Download Disposal - Liquids

THERE SHOULD BE NO UNAUTHORISED ACCESS TO SOURCES OF RADIATION.
Quality Assurance Audit for the Use of Unsealed Radioactive Material
ITEM
Survey Meter
Make:
Model:
S/N:
Date of Last Calibration:
Contamination Checks
Laboratories in
Continuous Use
Record of Contamination
Checks
Records of Radioisotope
Usage
REQUIRED
SPECIFICATION
A monitoring instrument,
suitable for measuring
contamination due to all
the licensed unsealed
radionuclides is to be
available at all times. In
the case of tritium, the
taking and analysis of
swabs is an acceptable
alternative to tritium
monitoring equipment,
provided the analysis is
carried out promptly.
Calibrated by whom
Checks should be carried
out at the start and end of
each working session.
Further contamination
checks should be carried
out whenever there is a
change in the use of
radioisotope or a
significant change in the
type of laboratory
procedure being carried
out.
Major check to be carried
out weekly (including
floors)
The laboratory record
should indicate that the
daily/weekly /relevant
checks have been made.
Current balanced records
of all radioisotope use
are to be maintained and
kept up to date.
Compliance
Yes/No
Actions to be undertaken
Disposal - Solids
Must be disposed of in
accordance with the
National Health and
Medical Research
Council’s “Code of
Practice for the Disposal
of Radioactive Waste by
the User (1985)” or be
treated as exempt material
under the “Radiation
Control Regulations,
1994”.
Approval must be
obtained from DPIWE
responsible for the refuse
site.
Must be disposed of at an
approved disposal site.
Disposal - Liquids
Can only be disposed of
by release to sewer if it is
an aqueous solution or
macerated biological
matter. If there is the
possibility of biological
re-concentration of
diluted radiocompounds
the person responsible for
releasing the material
must ensure the
radioactive material is
doped with sufficient
stable compounds of the
same type to remove that
possibility
Must guarantee that the
plumbing leads to a sewer
and not to storm water.
Must ensure that the
plumbing is in good
condition.
Must ensure that low
point ponding does not
occur.
Must ensure that the
radioactive material is
released through a slow
drip system and well
diluted by running water.
Must make a reasonable
effort to prevent
splashing.
The maximum radiation
activity discharged to the
sewer does not exceed 20
times the amount
specified in ICRP 61 in
any 7 day period
The concentration of
radioactive material at the
exit point of the premises
at which the radioactive
material is released does
not exceed 0.1 of the
amount specified in ICRP
61 for each 730 litres of
water.
A person releasing
radioactive material into a
sewer must be able to
prove, for any release,
that the allowable
concentration level is met
at the exit point.
Laboratory Construction
(based on AS/NZS
2982.1:1997)
General Requirements
Separation (9.2.5.1)
Cleaning (9.2.5.4)
To reduce contamination
risks, laboratories in
which radioisotopes are
used shall be separated
from other facilities.
Radionuclide counting
rooms should be
separated from
operational areas and
from radionuclide storage
areas. Office
accommodation should be
separate from
laboratories.
Suitable storage space
shall be provided in
medium level laboratories
for cleaning equipment,
which shall be reserved
for use only in these
laboratories. Similar
facilities may be provided
for low level laboratories.
Sealed Systems (9.2.5.5)
Laboratory Identification
(9.2.5.8)
Minimum Laboratory
Criteria (9.3.1)
General (9.3.2)
All sealed systems that
may become internally
contaminated (e.g. ducts
and pipes) shall be clearly
marked at access
locations to warn
maintenance personnel of
the presence of
radioactive material
Each entrance to a
laboratory room (or suite
of rooms for medium
level laboratories) shall
have an identification
placard on the door, or
immediately adjacent to
it(a) identifying the
laboratory;
(b) indicating the main
potential hazards within;
© advising the nature of
personal protective
equipment to be worn,
especially by emergency
services personnel; and
(d) advising the names
and telephone numbers of
the persons to be
contacted for after hours
emergencies.
Radioisotope laboratories
in which unsealed
radioactive isotopes are
used shall be graded in
accordance with AS
2243.4 as low level,
medium or high level.
Toilets, lunch rooms or
drinking water facilities
shall not open directly
from a radioisotope
laboratory and, where a
barrier is provided, they
shall not be on the
radioactive side.
Low level typically RIA
using only pre labelled
non-volatile kits.
Typically, 400 kBq I-125
per week.
Medium level radioiodination procedures in
research labs e.g. 200
MBq I-125 per week.
Preparation of nuclear
medicine diagnostic and
therapy doses.
Floor penetrations (9.3.3)
Floor penetrations should
be minimized as they
impair the integrity of the
floor covering. Services
and drains (except floor
drains) should enter and
leave the laboratory
through sealed wall
penetrations.
Low Level Laboratories
(9.3.4)
Fittings and finish shall
be chosen so that they
may be readily cleaned
and shall incorporate
features as follows:
(a) Joints shall be sealed
and made waterproof and
be located away from
sources of contamination
(e.g. not near sinks or
under edges of benches)
Seamless PVC flooring is
recommended. Painted or
carpeted surfaces are not
acceptable.
(b) Walls should be
smooth and reasonably
free of exposed electrical
conduits, water and gas
pipes. These surfaces
should be finished with a
washable high gloss or
semi-gloss paint.
© Bench tops shall have a
smooth waterproof,
chemically resistant
covering which is easy to
clean. Melamine,
seamless vinyl, cast
epoxy resin and stainless
steel are recommended.
Painted surfaces are not
acceptable.
(d) Drainage shall be
arranged so that other
building areas cannot
become contaminated if
the drainage system
becomes blocked.
(e) Secure storage
facilities shall be
provided for stocks of
radionuclides. Shielding
shall be provided if
recommended by the
RPA. Refrigerator
storage or freezer storage
or both may be required
in medical and biological
radioisotope laboratories.
(f) The advice of the
RPA shall be sought to
determine if a fume
cupboard is necessary for
handling small quantities
of non-volatile
radionuclides that are of
low radio toxicity class
(see As 2243.4)
(g) A recirculating fume
cabinet, which complies
with AS 2243.4, may
have limited applications
when small quantities of
radionuclides of low
radiotoxicity class are
being handled. Advice
shall be sought from the
RPA before any
recirculating fume cabinet
is used for radioactive
materials.
Stainless steel sinks are
recommended. A
flushing sink, preferably
with knee operated or
automatic actuator should
be provided for the sewer
disposal of aqueous liquid
waste to permit rapid
dilution of the effluent
within the laboratory
drainage system and to
keep this drainage system
clean.
A hand washbasin with
automated action, or knee
or foot operated taps
should be provided,
preferably adjacent to the
entrance doorway.
Medium Level
Laboratories (9.3.5)
A high degree of
cleanliness is essential in
medium level
laboratories, and finishes
and fittings shall be
chosen to assist its
achievement. In addition
to the requirements of
clause 9.3.4, the
laboratory shall comply
with the following:
(a) The floor shall be
strong enough to support
the weight of any
shielding while
maintaining its smooth
decontaminable surface
Where a welded PVC
floor covering is used, a
polyvinyl chloride content
in excess of 76 percent by
weight is recommended
for ease of
decontamination. The
acid resistance and
solvent resistance of
welded PVC flooring can
be slightly improved by
polishing with plastic
emulsion polish
The floor covering shall
be coved up to and be
sealed to walls and
vertical surfaces to aid
cleaning
(b) Benches shall be
strong enough to support
the weight of any
shielding likely to be
used. The front and side
edges of the bench top
should be slightly raised
and the back coved up to
the wall or reagent shelf,
so that the bench top acts
as a shallow tray to help
contain spills
© Joins between bench
surfaces shall be designed
and constructed so that
they do not leak or trap
contamination
(d) A hand wash basin
shall be provided and
knee or foot shall operate
the taps automatically,
(e) All drainage systems
shall be continuous and
be appropriately labelled
at accessible locations.
Polythene and PVC pipes
and fittings are resistant
to most chemicals and are
less likely than metal
pipes to become
internally contaminated.
(f) If glove boxes are to
be used, each shall have
its own exhaust air filter.
Discharge of the exhaust
air shall comply with the
requirements of AS
2243.8.
Laboratories in the upper
part of the medium level
classification or above
should have ceilings
coved to the walls to aid
cleaning
For medium level
laboratories in which
higher levels of
radioactivity are used,
consideration should be
given to the provision of
delay tanks, for collection
of the effluent, before
discharge to the sewer.
Several tanks may be
necessary for holding
during decay and dilution
of the aqueous liquid
effluent before discharge.
These tanks should be
surrounded with a bund of
sufficient size to retain
the tank contents in the
event of mishap. Holding
tanks should be emptied
by pumps rather than by
gravity discharge.
At least one fume
cupboard in accordance
with AS 2243.8 should be
provided.
Storage of Supplies of
Radionuclides:
(9.5) and Tasmanian
Radiation Control
Regulations
Radioactive materials
shall be stored so that
they do not present a
hazard to persons in the
vicinity and are secure
against theft or
unauthorized tampering
Location of Store:
not situated near to-
explosive or combustible
material
photographic or X-ray
film
areas of flooding
other natural or manmade hazards
firmly constructed of
durable material
able to resist fire and
unauthorised entry
kept locked
has a clear sign on the
outside incorporating the
word caution and a
symbol warning of the
radiation hazard
not to exceed 2.5
microsieverts in an hour
and 1000 microsieverts
each year
(a) the limits for surface
contamination in Table 1
shall apply to all exposed
surfaces in designated
radioisotope areas,
including protective
clothing and the skin of
workers.
(b) the limit for surface
contamination for the
interiors of glove boxes
and fume cupboards shall
be as low as reasonably
achievable, but, in
general, should not be
greater than ten times the
limit for surfaces in
designated radioisotope
areas.
Construction of Store:
Dose Rate:
Contamination Survey:
© the limit for surface
contamination for areas
which, are not designated
radioisotope areas, and
personal clothing, shall be
one twentieth of the limit
for surfaces in designated
radioisotope areas. This
is in line with the ratio of
public to occupational
maximum permissible
effective doses.