The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 and Regulations require employers to establish systems of work that minimise, as far as is reasonably practicable, the risk from ionizing and non-ionizing radiations to:

• the health and safety of people,
• the environment.

In the research and teaching laboratories and radiation facilities of the University this risk management objective is being achieved by the use of the following strategies:

1. provision of dedicated laboratories and facilities, including storage, shielding, fume cupboards and support services, 
2.  the provision of information on ionizing radiation through the use of: 
                   - University ionizing radiation OHS guidelines [1,2] 
                   - facility, apparatus and laboratory work protocols, 
                   - register of facility and apparatus usage, 
                   - register of ionizing radiation sources, usage and disposal, 
                   - labelling of containers.
3. use of appropriate controls to minimise exposure to ionizing radiation,
4. employment of technically-trained persons,
5. design of protocols and supervision of laboratory work by scientific experts,
6. undertaking of a risk assessment by the scientist doing the task (in conjunction with the academic course leader for teaching activities or academic research group leader for research work),
7. audit activities to ensure adequate storage and minimal stocks of ionizing radiation sources,
8. in-house staff training on ionizing radiation provided through 
                  - induction by the appropriate Area, 
                  - ionizing radiation safety training courses run by the OHS Unit, see http://info.anu.edu.au/hr/Training_and_Development/OHS_Training/Advanced_Courses/index.asp, 
                   - specialist external training where necessary.

The responsible persons for ionizing radiation matters at ANU are, ultimately, the Controlled Persons under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (i.e. Directors of relevant Research Schools, Deans of relevant Faculties).  As part of the ANU management process, each Controlled Person requires relevant members of line management (i.e. Heads of Department, academics) to be responsible to the Controlled Person for radiation matters undertaken within their delegation from the Controlled Person.  In turn, the academic course leader or research group leader supervises the process of risk assessment associated with work done within the teaching or research group.  Generally, it is a member of the teaching or research group (e.g. an academic, a post-graduate student) who actually does the risk assessment for their particular work activity under supervision from their academic leader.  All members of teaching or research groups working with ionizing radiation are graduate scientists capable of undertaking the risk assessment.

The University's hazard identification and risk assessment processes for ionizing radiation sources and apparatus have been documented in the ANU's  Ionizing Radiation Safety manual [1].  Risk control procedures required to be implemented for teaching and research work with ionizing radiation depend on the assessed risk and are defined below.

[1]    The Australian National University, Ionizing Radiation Safety,  OHS Unit, 4th edition 2000.
        http://info.anu.edu.au/Policies/_DHR/Procedures/Ionizing_Radiation_Procedures.asp

[2]    Australian Standard/New Zealand Standard, AS/NZS 4360 Risk Management, Standards Australia, 1999.
        http://www.standards.com.au

Risk Control Protocol for the Use of Ionizing Radiation at the ANU

For research and teaching work, this protocol shall be attached to the beginning of the individual's workbook. For research work judged a significant risk (category C work), the pro forma contained under category C1 or category C2 in this protocol must be completed, be approved by the academic research group leader or equivalent before work commences, and be attached at the appropriate location within the individual's workbook.

[1]    The Australian National University, Ionizing Radiation Safety,  OHS Unit, 4th edition 2000.
        http://info.anu.edu.au/Policies/_DHR/Procedures/Ionizing_Radiation_Procedures.asp

[2]    Australian Standard/New Zealand Standard, AS/NZS 4360 Risk Management, Standards Australia, 1999.
        http://www.standards.com.au
 

Work protocols and risk assessment

• The specific work protocol must be documented and a risk assessment undertaken as required by University policy http://info.anu.edu.au/Policies/_DHR/Procedures/Ionizing_Radiation_Procedures.asp and ANU's Ionizing Radiation Safety manual [1].
• The risk assessment [2] will allocate one of four increasing levels (with sub-levels) of risk to the work protocol, as follows:

• The assignment of a risk assessment category will be influenced by the nature of the work, the type of ionizing radiation involved, its activity or energy, its state of containment and shielding, the laboratory facilities available, and the training and experience of  both the individuals undertaking the work and their supervisors [2].
• For risk assessments of category A and category B, the risk assessment shall be entered into the individual's workbook and the control requirements given below for the relevant category must be used when undertaking the work.
• For risk assessments of category C1 and category C2, a brief description of the special control procedures, precautions, locations, etc. used to control the specific hazard(s) shall be recorded in the individual's workbook before the work commences. It  is mandatory that the proposed system of work be approved by the academic research group leader or equivalent before work commences.  The pro forma for this documentation is given below under category C1 and category C2.
   

Risk control practices

Category A (low risk) control procedures

Examples of category A (low risk) work would include:
work with unsealed source of radiotoxicity group 3 and radiotoxicity group 4 that has an activity or specific activity less than the amount listed in Schedule 2, Part 2, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulations 1999.  Examples of low risk work would include work with the following unsealed sources at activities less than indicated:
 3H < 1 GBq;  14C < 10 MBq;  32P < 100 kBq;    33P < 100 MBq;  35S < 100 MBq;  45Ca < 10 MBq;  51Cr < 10 MBq;  99mTc < 10 MBq
 

• EYE PROTECTION MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES where radioisotopes or chemicals are being used.  
• A laboratory coat or gown and suitable footwear must be worn.
• Gloves are routinely recommended and hand-washing is required on completion of work.
• Do not mouth pipette.
• Consumption or storage of food and/or beverages in the laboratory is forbidden.
• Good housekeeping is critical.
• Work to be done in a dedicated section of the laboratory using a secondary containment tray.
• Use work practices that minimise the generation of aerosols.
• Protocol to be designed to minimise the time of exposure to source.
• Radiation worker to be protected with appropriate shielding.
• Non-radiation workers to be protected from exposure by distance or shielding.
• A hand-held radiation detector, sensitive to the radiation emitted by the source, to be used where practicable.
• Work area to be regularly monitored for contamination.
• ANU staff and post-graduate students must have a competent understanding of the relevant sections of ANU's Ionizing Radiation Safety manual (http://info.anu.edu.au/Policies/_DHR/Procedures/Ionizing_Radiation_Procedures.asp) and any laboratory safety regulations of their Area before commencing laboratory work.

  
Category B (moderate risk) control procedures

Examples of category B (moderate risk) work would include:

• work with sealed source of activity less than 40 MBq,
• work with analytical source (fully enclosed),
• work with X-ray analysis unit (fully enclosed)
• work with unsealed source of radiotoxicity group 2 that has an activity or specific activity less than the amount listed in Schedule  2, Part 2, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulations 1999.

Examples of moderate risk work with unsealed sources of radiotoxicity group 2 would include work with the following unsealed sources at activities less than indicated:  125I < 1 MBq;  131I < 1 MBq

• work with unsealed source of radiotoxicity group 3 and radiotoxicity group 4 that has an activity or specific activity up to 102 times the amount listed in Schedule 2, Part 2, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulations 1999
• Category A requirements MUST BE IN PLACE AT ALL TIMES. à   Use of gloves is required for sources.
• Use of a fume hood is required for volatile sources.
• Controlled apparatus to have a visual indicator showing when it is ON.
• All safety-switches integral to the design of the controlled apparatus to be fully operational.
• Use of a personal radiation dosimeter is required.
• Sealed source returned to lock-up: : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  
Category C1 (lower significant risk) control procedures

Examples of category C1 (lower significant risk) work would include:

• work with sealed source of activity greater than 40 MBq
• work with X-ray analysis units (partially enclosed)
• work in a prescribed radiation facility
• work with unsealed sources of radiotoxicity group 2 that have an activity or specific activity up to 102 times the amount listed in Schedule 2, Part 2, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulations 1999
• work with unsealed sources of radiotoxicity group 3 and radiotoxicity group 4 that have an activity or specific activity up to 104 times the amount listed in Schedule 2, Part 2, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulations 1999
   

Category A and category B requirements MUST BE IN PLACE  AT ALL TIMES.

• Work to be done in a dedicated laboratory.
• Special fume cupboard with appropriate filter may be required.
• Work protocol to be practised with the use of inactive material.
• Area to be monitored for contamination on completion.
• Appropriate administrative restrictions may be put in place including work to be done during standard hours, experienced colleague to be in attendance.
• Other: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Waste disposal: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Sealed source returned to lock-up: : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Approved by: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Category C2 (higher significant risk) control procedures

Examples of category C2 (higher significant risk) work would include:

• special project work in a prescribed radiation facility
• work with unsealed sources of radiotoxicity group 2 that have an activity or specific activity up to 104 times the amount listed in Schedule 2, Part 2, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulations 1999
• work with unsealed sources of radiotoxicity group 3 and radiotoxicity group 4 that have an activity or specific activity up to 106 times the amount listed in Schedule 2, Part 2, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulations 1999

Category A, category B and category C1 requirements MUST BE IN PLACE  AT ALL TIMES.

• Appropriate special facilities or locations may need to be provided including a medium level or high level laboratory (AS/NZS 2982.1) for work with unsealed source or special shielding for controlled apparatus.
• Other: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Waste disposal: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Approved by: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .