This module provides information about the following topics:

• Regulations
• University Licenses
• Inspections and Audits
• the Radiation Safety Program
• Radiation Safety Committee
• Environmental Health & Safety Office
• Authorized Users
• Radiation Workers

Princeton University is licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to possess and use many different radioisotopes. The use of most radioisotopes at the University is regulated by the NRC, while the NJDEP regulates the more limited use of accelerator-produced and naturally-occurring radioactive materials.

The NRC Regulations are contained in Title 10 of the Federal Code of Regulations.  NJDEP regulations are contained in Chapter 28 of the New Jersey Administrative Code.   Copies of the relevant regulations are available from EHS and from the NRC Web site.

A " Notice to Employees" is posted in common places where employees frequently pass.  The Notice provides information about how to contact the NRC or NJDEP and describes workers' rights and responsibilities.

Click on image above for a more detailed view of the form.

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The University currently holds the following licenses to possess and use radioactive materials:

• NRC Broad License covering the use of most radioisotopes on campus
• N. J. State License for the use of naturally-occurring and accelerator-produced radioisotopes.

These licenses are issued by the NRC and/or NJDEP and specify the quantities, locations, and conditions under which radioisotopes may be used at Princeton University.  They require the University to establish policies and procedures to ensure the accountability and safe use of radioactive materials. Copies of these licenses are available from EHS.

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Regulatory Agency Inspections

The NRC and NJDEP each conduct periodic unannounced inspections of the use of radioactive materials at the University.   If violations of the regulations or radiation safety program deficiencies are discovered, Notices of Violations may be issued against the University, and fines and other sanctions can be imposed.

Internal Audits

The Princeton University Radiation Safety Committee conducts an annual audit of the radiation safety program, which includes a review of the program and visits to selected laboratories.

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To meet the requirements of the NRC and NJDEP and to provide a safe working environment, Princeton University has established a radiation safety program with four key components:

• The Radiation Safety Committee
• The Environmental Health and Safety Office
• The Authorized User
• The Radiation Worker

The roles and responsibilities of each are described in the following sections.

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The Radiation Safety Committee, which consists of faculty members, EHS radiation safety staff, and management representatives, meets several times a year.  The Committee:

• oversees the radiation safety program
• authorizes the use of radioactive materials
• reviews incidents involving radioactive materials
• sets policies for the use of sources of radiation
• gives general supervision to the implementation of those policies.

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The day-to-day operation of the radiation safety program is managed within the Environmental Health & Safety Office (EHS) by the University’s Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). The RSO and the Radiation Safety staff advise Authorized Users and radiation workers on radiation safety and regulatory compliance issues and provide the following services:

• radiation safety training
• personal monitoring and dosimetry services
• bioassay
• radiation safety assessment for pregnant radiation workers
• laboratory radiation and contamination surveys
• incident, spill and contamination management
• radioactive waste disposal management

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Authorized Users are faculty or senior staff members who have been approved by the Radiation Safety Committee to use radioactive materials under specific conditions.  An Authorized User is granted approval to possess and use specific isotopes only for the uses described in the authorization application and is issued a possession limit for each of those isotopes.

Any person using radioactive materials at Princeton University is either an Authorized User or is a radiation worker using radioactive materials under an Authorized User’s supervision.

Each Authorized User is responsible for:

• the health and safety of anyone using or affected by the use of radioactive materials under his or her direction or supervision
• personally attending initial and annual refresher training and ensuring that his/her employees, staff and visitors receive appropriate training
• ensuring that his/her employees, staff and visitors comply with relevant regulations, policies and procedures.

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A radiation worker is anyone who uses radioactive materials or radiation-producing machines. The radiation worker’s thorough training, compliance with regulations and procedures, careful work habits and respect for the health and safety of fellow workers are an integral part of the radiation safety program.

A radiation worker’s responsibilities include the following:

• Attend an initial radiation safety training class and annual refresher radiation safety training offered by EHS.
• Be familiar with the isotopes in use; know their radiological, physical and chemical properties, methods of detection, the types of hazards presented by each one, and the specific precautions and handling requirements for each isotope.
• Be familiar with all the relevant procedures of the radiation safety program, including isotope purchasing and waste disposal procedures.
• Know how to properly use the appropriate radiation survey meter.
• Know how to use radiation monitoring badges and exchange them promptly at the end of the monthly or quarterly wear period.
• Maintain appropriate inventory, disposal and survey records.
• Secure radioactive materials by making sure that radioactive materials are locked away or are under immediate supervision within the laboratory.
• Inform coworkers and visitors to the work area about the presence of radioactive materials and of any precautions they should take.
• Know who to call in any incident involving sources of radiation and how to handle spills and personal contamination.

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This is the end of the Government Regulations Module, which is the fourth of the six Open Source Radiation Basics modules. The next module is the External & Internal Dose Limits Module.

Go to Module 5 (External & Internal Dose Limits)