Radiation Protection Program
Frequently Asked Questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ's)
- Authorizations
- Dosimetry (Radiation Badges)
- Radioactive Receipts / Shipments
- Survey Instruments
- Surveys
- Radioactive Waste
- Training
- X-ray / Lasers
Q: Where can I get an application for a Radioactive Materials Use Authorization?
Q: Where can I get an application for a Radioactive Materials in Vertebrate Animal Use?
A: Here. Forms can also be picked up at our Safety Annex, Room 510 Old Genetics between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm Tuesday and Thursday. As of October 1st, 2008 the annex will be open Tuesday and Friday from 12:00 pm- 2:00 pm
Q: How long will it take to process the application?
A: About 30 days, about 3 - 5 days for amendments, about 2 weeks for animal forms.
Q: How do I make changes in my authorization (e.g., adding an isotope, room, worker)?
A: Complete the following forms (adding isotope / worker are on-line; room is PDF)
- to add isotope
- to add or delete worker
- to change room
- To delete a room you must also attach a final survey and send to Radiation Safety (see Surveys section).
Q: How do I get a Radiation Badge (Dosimeter, TLD, etc.)?
A: Complete form Then print the form, sign it and FAX (2-6767) or send to the Enviroment Health and Safety at the address on the form. (30 East Campus Mall)
If you lose your dosimeter or ring, report it. There is a lost badge form you can complete to report it.You will be charged $38 or $18, respectively, but will receive a new dosimeter.
Radioactive Receipts / Shipments
A: UW Radiation Safety Office
30 East Campus Mall
Madison, WI 53715
Attn: (your last name)
Q: Who do I call to find out if a shipment has come in?
A: Call CORD, 2-6511
Q: What do I need to do to transfer radioactive materials to someone within UW?
A: Ensure that the Authorized User / PI is authorized to use the radionuclide. Call CORD for cross campus transfers. Complete a Waste Disposal Form, Block # 6. This will ensure that the isotope inventory for both authorizations will be complete and accurate.
Q: How do I ship radioactive materials to someone outside the UW?
A: Call Abdul, 2-9748 (abenzikri@fpm.wisc.edu) and describe what radionuclide(s) you wish to ship, the amount of radioactivity, the physical form and where it will be shipped. We need to ensure that we have a copy of the recipient's radioactive materials license and to ensure compliance with all U.S. DOT and/or IAEA shipping regulations.
Q: How do I determine what survey instrument to buy?
A: If you are working with a pure beta emitter other than 3H, a pancake G-M detector will be more efficient than an end window G-M detector to measure the radiation from the beta emitter. Please visit meters.
If you are working with 3H, a liquid scintillation counter (LSC) must be used to determine contamination levels in the laboratory.
If you are working with a beta/gamma emitter, you may use a pancake G-M detector to measure the beta component or a sodium iodide detector to measure the gamma component. For low energy gamma or x-rays, a thin crystal sodium iodide detector is preferable. Go to our meter site for sodium iodide (LEG) meters.
For more information contact Radiation Safety, at either 262-9178 or 262-3278.
Q: Where can I buy survey instruments?
A: The web site above contains a list of vendors, product numbers, and approximate prices for survey meters. Call for laboratory counters. If you have specialized survey or counting needs, please contact Radiation Safety (262-9178).
Q: How often do I have to survey the work area?
A: You should use a meter to survey your work area after each use of radioactivity, but you are required to document a room survey at least once per month (about 30 days apart) of all rooms where radioactivity is used or stored. If you do not have radioactive material or if it is all "in storage" call Safety and we will zero your limits, allowing you to skip the survey or only do semiannual surveys. You should also survey "other areas" of the laboratory periodically to ensure radioactive materials have not migrated to the "clean" areas.
Q: How do I delete or "decommission" a room?
A: A decommissioning survey must be performed by an Authorized User / PI before any laboratory room that used/stored radioactive materials will be remodeled, repainted, demolished or will cease to be used as a radiation-use room. Both fixed (i.e., survey meter) and removable (i.e., wipe test) contamination levels must be determined by the decommissioning survey. The removable contamination levels are meter - 650 cpm: wipe - 770 cpm (3H, 14C, 35S) or 230 cpm for all others. Send the final survey results to the Radiation Safety Office.
As part of the decommissioning process for a laboratory room, all radioactive materials must transferred or disposed and the Radiation Safety Office must be notified of its disposition. All radioactive wastes must also be removed from the room. If radioactive materials will be sent off campus, see Radioactive Receipts / Shipments section.
Q: How do I package radioactive waste?
A: Radioactive waste is categorized into 4 groups: solid, aqueous liquid, organic liquid and LSC Vials. There are different packaging requirements for each group. One important item common to all four groups is the waste must be in a box and labeled. Every package of radioactive waste must have a completed waste label with the following information: name of Authorized User (PI), Radioisotope(s), the activity in mCi or µCi and the type of waste in the box.
A graphic of ways to package waste is found here. If you have any questions regarding wastes, please contact Jeff Orwin, 2-3278.
Q: How do I get my radioactive waste removed?
A: The UW has about 30 pickup locations at building throughout campus. Radioactive waste is collected on Monday / Wednesday afternoons, animals are collected on Wednesday / Friday morning. Place your waste in the designated area on the pickup day (note, on really cold winter days, if your pickup location is out-of-doors, don't place your liquid radioactive waste out before noon on the pickup day). Complete a Radioactive Waste Disposal Form and attach one copy to one of your containers. Waste not properly packaged will not be collected.
Schedule a pickup of your waste by completing the HPA Online web form.
Q: Where do I get radioactive waste forms / tags / labels?
A: Forms can be picked up at Room 520 Old Genetics between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm Tuesday and Thursday. They can also be sent to you via campus mail, call x5-5000.
Q: How do I determine radioactivity in the liquid waste?
A: The best method to determine the activity in your liquid wastes is to count a sample of the liquid waste in a Liquid Scintillation Counter (LSC). Convert the counts per minute (cpm) to disintegrations per minute (dpm) by dividing the efficiency factor for the radionuclide. To convert the dpm to µCi divide the disintegrations per minute by 2.22 × 106 dpm/µCi.
Another method is to assume all radioactive materials used in the experiment is in the liquid waste. As you add the liquid to the container, keep track of the amount and total the quantities before disposal (see above -- How do I package radioactive waste?).
Q: How do I determine the radioactivity in the dry waste?
A: Unfortunately, there is no convenient way to determine radioactivity in the dry waste. The best way is to keep track of the radioactivity in your experiments. If you used the best method to determine radioactivity in the liquid waste, the remainder will be in the dry waste.
Q: I generate animal carcasses, what do I do with the bedding?
A: If the bedding is contaminated with radioactive materials, it needs to be packaged and disposed of in the same manner as the animal carcasses. You must determine whether the bedding is contaminated or not contaminated. This can be done with a survey instrument if the radioisotope has a high energy beta or by knowing the excretion rate of the chemical compound and how long it has been since the injection. If any infectious or pathogenic agent is used in the animal, the agent must be inactivated before disposal to the Radiation Safety Office.
Q: When is the Radiation Safety Class given?
A: The radiation Safety Class is given weekly at Union South. Schedule.
Q: Where can I pick up the Radiation Safety book?
A: The "Radiation Safety for Radiation Workers" training manual is located here.
Q: What about X-ray machines, analytical devices (e.g., x-ray diffraction, electron microscope) or lasers?
A: Call Radiation Safety, 262-9748, to receive an x-ray survey, training, check on your x-ray / laser system and insure the state licensing paperwork is completed and forwarded.
Feedback, questions or accessibility issues: ajennings@fpm.wisc.edu
Copyright © 2002 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.