Radiation
Safety Committee Charter
I. Authority:
The
Radiation Safety Committee is established by the authority of the
President of
the University
of Oregon. The
Committee is
delegated primary responsibility for the safe use of ionizing radiation
in all
aspects of the University operation including, but not limited to
instructional, research, and support functions. Through this authority,
the
Committee serves as the administrative body required by State rules and
by the
conditions of the University license for radioactive materials.
II.
Members:
A.
The
membership
of the Committee shall consist of not less than six nor more than eight
members. The membership shall include the Vice-President for
Finance and
Administration or their designee, the Vice-President for Research and
Graduate
Studies or their designee, and the University Radiation Safety Officer
who
shall serve as ex officio members.
B.
All members are
appointed for a three-year term by the Vice-President for Finance and
Administration. No more than one-half of the existing Committee may be
appointed as new members each year.
C.
A Chair is
appointed for a one-year term by the Vice-President for Finance and
Administration. The Chair may serve in that position for no
more
than two consecutive terms.
D.
New members and
the Chair are appointed at the beginning of the academic year.
E.
In addition to
the ex officio members, the Committee shall be comprised of faculty
members who
represent the diversity of scientific disciplines using ionizing
radiation at
the University. One member may be appointed from the general University
community. Members shall be appointed on the basis of knowledge and
experience
in the safe use of ionizing radiation.
F.
No later than
August 15 each year, the Committee shall nominate candidates to fill
vacancies
for the upcoming academic year. Nominations shall be forwarded to the
Vice-President for Finance and Administration for review, approval, and
transmittal to the President for appointment.
III.
Responsibilities:
A.
Review and
grant permission for, or disapprove, the use of radioactive material
within the
University.
B.
Prescribe
special conditions that will be required during a proposed use of
radioactive
material such as minimum level of training and experience of users.
C.
Approve and
disapprove all users of radioactive materials within the University.
D.
Review and
grant permission for, or disapprove, the use of x-ray producing
machines within
the University.
E.
Review records
and reports from the Radiation Safety Officer or other individuals
delegated
responsibility for health safety practices in the University.
F.
Recommend
remedial action to correct safety infractions.
G.
Formulate and
review the University training program for the safe use of
radionuclides.
H.
Maintain
written record of actions taken by the Committee.
I.
Inform the
Oregon State Health Division of any changes in Committee practices.
IV.
Administrative Procedures:
A.
The
Committee
shall meet at least once each
calendar quarter. A simple majority of the total membership shall
constitute a
quorum. Ex officio members shall have the same voting privileges as
other
Committee members.
B.
The Radiation
Safety Officer or his designee shall serve as the Secretary for the
Committee.
C.
The Committee
delegates to the Radiation Safety Officer primary responsibility for
the following
functions:
1.
Maintenance
of an
inventory of the total quantity of each radionuclide possessed at the
University
2.
Control
of the
receipt, delivery, and shipment of all radioactive material.
3.
Verification
of
possession limits for each authorized user.
4.
Disposal
of
radioactive material waste.
5.
Monitoring
of the use
of ionizing radiation at the University for conformance with
established
procedures.
6.
Performance
of leak
tests of sealed sources at the appropriate regulatory intervals.
7.
Assurance
that
radiation detection instruments are calibrated at appropriate intervals.
8.
Daily
operation of a
personnel dosimetry program including bioassays as necessary.
9.
Registration
and
monitoring of radiation-producing machines.
10. Maintenance
of all necessary records pertaining to Committee meetings and to the
above
functions.
11. Advising
the Committee of regulatory changes as relating to the University.
D.
The Committee
shall review all proposed uses of ionizing radiation according to the
following
protocol:
1.
The
Principal
Investigator initiates a meeting with the Radiation Safety Officer to
discuss
the authorization process.
2.
The
Principal
Investigator prepares an application for authorization and submits it
to the
Radiation Safety Officer.
3.
The
Radiation Safety
Officer conducts an interview to identify potential hazards of the
proposed
use.
4.
The
Radiation Safety
Officer submits a recommendation with the application to the next full
Committee meeting.
5.
The
Committee
approves, approves with added conditions, or disapproves the
application.
6.
The
application is
returned to the Principal Investigator indicating approved conditions
of use.
7.
Normally
only members
of the Academic or Research Faculties will be approved as Authorized
Users of
radioactive material. This includes individuals holding the job titles
of
Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Instructor, and
Research
Associate. Individuals not having one of these titles and temporary
appointments will not normally be approved. Exceptions to this policy
shall be
considered by the Committee on a case-by-case basis.
E.
The Chair of
the Committee may allow interim authorization pending full Committee
review
under the following conditions:
1.
The
intended use is
similar in size and scope to an existing authorization.
2.
The
Radiation Safety
Officer has performed a hazards analysis and supports interim
authorization.
3.
The
Chair reviews the
application for completeness and signs the authorization.
4.
The
application is
reviewed at the next meeting of the full Committee. The application may
then be
amended to reflect the full Committee opinion.
F.
The Committee
shall require the Authorized User to submit an amendment to authorized
use
based upon the following criteria:
1.
Radionuclide(s)
for
which the Authorized User is not currently authorized.
2.
Increase
in excess of
ten times existing possession limits for authorized radionuclides.
3.
Chemical
form
presenting significant increase in toxicity.
4.
Radioiodination
at any
level or any radioiodinated compound at an activity level of five
millicuries
(185 megabecquerels) or greater.
5.
Changes
in use
locations.
6.
Use
of
radionuclides(s) in animals.
G.
The Committee
shall require the Authorized User to request, by memorandum, minor
changes in
authorized use, such as increases of less than ten times existing
possession
limits for authorized radionuclides.
H.
The Committee
shall reevaluate all Authorized Users once every three years.
I.
The Committee
shall require the Radiation Safety Officer to summarize at each meeting
any
safety infractions that were identified during the period since the
last
meeting. If in the Committee’s opinion the Authorized User has not
instigated
adequate corrective action, the Committee will prepare a time frame for
correction and forward its recommendations via memorandum to the
Authorized
User. If during subsequent inspections it appears the Authorized
User
has still
not addressed the problem, the Committee will require the Authorized
User to
appear before the full Committee to discuss the situation.
J.
The Committee
reserves the right to suspend or revoke an Authorization if the use is
in
flagrant disregard for rules specified in the Radiation Safety Manual
or for
conditions specified in the Authorization.
K.
The Committee
shall require the Radiation Safety Officer to conduct a radiation
safety
orientation course. This course, and laboratory-specific instructions
provided
by each authorized user, shall be given to all individuals working with
radioactive material at the University of Oregon.
The Radiation
Safety Manual shall be provided to each Authorized User and be
available
for all personnel working with ionizing radiation.
L.
Annually,
the Committee shall audit or shall request an outside audit of the
radiation
safety program at the University to review conformance to specified
rules and
to develop recommendations for improving the program.
Contact:
Don Elting, Radiation Safety Officer
Telephone: (541) 346-2864
E-Mail:
delting@uoregon.edu
