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Radioactive or Radiation Producing Materials or Equipment (D-27)

Original Implementation: September 1, 1974
Last Revision: April 21, 2009

The purchase, receipt and storage of radioactive or radiation producing materials or equipment is supervised by the university's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) or the authorized designee.


A. Purchase of Radioactive Material/Radiation Producing Equipment

1. Radioactive Materials

No person may order radioactive materials unless authorized as a designated user on the special or general license issued to Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU). A Requisition Type 'DR' shall be completed prior to any purchase of radioactive material. The RSO shall be notified of the requisition’s submission and must either approve or deny the purchase.
Prior to ordering radioactive material, it shall be the responsibility of the licensee or authorized user to assure that appropriate storage facilities shall be available and that radioactive waste disposal procedures shall be implemented. Radioactive material cannot arrive on campus without the written approval of the RSO. The RSO shall prescribe the location of delivery, shall receive the material, and shall notify the authorized user of its arrival within eighteen (18) hours of receipt.

2. Radiation-Producing Equipment

University personnel shall not order radiation generating equipment unless authorized as a designated user on the special or general license issued pursuant to part 41 of the Texas Regulations for Control of Radiation.
Prior to ordering radiation-generating equipment, the licensee or authorized user shall assure that adequate facilities are available and that written approval from the RSO has been received in order to ensure compliance with the Texas Regulations for Control of Radiation.
Purchase requisitions for any equipment that produces ionizing radiation shall be identified by completing Requisition Type 'DR'. This equipment includes, but is not limited to, lasers, microwave generators, and x-ray generators of all types (e.g., diffraction, fluorescence, medical, industrial, atomic absorption, etc.). The RSO shall be notified of the requisition’s submission and must either approve or deny the purchase. The RSO shall be notified of the receipt of the material and shall notify the authorized user of the material’s arrival within eighteen (18) hours of receipt.

B. Receipt, Transportation, and Storage of Radioactive Materials

1. Receiving Radioactive Materials

  1. Only a person authorized by the RSO may pick up and receive radioactive materials.
  2. Radioactive material shall be received under the following guidelines:
    1. No package shall be delivered to Central Receiving by the carrier. All radioactive material other than equipment shall be delivered to a location determined by the RSO. 
    2. Prior approval of the RSO shall be required if the package is to be delivered outside normal working hours.
  3. Each authorized user, upon receipt of a package of radioactive material, shall survey the external surfaces of the package for radioactive contamination caused by leakage. The monitoring shall be performed as soon as practical after receipt of the material, but no later than three (3) hours after the package is received during the licensee's normal working hours, or eighteen (18) hours if received after normal working hours. The RSO shall be notified within eighteen (18) hours of receipt of radioactive material through a "Radioactive Material Receiving Survey" form.
  4. If contamination is found on the external surface of the package, the RSO and the University Police Department (UPD) shall be notified immediately. UPD shall be responsible for contacting the appropriate authorities.


2. Transporting Radioactive Material

  1. Only a person authorized by the RSO may pick up radioactive materials.
  2. Prior approval of the RSO shall be required to pick up a package at the carrier's terminal and render a receiving report to the Procurement and Property Services Department in an expeditious manner.


3. Storing Sources of Radiation

  1. Sources of ionizing radiation shall be secured against unauthorized removal from an authorized place of storage during receipt, delivery, and use on campus.
  2. Each designated user shall be responsible for compliance with the SFASU radiation safety policies and with the Texas Regulations for Control of Radiation (25 TAC §289).
  3. Authorized users of radioactive materials and radiation generators shall be designated on the Radioactive Materials license and registrations.

 

Cross Reference: Tex. Health & Safety § 401; 25 TAC § 289; Purchase Requisition, Policy C-30; Special Purchases, Policy C-36

Responsible for Implementation: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Contact For Revision: Radiation Safety Officer

Forms: Application to Use Radioactive Material for Teaching or Research; Statement of Training and Agreement with Policies; Non-Commercial Radioactive Material Shipment and Receipt Form; Radioactive Material Receipt and Disposal; Radioactive Waste for Pick-Up by the Radiation Safety Officer; Quarterly Inventory; Leak-Test and Inventory Record; Legal Storage Placed - Building Maps. All Forms may be obtained from the Radiation Safety Officer.