RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS & MACHINES
Regardless of funding, researchers utilizing radioactive materials or radiation machines in their research must notify the University’s Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) in the Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Office prior to initiation. Researchers utilizing radioactive material will be required to obtain a Radioactive Material Sublicense issued by UT Arlington’s Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) prior to initiation.
APPLICABILITY
Radioactive material is defined as any material (solid, liquid, or gas) that emits radiation spontaneously. The use of all radionuclides and sources of radiation (exclusive of special nuclear materials) at UT Arlington is authorized by the Texas Department of State Health Services, Radiation Control under License Number L00248. This broad scope license authorizes UT Arlington’s possession of any radioactive material with atomic number less than 84 in amounts up to 5 millicuries of each radionuclide not to exceed a total of 250 millicuries. Certain radionuclides are permitted in quantities greater than the above amounts on a line item basis.
A radiation machine is defined as any device capable of producing ionizing radiation except those devices with radioactive material as the only source of radiation. The use of all radiation machines at UT Arlington is authorized by the Texas Department of State Health Services, Radiation Control under Certificate of X-Ray Registration Number R03595. The RSO must be informed of all radiation machines prior to work beginning to ensure compliance with the Texas Regulation for Control of Radiation and the University’s Certificate of X-Ray Registration.
REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES
Texas Regulations for Control of Radiation, 25 Texas Administrative Code § 289
UT Arlington Fiscal Regulation 8-5, Use of Radiation Sources
UT Arlington’s Radiation Safety Manual
REVIEW PROCEDURES
To obtain the necessary sublicense to use radioactive material, the researcher must submit an Application for Use of Radionuclides to the UT Arlington Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). After review and recommendation, the RSO will present the application to the RSC for their consideration and approval.
Please complete the Application for Use of Radionuclides and submit to the RSO in the Environmental Health & Safety Office:
E-mail: ehsafety@uta.edu
Mail: Environmental Health & Safety, Box #19257
Fax: 817-272-2144
Drop-Off: Environmental Health & Safety Bldg., 500 Summit Ave.
Phone: 817-272-2185
Web: http://policy.uta.edu/index.php?navid=16879
TRAINING
In addition to Radiation Safety Committee approval of proposed research, training is required for persons working with or around radiation machines or radioactive materials in the laboratory. Contact the Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Office at 817-272-2185 or ehsafety@uta.edu to schedule an appointment to complete UT Arlington’s Radiation Safety Training.
LAB COMISSIONING PROCESS
Laboratory facilities at UT Arlington must be reviewed by the RSO and/or subsequently approved by the RSC before being commissioned for the use of radioactive materials or radiation machines. In addition to commissioning the laboratory, the RSO will assess training needs, provide dosimetry as required, and provide the appropriate lab signage. Please contact the RSO/EH&S at 817-272-2185 or hoy@uta.edu to begin the lab commissioning process.
UT Arlington’s Radiation Safety Manual (Section IV. F. – Laboratory Commissioning)
Radiation Safety Evaluation Form (Radioactive Materials)
Radiation Safety Evaluation Form (X-Ray Producing Machines)
PROCUREMENT
Radionuclides:
1. A purchase order must be obtained prior to purchasing radioactive material. Under no circumstance are procurement cards to be used to purchase radioactive materials.
2. Regardless of how radioactive material is procured (purchase, gift, transfer, loan, etc.) a Radioactive Material Requisition Form must be forwarded to the RSO for approval in advance. The RSO will review it for compliance with the University’s Radioactive Material License, the researcher’s sublicense, and applicable regulations. Upon approval, the RSO will notify the researcher of the authorization number to be furnished to the vendor if making a purchase.
3. All radioactive material packages must be shipped directly to the Environmental Health & Safety Office, 500 Summit Ave., Arlington, TX, 76019.
Radiation machines:
All radiation machines are required to be registered with the Texas Department of State Health Services, Radiation Control Program. Researchers must contact the RSO before procuring radiation machines regardless of the method of procurement (purchase, gift, transfer, loan, etc.)
For questions or assistance, please contact Environmental Health & Safety:
Leah V. Hoy, 817-272-2185
hoy@uta.edu