Radiation Safety for Safety Wardens

Environmental Health, Safety & Risk Management Health Physics Services Unit Radiation Safety for Safety Wardens - Orientation Session - Mohamad Houssam Tamim University Radiation Safety Officer B.E. Communications and Electronics Engineering M.E.M. Master of Engineering Management Master of Physics Radiation Protection BLS Certified Medical Laser Safety Officer

Contents 1. What is Radiation? 2. How Harmful is Radiation? 3. Protective Measures Against Radiation 4. University Radiation Safety Regulations 5. What is Your Role as Safety Warden? 6. Demonstrations 2

Radioactive Material Defining Radiation Definitions Radiation 4

Defining Radiation Ionization - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Medium Non-Ionizing Radiation Definition: Radiation not having enough energy to ionize the medium it passes through. Examples: microwaves, radio waves, light, Ionizing Radiation Definition: Radiation having enough energy to ionize the medium it passes through. Examples: Radioactive material, radiation producing machines, 5

Protective Measures Against Radiation Sources of Radiation Natural Sources: Diet: 40 mrem/year. Cosmic: 28 mrem/year (Doubles every 1800 m in altitude). Terrestrial: 28 mrem/year. Manmade Sources: Medical X-rays: Chest 20 mrem, Dental 10 mrem. Smoking: 1.3 rem/year at 1.5 packs per day. As an average, we are exposed to 300 mrem per year of radiation due to natural & manmade radiation (that is ~ 1 mrem/day). 6

How Harmful is Radiation? 8

How Harmful is Radiation? 9

How Harmful is Radiation? 10

How Harmful is Radiation? 11

Biological Effects Effects related to receiving a high dose: 100 rem: Detectable blood changes. 200 rem: Some nausea, vomiting, fatigue. 400 rem: Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, LD 50/60 700 rem: LD 100 Effects related to receiving a low dose, and that are not specific to receiving a radiation dose: For 10,000 people each exposed to 1 rem: The risk of contracting cancer increases from 2 to 10 extra cases (0.5%). The risk of genetic effects increases from 1 to 2 excess cases (0.02%). The risk of in utero effects increases between 10 to 100 excess cases (1%) 12

Protective Measures Against Radiation ALARA As Low As Reasonably Achievable Time Distance Shielding 14

Protective Measures Against Radiation Time Dose α Time 15

Protective Measures Against Radiation Distance Dose α 1/d 2 16

Protective Measures Against Radiation Shielding 17

Radiation Detection & Measurement Gas Filled Detectors 18

Spill Response Procedure 1.ALARM 2.CONTAIN 3.CALL EHSRM 19

University Radiation Safety Regulations 1. Radiation Protection Program 2. Radiation Safety Orientations 3. Storage of Radioactive Materials 4. Transfer of Radioactive Materials 5. Caution Signs and Labels 6. Pregnant Radiation Workers 7. Accidents and Emergencies 21

Who Implements the Radiation Safety Program at AUB? 29

Whose Regulations Do we Implement? Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission University Radiation Safety Committee 30

HPS Responsibilities Manage and Implement the University Radiation Protection Program Issue the University Radiation Safety Regulations in Coordination with the Radiation and Laser Safety Committee Issue Radiation Safety Policies and Procedures Provide Radiation Safety Training Sessions Review Research Proposals Involving the Use of Radiation on Humans Issue and Review Specifications of Radiation Producing Equipment Issue and Review Specifications of Radiation Protective Equipment Secure and Maintain Licenses for Possession and Use of Radioactive Materials or Radiation Producing Equipment at AUB Act as liaison with the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission Review Shielding Design of Rooms that will house radiation producing equipment 31

HPS Responsibilities Inspect Laboratories and Departments Carry Out Contamination Surveys Receive Radioactive Materials Supervise the Disposal of Radioactive Materials Implement the Iodine Therapy program Assist research laboratories in reading their radioactive samples Respond to Emergencies and Spills Personnel Monitoring Area Monitoring Quality Control and calibration of radiation detectors 32

Where Are Radiation Sources Found? 34

What is the Role of the Safety Warden? -Identify the types of radiation you have in your area: -Radiation Producing Equipment -Radioactive Materials - Ensure the presence of the proper caution signs at the doors and labels on the benches 35

What is the Role of the Safety Warden? Ensure that all records are available for inspections: - License of the Lab - Users certificates of training - Inventory Form - Use Form - Copy of the University Radiation Safety Regulations 36

What is the Role of the Safety Warden? Ensure that users are applying proper laboratory rules: -Wearing Gloves -Avoiding Eating and Drinking in Laboratories -Ensuring that all storage areas of radioactive materials and waste are secured. -Putting absorbent paper under their experiments 37

Contents 1. What is Radiation? 2. How Harmful is Radiation? 3. Protective Measures Against Radiation 4. University Radiation Safety Regulations 5. What is My Role as Safety Warden? 6. Demonstrations 38

Demonstration Contamination Survey 39

Demonstration Decontamination 40

THANK YOU Questions?