2. Radiation safety organisation and individual responsibilities
Contents
2. Radiation Safety Organisation and Individual Responsibilities
2.1 Management of Radiation Protection within the University
2.2.1 University Radiation Protection Adviser (URPA)
2.2.2 University Radiation Hazards Sub-Committee.
2.2.3 The University Radiation Protection Service (URPS)
2.2.6 The University Safety Adviser
2.2.7 Radiation Protection Assistant
2.2.8 Departmental Radiation Protection Supervisors (DRPS)
2.2.9 Laboratory Radiation Protection Supervisor (LRPS)
2.2.12 Visiting Radiation Workers
2.2.13 University of St. Andrews Radiation Workers Visiting Other Establishments
2. Radiation Safety Organisation and Individual Responsibilities
2.1 Management of Radiation Protection within the University
The ultimate responsibility for radiological protection within the University lies with the University Court. This responsibility derives from the Health and Safety at Work etc., Act 1974 and cannot be devolved. It is, however the responsibility of the Head of the School/Unit to ensure that all aspects of this Act are complied with.
The University Court has published the document 'Health and Safety Policy Statement of the University Court' which outlines how the University will comply with this Act. Detailed general health and safety guidance is given in a variety of documents from Environmental, Health and Safety Services. Copies of these documents are available from the University Safety Adviser.
In addition to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act, the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 require the University to establish an administrative structure to ensure that the radiation exposure of workers and the general public alike is kept as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). This structure is shown in Figure 2.1.
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2.2 Appointments
2.2.1 University Radiation Protection Adviser (URPA)
A University Radiation Protection Adviser (URPA) is appointed by the University Court to advise on compliance with statutory and other relevant health and safety legislation in connection with ionising radiation as required by the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999. The duties of the URPA are given in Appendix 1.
Advice on radiation matters will be provided to Heads of School/Unit and/or to project supervisors and/or to radiation workers by the URPA on request.
The URPA must be kept informed of any plan to use ionising radiation by a School/Unit or other person working within University premises.
2.2.2 University Radiation Hazards Sub-Committee.
The University Radiation Hazards Sub-Committee is a Sub-Committee of the University Health and Safety Committee and reports to the University Court through the Risk Management Committee. The terms of reference for this Sub-Committee are given in Appendix 2.
The composition of the Radiation Hazards Sub-Committee is given in Appendix 3.
2.2.3 The University Radiation Protection Service (URPS)
The URPS comprises the URPAs, University Safety Adviser and the Radiation Protection Assistant. The URPS undertakes the day-to-day work of the Radiation Hazards Sub-Committee. The duties of the Radiation Protection Service are given in Appendix 4.
2.2.4 Appointed Doctor
An 'Appointed Doctor' will be employed and registered with the Health and Safety Executive if any University employees are designated as a 'Classified Worker' within the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999. The Appointed Doctor will perform appropriate health surveillance on such Classified Workers.
2.2.5 Qualified Person
A Qualified Person will carry out or supervise the (i) testing of monitoring equipment before the equipment is taken into use for the first time, (ii) periodic testing of equipment and (iii) checks on equipment while in use.
It should be noted that dose-rate meters are tested annually and if necessary re-calibrated by an outside laboratory which has been approved by the Health and Safety Executive for this purpose.
2.2.6 The University Safety Adviser
The University Safety Adviser has specific ionising radiation protection duties. These duties include:
- To liase with SEPA and the HSE;
- To retain copies of the Certificates of Registration and Authorisation issued to the University;
- To retain the following records and reports (i) Radiation Dose Reports, (ii) Closing Reports, (iii) Transfer Records;
- To retain the health surveillance records issued by an Appointed Doctor;
- To arrange for the disposal of radioactive waste from the authorised stores and make and retain records of such disposals.
2.2.7 Radiation Protection Assistant
The Radiation Protection Assistant has the following duties:
- To collect and transport solid and liquid Radioactive Waste from Schools/Units to SEPA Registered waste stores;
- To record and keep Records of Waste held in Registered waste stores;
- To assist in the transport of solid radioactive waste to the local SEPA Authorised landfill site.
2.2.8 Departmental Radiation Protection Supervisors (DRPS)
The Head of School in which ionising radiation is used shall appoint from the full time academic staff of his School/Unit one or more Departmental Radiation Protection Supervisor(s) (DRPS). This appointment should then be submitted for approval to the URPA. The terms of reference for a DRPS are given in Appendix 5. The form for the appointment of a DRPS is given in Appendix 6.
The name of the DRPS should be included in the School/Unit health and safety rules.
Each DRPS is required to familiarise himself/herself with all ionising radiation work taking place within the School/Unit or with specified work as described in his terms of reference. The DRPS will advise the Head of the School/Unit on routine matters of radiation safety. The Head of the School may also appoint a Laboratory Radiation Protection Supervisor (LRPS) (see section 2.2.9)
2.2.9 Laboratory Radiation Protection Supervisor (LRPS)
In larger Schools/Units, the DRPS is unlikely to be the immediate line manager or supervisor overseeing the work with ionising radiation in all laboratories. In such a situation, the Head of the School/Unit may appoint a LRPS for a defined area or laboratory. This appointment will then be submitted for approval to the URPA. The terms of Reference for a LRPS are given in Appendix 7.
The form for the appointment of a LRPS is given in
Appendix
8.
2.2.10 Project Supervisor
The project supervisor should be a registered radiation worker and has the following additional responsibilities:
- Obtaining approval for any project that uses ionising radiations from the URPA prior to the start of the project;
- Obtaining prior approval from the URPA for any significant changes to a previously approved ionising radiations project;
- The experimental procedures used by those under his/her supervision conform to the University and School/Unit Rules;
- Ensuring workers under his/her supervision have received suitable and sufficient training and instructions in the techniques that will be used.
2.2.11 Radiation Worker
It is the duty of a radiation worker to carry out their work in a responsible manner with due consideration to others. The worker must never knowingly expose himself/herself or other persons to a level of ionising radiation that may exceed their dose limit. The working procedures used shall be designed to ensure that the radiation exposure is kept as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). The duties of a Radiation Worker are given in Appendix 9.
Each radiation worker must be familiar with:
(i) The appropriate safety procedures applicable to the work being carried out;
(ii) The emergency procedures to be implemented in the event of an accident;
(iii) The notification procedure to be followed in the event of the loss of a quantity of radioactive substance or of its release into the atmosphere, or spillage or theft.
All radiation workers must complete both a personal Registration form and be named on a ratified project form. The forms are as follows:
- 'Registration of Persons as Users of Ionising Radiations' (Form URPS 1) (see Appendix 10) OR
- Visitors Application Form for 'Approval of Registration as an Ionising Radiation Worker' (Form Number URPS 1 / V) (Appendix 11)
- The Application for Approval of Project Forms (Forms URPS2/RM, URPS2/SS, URPS2/X) (Appendices 12, 13, 14).
NOTE: Female radiation workers who become pregnant are subject to more stringent radiation dose limits and should notify the URPA, via the DRPS, of their pregnancy without delay (see Section 9).
Strict confidentiality will be respected if you wish. It is not a legal requirement that expectant mothers inform the Head of the School/Unit and they can choose to keep this information private, however, in our view, it is not in their best interests to do so.
2.2.12 Visiting Radiation Workers
All visiting radiation workers other than those who are self-employed workers or those required by their employer to undertake work involving the use of ionising radiation, come into the category of University of St. Andrews Registered Radiation Worker. Approval of registration and permission to carry out specified work within University premises must be sought from the URPA well in advance of the proposed starting date.
Only persons who have been designated as 'Classified Workers' by their own employer may act as Classified Workers within the University. Visiting 'Classified Workers' should have a suitable radiation dose 'passport' which details the dose received by that person. Such persons must provide the URPA with their current radiation dose 'passport'.
The appropriate application forms are to be obtained from the DRPS of the host School/Unit and once completed they should be sent to the URPA via the DRPS for ratification. These forms are:
- The Visitors Application Form for 'Approval of Registration as an Ionising Radiation Worker' (Form Number URPS 1 / V) (Appendix 11)
2.2.13 University of St. Andrews Radiation Workers Visiting Other Establishments
Radiation workers who intend to carry out work involving the use of ionising radiations in premises other than those of the University of St. Andrews should notify the URPA via the DRPS of this intention and provide such information as the URPA may require. In compliance with Regulation 15 of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999, the URPA will arrange with the Controlling Authority for the premises to be visited and will supply information concerning the worker's designation and current radiation dose record.