Radiation Protection

The Radiation Protection Service comprises the Manager (University Radiation Protection Adviser) and the Radiation Protection Officer.

The service undertakes the day-to-day work of the University Radiation Hazards Management Group. This includes:

  • Providing advice on radiation protection;
  • Providing appropriate dosimeters;
  • Inspection and maintenance of monitors;
  • Periodic monitoring of workplaces;
  • Investigating accidents involving radiation;
  • The management of radioactive waste disposal;

The University now has one Permit under the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 for all work with unsealed radioactive sources. This controls the amount of radioactive materials which may be stored in University buildings, the use of radioactive materials and disposal of such materials.

Background information on Radiation Protection can be found in the guidance document entitled  Radiation Protection Background Information (PDF, 1,128 KB) (2021)

This means that all records of radioactive holdings and disposals have to be kept centrally. To do this, the University uses a program called RadProt. Guidance on the use of RadProt is contained within RadProt Radioactivity Management Program Users Manual (PDF, 143 KB) .

The form for registration as a user of the Radiation Management programme is   Registration Form as a Radiation Worker at St Andrews University (Word, 56 KB)

This programme manages:

  • Registration of new workers;
  • Risk assessments for new projects using radioactive sources;
  • Removal of aliquots of radioactivity;
  • Disposal of radioactivity.

You should use this programme for the above work. If you have any questions, you should contact John Nicholson.

N.B. - All new personnel working with radioactive materials must fill in both a Personal and a Project form.


The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 manages the exposure of radiation to workers and the public. This not only includes work with radioactive materials but also the use of X-ray equipment. Guidance on how the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 work can be found in the HSE Approved Code of Practice on this legislation

To comply with the Ionising Radiations Regulations the University has set up a range of documentation including the local rules available below. Further documentation can be accessed as appropriate by contacting EHSS. 

Radiation Local Rules - Work Instructions (PDF, 935 KB)

Site Specific Local Rules - BSRC, Purdie and WRL (PDF, 449 KB)

Site Specific Local Rules - Earth Science (PDF, 493 KB)

Site Specific Local Rules - Medicine (PDF, 470 KB)

Site Specific Local Rules - Physics (PDF, 1,011 KB)

Site Specific Local Rules - Psychology (PDF, 1,101 KB)

Site Specific Local Rules - SOI (PDF, 853 KB)