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News and training for radiation workers at Northwestern University Number 72 July, 2004
What can go down the drain?
Disposal of radioactive liquids down the drain is generally prohibited without prior approval from ORS. The exceptions are that 1) you can pour second rinses of aqueous liquids down the drain provided that they do not contain hazardous chemicals, and 2) you can pour aqueous solutions of uranyl acetate down the drain provided they do not contain lead citrate or other staining materials or solvents. All other liquid wastes must be collected in our standard containers. If you generate large quantities of buffers or other low-activity liquids, please contact us for instructions. We have allowed the sanitary sewer disposal of such wastes on a case-by-case basis. We may ask for supporting information such as analysis results, calculations or estimates for typical waste streams.
Use Secondary Containment Under Liquid Wastes
A secondary container is any container that is used to catch spills of a hazardous material. It could be a bucket in which you transport smaller vials or a tray you put under your liquid waste container. Sometimes a little waste will trickle down the side as you fill a waste container, and sometimes containers are overfilled. It is better to prevent contaminating the floor than to have to take the time, effort and risk to clean it. It does not have to be expensive; even a plastic washbasin makes a good secondary container for small waste jugs.
Meet Bruce Sanza, Evanston Health Physicist
We are pleased to announce that Mr. Bruce Sanza has joined the staff of the Office for Research Safety as our new Health Physicist on the Evanston campus. Bruce brings outstanding credentials to the position. He has a BS in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Virginia and an MS degree in Health Physics from Texas A&M University. He is certified by the American Academy of Health Physics in comprehensive Health Physics. Bruce is no stranger to Northwestern’s radiation safety program, as he was Head of Inspection and Enforcement in the Division of Radioactive Materials of the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety for many years. He trained and supervised the IDNS inspectors, and he personally inspected the Northwestern program during that time. Bruce knows compliance, but he takes a very supportive approach to his work. Please join us in welcoming Bruce to Northwestern. We are in the process of recruiting for a Health Physics Assistant who will support Bruce and the radiation safety program in Evanston.
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 for Research - Radiation Safety Committee
Ward B-106 Chicago Campus, phone 3-8300 Tech NG71 Evanston Campus, phone 1-5581