Laboratory Survelliance Program
To verify that clinical and research activities minimize the
hazard to employees, the general public, and the environment,
routine safety evaluations are performed by Safety Specialists
in the Office of Environmental Health and Safety. The Texas
Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control requires
institutions and facilities using radioactive materials and
radiation producing devices to perform routine surveillance.
To verify that clinical and research activities minimize the
hazard to employees, the general public, and the environment,
Laboratory Safety evaluations are performed by Safety Specialists
in the Office of Environmental Health and Safety on a routine
basis.
Laboratory Safety Evaluations include a comprehensive safety
review of a facility, including both physical and administrative
aspects of laboratory research activities. The physical parameters
include evaluating radiation levels within the laboratory,
availability of proper personal protective equipment, evaluating
required postings and availability of the current Radiation
Safety Manual. Administrative parameters include the proper
use of personal protective equipment, utilization of personal
monitoring devices (ie, radiation badges), proper use of waste
disposal activities and implementation of ALARA techniques
when handling sources of radiation.
Any laboratory that uses and/or stores unsealed radioactive
materials is required to perform and document a monthly laboratory
survey of their facilities. This survey includes a Geiger counter
sweep and wipes of areas in which radiation is used.
Radiation Survey
Form for Laboratories - This form may be used for the
monthly wipe tests.
Portable
Survey Meter Calibration
Authorized Users are responsible for maintaining
access to an appropriate portable survey instrument when working
with moderate energy beta-particle or photon-emitting radionuclides.
Portable survey instruments require a calibration with sufficient
accuracy to provide an estimation of the presence of localized
surface contamination. Calibration refers to the determination and adjustment
of instrument response in a particular radiation field of known intensity.
This process is intended to assess on a regular basis the radiation response
characteristics of a particular portable survey instrument. Portable survey
meters are calibrated annually by the Radiation Safety Program or outside calibration
providers.
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