Quick Start Guide
Chapter 21: Radiation Safety

Program: Radiation Safety
Revised: 05/11
URL: http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/pub3000/CH21.html
Revision Record: http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/pub3000/Pub3000Changes.html

Who needs to know about these requirements?

The requirements of Radiation Safety at Berkeley Lab apply to:

• Berkeley Lab employees, participating guests, visitors, and subcontractors

 Whenever they are:

• Accessing areas posted for radiation protection purposes
• Working with radioactive materials or radiation-producing devices or otherwise may be exposed to ionizing radiation because of work
• Planning to change an existing space, e.g., remodeling, installing new or different lab equipment, etc.
• Performing facility maintenance, repairs, or demolitions
• Planning a new project or experiment that could have an effect on any of the above

Why?

The unsafe use of radioactive materials or radiation-producing machines, or causing change to an area that contains or uses radioactive materials or radiation-producing machines, may result in:

• Consequences to human health, including illness or death
• Damage to equipment, property, or the environment
• Violation of applicable federal laws and DOE requirements
• Additional cost that could adversely impact budgets
• Personal legal liability that may result in civil and/or criminal penalties
• The denied use of Berkeley Lab facilities for research

What you need to do before performing work:

1. Obtain required radiation safety training, as well as appropriate on-the-job training, and ensure that all necessary radiation safety training is maintained as current. See Section 21.4.3 (Training) for more details.
2. Understand and follow the requirements in the work authorizations, which detail As Low as Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) criteria, limitations, and monitoring actions specific to the work tasks. 
• The Radiological Work Authorization (RWA) may require the following:
• Maintain journals, logs, and inventory summaries issued by the Radiation Protection Group (RPG) with accurate and timely data entries that reflect current work practices.
• Wear dosimetry properly, and participate in the bioassay program as required. Promptly exchange dosimeters and provide bioassay samples. See Section 21.9 (Dosimetry).
• Monitor and minimize radiation exposure through good ALARA work practices in accordance with the RWA. See Section 21.3 (As Low as Reasonably Achievable [ALARA]) and Section 21.3.1 (Overview).
• Monitor for contamination at every reasonable opportunity and document surveys as required. See Section 21.10 (Workplace Monitoring) for more details.
• Follow training on procedures for emergencies involving radioactive materials. See Work Process F(Handling a Radiological Accident or Emergency Situation) for more details.

3. X-ray radiation workers must:
   • Understand and abide by all the requirements and precautions of the X-ray Authorization (XA)
   • Complete appropriate training, including on-the-job training
     
4. X-ray machine users must:
   • Know the safety requirements that apply to their specific X-ray machines
   • Complete appropriate training
   • Know and adhere to control requirements established in the XA
   • Immediately report any deviations from established X-ray safety procedures and controls.
   • See Work Process E (X-Ray Authorization Work Process) and EH&S Procedure 735 (X-Ray Machine Authorization Program) for more details
5. Know workplace emergency plan; know the location of work area’s evacuation route; and note the locations of emergency showers, eyewashes, and equipment
6. For additional requirements of supervisors and principle investigators, refer to Section 21.5.2 (Supervisors and Principal Investigators [PIs])

Where to find out more:

• LBNL Health and Safety Manual (PUB-3000), Chapter 21 (Radiation Safety)
• Radiation Protection Group Web site

Whom to contact for help:

• For assistance with any radiological safety question, contact your RPG contact person listed in the RPG Web site.
• If there is an emergency, follow SWIMS:

• Stop working. Stop the spill.
• Warn others.
• Isolate the area.
• Monitor yourself.
• Stay in or near the area until help arrives.

• Call ext. 7911 or 9-911 immediately, if there is a medical emergency or danger to life, health, or the environment.
• Call ext. 7277 (the Radiation Protection Group) immediately, if there is NO medical emergency or danger to life, health, or the environment.
• For more information, see Work Process F (Handling a Radiological Accident or Emergency Situation).