business day. Examples are the day after Thanksgiving and the day before Christmas. ORS is not staffed on University holidays, so we will not be here to receive packages. Make sure your vendor does not schedule a delivery on University holidays.

 

3.      Parties mean food and beverages. While coldrooms may make convenient coolers for beverages, storage there is prohibited. Don't let food and beverages migrate into laboratories. Remember that putting food waste and wrappers and beverage containers into laboratory trash cans is prohibited as well.

 

4.      Traveling? Be sure to leave any required bioassay samples with ORS before you go, and get that thyroid counted if you iodinate with 1 mCi or more of NaI-125 in the days before a holiday or vacation. Remember that you must have a thyroid count within 72 hours of iodinating, and you must wait 6 hours following iodination to have the thyroid count. So, plan ahead and don't wait until the last minute!

 

5.      Security must be maintained. Fewer people will be around to keep an eye on things. Make sure your laboratory door is locked when the lab is unattended, and keep sources locked up when they are not in use. Don't forget to lock up when you leave the lab for that department function, even if you are gone for a short time.

 

 

Check it out!

 

We just went through the annual rite of turning our clocks back to standard time and, hopefully, changing the batteries in our smoke detectors. Now is the time to check the batteries in our survey meters. We have pointed out to several labs this quarter that the batteries in their survey meters were dead. Don't wait for ORS to find the problem. Make it a habit to check them periodically.

 

 

Use this NUtrino as a training tool for new workers and required annual refresher training for current workers. 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 at http://www.northwestern.edu/research-safety/rad/nutrino/index.htm.

 

Office for Research Safety - Office of the Vice President for Research  - Radiation Safety Committee

Ward B-106 Chicago Campus, phone 3-8300                                    Tech NG71 Evanston Campus, phone 1-5581

an style='font-family:Univers'>Use this NUtrino as a training tool for new workers and required annual refresher training for current workers. 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 at http://www.northwestern.edu/research-safety/rad/nutrino/nutindex.htm.

 

Office for Research Safety - Office of the Vice President for Research  - Radiation Safety Committee

Ward B-106 Chicago Campus, phone 3-8300                                    Tech NG71 Evanston Campus, phone 1-5581