12.03.05 Radiation Safety Program
12.03.06 Ionizing Radiation Safety Committee
12.03.01
PURPOSE
The purpose of this subchapter is to outline responsibilities and prescribe
procedures for radiation safety at NIST and to incorporate by reference
certain procedures and instructions pertaining to radiation safety.
12.03.02
SCOPE
The provisions of this subchapter apply to all NIST employees at Gaithersburg
and Boulder who may be occupationally exposed to radiation sources and
to non-NIST employees whose assignments at NIST involve operations, equipment,
or facilities that may result in radiation exposure.
12.03.03
DEFINITIONS
a. Radiation - For the purpose of this subchapter, radiation
includes (1) ionizing radiations, such as x-rays, emissions from radioactive
materials, or beams from the reactor or accelerators; and (2) non-ionizing
radiations from laser beams and microwave sources.
b. As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) - The lowest achievable levels of radiation exposure and release of radioactive material when taking into account the state of technology, the economics of precautions in relation to benefits, and the beneficial utilization of atomic and nuclear energy.
12.03.04
POLICY
a. It is Institute policy to maintain radiation exposure and release
of radioactive materials in unrestricted areas to magnitudes as low as
reasonably achievable (ALARA).
b. Operating procedures at NIST must ensure that exposure to ionizing radiation be kept ALARA but in any event within the limits established in applicable regulations.
12.03.05
RADIATION SAFETY PROGRAM
a. The Ionizing Radiation Safety Program at NIST-Gaithersburg is divided
into two areas: General Laboratory and Reactor.
(1) Procedures applying to the Reactor must be reviewed by the Safety Evaluation Committee and approved in writing by the Chief of the Reactor Operations and Engineering Group or deputy.
(2) Procedures applying to all other areas must be reviewed and approved in writing by the Chief, Health Physics Group, or as required by specific materials licenses.
b. At NIST-Boulder procedures pertaining to radiation safety must be reviewed and approved in writing by the Mountain Administrative Support Center (MASC) Radiation Safety Officer or as required by specific licenses.
12.03.06
RADIATION SAFETY COMMITTEES
a. The Ionizing Radiation Safety Committee at Gaithersburg is described
and its functions defined in Subchapter 3.01, Appendix A.
b. The Laser Safety Committee at Boulder is described in Boulder Administrative
Bulletin 84-2.
12.03.07
RESPONSIBILITIES
NIST, as a licensee of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
has the following responsibilities:
a. NIST-Gaithersburg:
(1) The Chief, Occupational Health and Safety Division (OHSD), has overall responsibility for:
(a) Establishing an effective radiation safety program;
(b) Handling matters which involve the position of the Gaithersburg laboratories as a licensee of the NRC, except for matters dealing with the Research Reactor license; and
(c) Reporting to the NRC on defects and items of noncompliance with NRC regulations, except for matters dealing with the Research Reactor.
(2) The Chief, Reactor Radiation Division, has overall responsibility for matters involving the position of the Research Reactor as a licensee of the NRC which includes:
(a) Ensuring radiation safety within the areas covered by the reactor operations license;
(b) Safeguarding the general public and facility personnel from radiation exposure resulting from reactor operations;
(c) Adhering to all requirements of the operating License and Technical Specifications; and
(d) Reporting to NRC on defects and items of noncompliance with NRC regulations for matters dealing with the Research Reactor.
(3) The Leader, Health Physics Group, has the following responsibilities for administering the radiation safety program:
(a) Providing services to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements pertaining to radiation safety;
(b) Evaluating reports of substantial radiation hazards from division chiefs and reporting evaluation results that imply the existence of defects or noncompliance with NRC regulations within 24 hours of a report from a division chief to the Chief, OHSD;
(c) Establishing and updating guidance, procedures, instructions, and other rules required to promote radiation safety and establishing adequate safeguards to see that these are observed;
(d) Providing training and retraining in radiation safety for employees; and
(e) Maintaining documentation required to demonstrate the adequacy of the radiation safety program.
b. NIST-Boulder:
(1) The Director, NIST-Boulder Laboratories, is responsible for:
(a) Establishing an effective radiation safety program at Boulder;
(b) Handling matters which involve the position of the Boulder laboratories as a licensee of the NRC; and
(c) Reporting to the NRC on defects and items of noncompliance with NRC regulations relating to Boulder laboratory operations.
(2) The MASC Radiation Safety Officer at the Boulder Laboratories is responsible for:
(a) Ensuring compliance with NRC licensing requirements;
(b) Establishing procedures required to obtain NRC approval for new uses of radiation sources and maintaining records of all sources;
(c) Establishing rules and procedures required to promote radiation safety; and
(d) Providing training and retraining in radiation safety for employees.
c. Division Chiefs at Gaithersburg and Boulder are responsible for:
(1) Ensuring that staff members comply with radiation safety rules in implementing the NIST radiation safety policy;
(2) Ensuring that staff members are aware of radiation safety procedures and receive training as required;
(3) Reporting potential items of substantial radiation hazard to the Leader, Health Physics Group (at Boulder, MASC Radiation Safety Officer), within 24 hours of occurrence or discovery, except for items relating to the reactor license which are to be handled according to that license; and
(4) Reporting significant radiation safety matters to their supervisors.
d. NIST employees and other individuals working on the NIST site are responsible for:
(1) Observing approved radiation safety rules;
(2) Consulting with the Health Physics Group (refers to the Gaithersburg Health Physics Group or the MASC Radiation Safety Officer at Boulder) early in the planning of operations that might involve radiation sources;
(3) Obtaining authorization from the Health Physics Group for radiation source acquisitions, for any modifications in radiation source use that might affect radiation safety, or for disposition of radiation sources;
(4) Notifying the Health Physics Group of any occupational radiation exposure from work at facilities other than NIST;
(5) Immediately informing the Health Physics Group upon discovery of loss or theft of any radioactive materials;
(6) Immediately informing their supervisor and the Health Physics Group of accidents involving radiation or radiation sources; and
(7) Informing their supervisor of defects that could create a substantial safety hazard.