Radiation Safety: The Nuts & Bolts of an Effective Program

The Nuts and Bolts of an Effective Program

Radiation Safety:

Meet Your Moderator:

James Ciccone

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presentation – submit your question(s) anytime

throughout the webinar.

Stick around for an exclusive offer at the end of the

webinar.

Webinar Overview

Meet Your Presenter

Tony Gemmellaro EHS Manager/Senior Consultant

• Radiation Safety Officer for several biotech

companies

• Wrote license applications and amendments

• BS/MS Biological Sciences

Tragic Example #1

In the 1920’s, women worked in

factories painting radium onto the

dials of watches to make them glow

in the dark.

Tragic Example #1When they put the tips of their

brushes on their tongues to make a

finer point for painting, the workers

ingested small amounts of radium,

an alpha and gamma emitter.

Many died from anemia (a shortage

of RBC) and bone cancer.

Our Key Message

Protection from radioactive material

exposure or contamination and

compliance with regulations is the priority

Who Is This For?

Biotech

New Drug Development

Healthcare

Patient Care

Universities

R&D Compliance

What Will You Learn?

Fundamentals of Radiation Safety

Laboratory Procedures and Practices

Hazards and Controls of Restricted Areas

Legal Requirements

Poll Question

True or False: Radioactive

isotopes are everywhere in

nature, including ordinary things

like rocks, food, and even inside

our bones?

Agenda

Program Oversight

Training & Education

Documentation

Summary/Q&A

Tragic Example #2In the 1990’s, MIT researcher contaminated with radioactive

material:

• Collected samples

• Final results

• Investigated by Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

•Now MA DPH enforces Radiation Program.

Radiation Overview•When working with radiation, diminishing

exposure should be the top priority.

• Ionizing radiation can have serious

health effects at high doses which can

compromise safety.

•This webinar will provide you with

guidance keep your facility safe,

compliant and inspection-ready.

What Is

This?

Fundamentals of RadioactivityRadiation is defined as energy that is transmitted through space.

• Alpha

• Beta

• Gamma

• Neutron

Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation

Shielding Comparison

Alpha

Beta

Gamma

Neutron

Skin,

Paper PlasticLead,

Concrete

Water,

Poly

10n

Hazards of Ionizing RadiationCan deposit energy in neighboring atoms

resulting in the removal of electrons.

Why is exposure to ionizing radiation potentially

dangerous?

When atoms in living cells become ionized one of

three things usually happen:

• The cell dies

• The cell repairs itself

• The cell mutates incorrectly and can become cancerous

Biological Effects• Radiation passing through the body may cause

ionization of atoms, molecules and cells.

• The effect that radiation has on the body depends

on how much dose the body receives and how

quickly it receives it.

• Occupational Dose limits

Poll Question

What is a major risk of

occupational radiation

exposure?

Curium, named

after Pierre and

Marie Curie, is

very radioactive

“Ionizing Radiation ”

-NCRP Report

NCRP Report No. 160, Ionizing Radiation

Exposure of the Population of the United States

Medical

15 %

Consumer

2 %

Consumer

2 %

Early 1980’s: 360 millirem/year

2006: 620 millirem/year

Exposure CategoryNCRP 93

1987

NCRP 160

2006

Ubiquitous background 300 311

Radon 200 228

Other 100 83

Medical 53 300

Computed tomography (2006) 147

Radiography / fluoroscopy (2006) 33

All diagnostic (1980) 39

Nuclear Medicine 14 77

Interventional (2006) 43

Consumer 5 – 13 13

Industrial security, medical,

educational and research0.1 0.3

Occupational 0.9 0.5

Total 360 620

Effective Annual Dose per Individual in

the U.S. Population (mrem)

Occupational /

Industrial 0.1 %

Occupational / Industrial 0.3%

Background 83%

Medical 48 %

Background 50%

Typical DosesAverage Dose to US Public from All sources 620 mrem/year

Average Dose to US Public From Natural Sources 300 mrem/year

Average Dose to US Public From Medical Uses 300 mrem/year

Coal Burning Power Plant 0.2 mrem/year

Average dose to US Public from Weapons Fallout < 1 mrem/year

Average Dose to US Public From Nuclear Power < 0.1 mrem/year

Occupational Dose Limit for Radiation Workers 5,000 mrem/yr

Coast to coast Airplane roundtrip 3-5000 microrem

Airport screening 20-30 microrem

Dental X ray 10 mrem

Chest X-ray 10 mrem

Shoe Fitting Fluoroscope (not in use now) 170 mrem

CT (head and body) 1,100 mrem

Therapeutic thyroid treatment (dose to the whole body) 7,000 mrem

Agenda

Program Oversight

Training & Education

Documentation

Summary/Q&A

Personnel Monitoring•Dosimeter Badges and Rings

•Whole body badges

•Ring badge

Survey Requirements &

Techniques

Shepherd Mark I Irradiator

Poll Question

What does ALARA

stand for?

Radiation Safety in the

Laboratory - ALARA• Time

• Distance

• Shielding

• Contamination Control

Poll QuestionFor which of the

following is radiation

protection training

required?

Rules in Restricted Areas• Be aware of warning signs and labels.

• Ask laboratory personnel if you need

assistance.

• Do not handle radioactive materials, wastes, or

objects labeled with a warning symbol.

• Use of badge reader mandatory for all entrants.

• You must wear a laboratory coat and safely

glasses.

• If you hired a contractor or other service

provider, you must supervise their work - do not

leave them unattended.

Agenda

Program Oversight

Training & Education

Documentation

Summary/Q&A

Legal Requirements• Regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health

(MADPH) Radiation Control Program (RCP).

• The MADPH issues a license to use radioactive substances.

• The conditions in the license are legal conditions, which must be

adhered to.

• Failure to maintain compliance with MADPH regulations and license

conditions can result in enforcement actions - including license

suspension/revocation.

Example: Massachusetts DPH• MDPH 105 CMR 120.750

• “Notices Instructions and Reports to Workers: Inspections”

• Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Radiation Worker

• MDPH 105 CMR 120.200

• “Standards for Protection Against Radiation”

• Control the receipt, possession, use, transfer and disposal of sources of radiation

• License & Registrations

• Includes special conditions

• State inspects every two to three years

• As well as surprise inspections

Program Responsibilities

• Employee Responsibilities

• Radioistope Users

• Radiation Safety Officer

Inventory Controls• All sources/radioactive material locked up

• An up-to-date inventory record including use logs of all stock must be kept with the material.

• Daily close-out and use log

• Date, isotope used, contamination cleaned, material secure, and user’s initials

• When radiation workers are the means for security, they must challenge unknown persons entering the lab.

Waste Disposal

Special waste considerations before new

procedures:

• Consider chemicals and agents involved.

• Will the use of a hazardous

chemical/agent make disposal difficult?

• When in doubt, ask RSO.

• Should ID issues before work begins.

When Do You Contact the RSO?• New protocol/use of licensed

material

• Missing radioactive material

• Dosimetry

• New x-ray/radiation producing

equipment

• Shipping radioactive material

• Need special training

• Need a loan

Tony Gemmellaro

Documentation!

Agenda

Program Oversight

Training & Education

Documentation

Summary/Q&A

Poll Question

What are you most

concerned about when

it comes to radiation

safety?

Our Key Message

Protection from radioactive material

exposure or contamination and

compliance with regulations is the

priority

SummarySafety is a Value, Not a Priority

Management Support

Engage Employees

Communicate Hazards & Controls

QUESTIONS?

Thank You For Attending!

Contact Tony Gemmellaro:

[email protected]

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1-888-834-9697

www.triumvirate.com

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