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Radiation Safety Training
for Sealed-Source Users
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| Notice: Training materials found on these pages
are provided for the use of Princeton University faculty, staff
and students to meet training needs specific to Princeton University. |
Who Does This Training Apply To?
Sealed Source Training Overview
Sealed Source Radiation Basics Modules
Sealed Source Radiation Basics Test
Getting Started
Who Does This Training Apply To? (top)
Sealed source training is required for persons who handle sealed and
plated radioactive sources. Sealed and plated sources consist of radioactive
material that is either encased in metal or plastic (sealed sources)
or radioactive material that has been plated as a thin film onto metal
or plastic (plated sources). Because the radioactivity is encapsulated
or plated onto a surface, sealed and plated sources do not present
a significant contamination hazard under normal conditions, but they
may present a significant external exposure hazard, depending on the
properties of the radioisotope or the amount of activity present. While
most sealed sources are stand-alone sources used to calibrate or check
instrumentation, to irradiate materials, or for experiments in student
science labs, sometimes analytical equipment such as gas chromatographs
and liquid scintillation counters contain sealed sources.
This training does not apply to persons
who use open
sources of radioactivity, which is the form used in most biomedical
research.
Sealed Source Training Overview (top)
This page describes the radiation safety training program for person
who handle sealed sources at Princeton University. The sealed source
training has two components. Click on the buttons for additional information
about these training elements.
1. Computer-based training modules covering Sealed Source Radiation Basics
topics
2. A test on the topics included in the Sealed Source Radiation Basics
modules
Sealed Source Radiation Basics Modules (top)
There are eight computer-based training modules:
- Radiation Properties
- Background Radiation & Other Sources of Exposure
- Biological Effects
- Government Regulations and the Radiation Safety Program
- External Dose Limits
- Radiation Dosimetry
- Working Safely with Sealed Sources
- Working with the Americium-Beryllium Source (required only for users of the americium-beryllium source)
These modules provide information on the following topics:
- The basic characteristics of radiation, including the properties
of various radioactive emissions
- Half-life
- Radiation units
- Natural background and other sources of radiation exposure
- The biological effects of radiation exposure
- The risks of radiation exposure
- Rules and regulations
- The administration of the radiation safety program at Princeton
University
- Annual radiation dose limits
- The ALARA Philosophy
- When radiation dosimetry is required and when it is not
- The Declared Pregnant Worker Program
- The properties of the sealed sources used at Princeton University
- Guidelines and requirements for handling sealed sources.
Sealed Source Radiation Basics Test (top)
You may take this test if you have completed the Sealed Source Radiation
Basics Modules. If you have attended radiation safety training at any
other institution, you must read through the Regulations Module, the
Dose Limits Module, the Dosimetry Modules and the Working Safely with
Sealed Sources Module before you take the test.
Completion of this test does not certify you to use any other radioactive
materials except sealed sources. If you plan to use open sources of radioactive
material, you must complete the radiation safety training program for
open source users.
Getting Started (top)
If you have never attended radiation safety training at any institution
or would like to review all of the training modules:
Go to the beginning of the Sealed Source Radiation Basics Modules
If you have taken radiation safety training at another institution,
you must read about the rules, regulations and the administration of
Princeton University's radiation safety program, the dosimetry program
at Princeton, and the guidelines and requirements for handling sealed
sources:
Begin at the Government Regulations portion of the Modules
If you would like to go to a specific module:
If you are ready to take the test:
Go to the Sealed Source Radiation Basics Test
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