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Radiation Safety Guide


 
Radiation Safety Guide

SECTION 2: Definitions

When any of the following defined terms appear in the text of this Guide, their meaning is as defined below, and they appear within quotation marks, and the first letter of each word is capitalized.

A. "Airborne Radioactivity Area"

Any room, enclosure, or operating area in which airborne radioactive materials exist or are likely to exist in concentrations in excess of the derived air concentrations (DACs) specified in Table 1, Column 3 of Appendix B, or in which they exist in concentrations to such a degree that an individual present in the area without respiratory protective equipment could exceed during the hours an individual is present in a week, an intake of 0.6 percent of 12 DAC-hours.

B. "Authorized User"

The individual who has been authorized (licensed) by the Radiation Safety Committee to possess and use "Sources of Radiation". This includes individuals possessing Authorization Numbers and/or Limited Possession Numbers and individuals authorized to possess and/or use "Radiation Producing Machines and Devices."

C. "Byproduct Material"

Any radioactive material (except "Special Nuclear Material") yielded in or made radioactive by exposure to the radiation incident to the process of producing or utilizing "Special Nuclear Material."

D. "Controlled Area"

See "Restricted Area."

E. "Departmental Safety Manager"

The individual(s), appointed by the department chairman or office head, who is responsible for the departmental health and safety effort and who is the department's primary liaison with the staff of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

F. "Generally Licensed Devices"

Devices and equipment into which radioactive materials are built, the distribution of which to the general public is authorized under the terms of a general license, in accordance with "10 CFR Part 31".

G. "Health Physicist"

An individual who, on the basis of professional training and qualifications, is designated by the General Manager of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety to advise faculty and staff on radiation safety.

H. "High Radiation Area"

Any area, accessible to personnel, in which radiation levels could result in an individual receiving a dose equivalent in excess of 100 in any one hour at 30 centimeters from the radiation source or from any surface that the radiation penetrates.

I. "Human Use"

The intentional internal or external administration of radiation or radioactive material to human beings.

NOTE: Any such contemplated use shall first be discussed with the Human Use and Radiation Safety Committees, both of which shall make a recommendation to the University Research Board. In addition, specific licenses for "Human Use" have to be obtained from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and/or the State of New Jersey.

J. "Limited Possessor"

One who has been issued a Limited Possession Number by the Radiation Safety Committee.

K. "Personnel Monitor Contact"

The individual designated by a department to assist the Office of Environmental Health and Safety staff with the internal administration and logistics of the department's personnel monitoring program.

L. "Principal Investigator"

An individual, holding a faculty or research position, who is immediately responsible for the conduct and the safety of a research project.

M. "Radiation Area"

Any area, accessible to personnel, in which radiation levels could result in an individual receiving a dose equivalent in excess of 5 millirem in 1 hour at 30 centimeters from the radiation source or from any surface that the radiation penetrates.

N. "Radiation Producing Machine or Device"

A machine or device capable of generating radiation, such as X-ray producing machines, particle accelerators, high voltage power supplies, electron microscopes, high voltage rectifiers, high voltage projection equipment, and other types of high voltage machines.

In general, each single unit capable of producing radiation must be considered as a separate device; however, at the discretion of the "Health Physicist," a number of units which form an administrative, spatial, or functional entity, and which may be combined, modified, and/or separated during the course of a research program, may be considered one device.

O. "Radiation Worker List"

A list generated and maintained by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety on which the "Authorized User" provides the names and supplemental information for individuals working with "Sources of Radiation" under his or her authorization.

P. "Restricted Area"

Any area, access to which is limited by the department or "Authorized User" for the purpose of protecting individuals against undue risks from exposure to radiation and radioactive materials. The State of New Jersey uses the term "Controlled Area."

NOTE: "Restricted Area" includes all "Radiation Areas," "High Radiation Areas," rooms or areas in which there are present radioactive materials in such quantities that "Caution: Radioactive Material" signs are required in accordance with Section 9 of this Guide, and certain other areas which may be so defined by the "Health Physicist."

Q. "Sealed Source"

A radioactive material that is permanently bonded or fixed in a capsule or matrix designed to prevent release and dispersal of the radioactive material under the most severe conditions which are likely to be encountered in normal use and handling and which is used in that configuration.

R. "Source Material"

Uranium or thorium or any combination thereof, in any physical or chemical form orores which contain by weight 0.05 percent or more of uranium, thorium, or any combination thereof. "Source Material" does not include "Special Nuclear Material."

S. "Sources of Radiation"

Radioisotopes, radioactivated materials (by irradiation or by exchange processes), "Radiation Producing Machines or Devices," "Generally Licensed Devices," and those quantities of radioisotopes defined by regulation to be exempt quantities.

T. "Special Nuclear Material"

Plutonium, uranium-233, uranium enriched in the isotope 233 or in the isotope 235, or any material artificially enriched by any of the foregoing, but does not include "Source Material."

U. "Unrestricted Area"

Any area, access to which is neither limited nor controlled by the University, department or "Authorized User."

V. "User"

A person using "Sources of Radiation" at Princeton University. This includes all "Authorized Users" and all persons using "Sources of Radiation" under the supervision and/or authorization of an "Authorized User."

W. "10 CFR Part 19," "10 CFR Part 20"

A shorthand notation for Parts 19 and 20 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Title 10 contains the regulations issued pursuant to the 1954 Atomic Energy Act and is presently administered by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Part 19, entitled "Notices, Instructions, and Reports to Workers; Inspections," and Part 20, entitled "Standards for Protection Against Radiation," are two parts of Title 10. Other parts of general interest include Part 30: "...Domestic Licensing of Byproduct Material, " Part 33: "Specific Domestic Licensing of Broad Scope for Byproduct Material," and Part 71: "Packaging of Radioactive Material for Transport and Transportation of Radioactive Material..."


 

       
       
     

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