Quick links
- "No Radioactive Material Use Report" form
- Radioactive Material Order Request" form
- Radiation Dosimeters and Radioactive Waste Disposal Prices for FY10 (pdf)
- Environmental Safety Facility - for chemical concerns at UVM
- Understanding your Annual Radiation Exposure Report
- Policy for minors working in a radiation lab (pdf)
Related links
- Perkin Elmer -radiochemicals
- MP (formerly ICN) - radiochemcials
- Ludlum Measurements, Inc. - portable radiation detectors
- NRC -Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- EPA - Radiation Protection
- FDA - Center for X-ray Device and Radiological Health
- Health Physics Society - "Ask The Experts"
- Radiation Answers - Learn more about radiation
UVM Radiation Safety Office (RSO)
Procedure for Approval of Investigators
Below is a summary of the procedure for reviewing applications to use radioactive materials at UVM. This procedure has been in effect since 1982.
The possession and use of radioactive materials at UVM must be approved by the UVM Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) to ensure compliance with the University's license with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and with applicable guidelines of the State of Vermont.
1. APPLICATION PROCESS
A. NEW APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS
When a UVM faculty member first seeks approval to use radionuclides
or radiation sources for teaching and/or
research purposes, he/she must fill out an "Application
for New
Investigators to Procure, Purchase, and Use
Radiation" form and must successfully complete a 44-question
multiple
choice certification exam, after which
the Director of the RSO interviews the applicant to determine if
his/her
experience and lab setup is appropriate. To prepare for this exam
go to the following link.
If the applicant has less than 6 months of radionuclide handling
experience, the Director assists the applicant
with making arrangements to use radionuclides under the authorization
of an approved Investigator.
After all requirements have been satisfied, the Director instructs the RSO staff to "commission" the laboratory (waste disposal containers, signs, labels, detectors, etc.)
B. REAPPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS
If an Investigator has received prior approval for radionuclide use at UVM, he/she need only submit the "Application for Currently-approved Investigators" form, indicating which radionuclide, purpose of use, and proposed possession limit.
The Director reviews the applicant's waste disposal frequency, contamination survey records, radiation detectors, shielding, inspection history, etc. If any deficiencies are found, they must be corrected before provisional approval can be given.
2. ACTION BY DIRECTOR
If everything is in order, the Director sends a letter of provisional approval (1) to the applicant which permits him/her to procure, purchase, and use radionuclides, pending final review by the RSC.
The Director sends each member of the RSC a summary of the application with an accompanying "ballot" to vote on the application.
3. ACTION BY RSC
The RSC members promptly return the ballots with their vote.
If any RSC member votes "not approved", the Director contacts the remainder of the RSC members. If the majority of the RSC members agree, the Director contacts the Investigator to suspend use of the radionuclides and seek ways to amend the application.
If the majority of the mail ballots vote "approved", the tally of the ballots is presented, and a vote of ratification is taken, at the ensuing regular quarterly meeting of the RSC.
The Chair of the RSC sends an official letter to the applicant indicating the action taken by the Committee.
1. Since the RSC normally meets quarterly and does not wish to delay the research and educational uses of radionuclides, the Director of the RSO is authorized by the RSC to take provisional action on applications by Investigators prior to review by the RSC at a regularly-scheduled quarterly meeting.
Last modified February 25 2005 03:00 PM