Health, Safety & Environment Committee

 

Subject:    ANNUAL REPORT TO COUNCIL OF THE RADIATION PROTECTION OFFICER For the year ending 31st Dec 2006

 

Origin:      Linda Sands

 

 

RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION SUB-COMMITTEE:

 

Composition of the Committee:

 

Chairperson:                                                              Prof P Warwick

Secretary:                                                                  Mr M Harris

University Radiation Protection Officer:                      Mrs L Sands

 

Departmental Radiation Protection Supervisors (RPSs)

 

            Dr D Kerr (Mechanical Engineering)

            Dr S S Mastana (Human Sciences)

            Dr D H Ross (IPTME)

            Prof P Warwick (Chemistry)

            Prof A D Wheatley (Civil Engineering)

Mr R I Temple (Manufacturing Engineering)

            Dr G Shama (Chemical Engineering)

            Mr B Dennis/Dr K U Neumann (Physics)

Prof H Rendell (Geography)

Dr Marko Istenic (Electronic and Electrical Engineering)

Dr M R J Elsegood  (Chemistry)

 

University Safety Officer:                                Mr T Fleming

Appointed Doctor:                                           Dr F Curran

Estates representative:                                   Mr D Miller

 

Committee membership:

 

The committee met in January 2006 and received reports from the Radiation Protection Officer and from each departmental Radiation Protection Supervisor.

 

Dr Marko Istenic has taken on the RPS duties for Electrical & Electronic Engineering and Mr Norman Elkington is to replace Mr D. Miller as the Estates representative on the Committee. The Chairman welcomed the new members joining the Committee.

 

THE USE OF RADIOACTIVITY AT LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY

 

There were 55 registered workers working with ionising radiation during 2006, this number varies during the year. The number is made up of academics, technical staff, postgraduate research workers and undergraduate project workers; some of whom carry out work at establishments in Europe.

Two of these workers are designated as classified workers under IRR99 to enable them to carry out work at other establishments.

The provision of occupational health services for radiation workers has been undertaken by the University Occupational Health Advisor and Dr Curran, the University appointed Radiation Doctor. Dose records for all radiation workers continue to be kept by the Approved Dosimetry Service at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. No worker has received a recorded radiation dose while working at Loughborough University during 2006.

Low doses were recorded for some workers who visit the Cyclotron facility at Grenoble during the year. Their radiation exposure is monitored by the host establishment with records being sent to Loughborough after the visit. The exposures received are consistent with the type of work being undertaken.

 

The majority of the work undertaken with unsealed (open) radioactive materials continues to be in Environmental Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry and the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management. The University's annual releases of radioactive materials from this work have been reported to the Environment Agency as required.

 

Sealed (closed) radioactive sources are used in Chemistry, Physics, Civil Engineering and Geography. X-ray generators are used in Chemistry, Physics, IPTME, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing and Electronic and Electrical Engineering.

 

LEGISLATIVE MATTERS:

 

The High Activity Sealed Radioactive Sources and Orphan Sources Regulations

 SI 2005 No. 2686 (HASS) 1st Jan 2008

 

As outlined in last years report a review has been carried out in the two areas, Chemistry and Geography, where the HASS regulations may have been applicable.

Chemistry has disposed of its high activity source and is therefore no longer affected by the legislation.

Geography has four high activity sources but  their activities are under the action levels set by the legislation.

There is no action needed to satisfy the HASS regulations.

Changes to our closed source registration will be required now that the large source, based in Chemistry has been disposed. This will remove it from the HASS register and will be done during 2007.

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000

 

There have been no requests for information regarding ionising radiation during 2006.

 

REGULATORY VISITS:

 

There have been no Regulatory visits during 2006.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS:

 

Radioactive waste disposal

The established routes for the disposal of radioactive waste have proved satisfactory during 2006 and will continue to be used.

 

Training

In house training sessions have been held through the year for new workers handling open and closed radioactive material. The library of reference materials and training videos are available via the office of the University Radiological Protection Officer and can be used by any member of staff.

 

Security

The University has had two visits during the year by the Counter Terrorist Police Advisor, who gives security guidance on sensitive issues including ionising radiation.

A site security plan for the campus has been devised by the Security Manager and includes security arrangements for areas where ionising radiation is used.

 

Closed Sources

The large gamma irradiator used by the Department of Chemistry was removed from the campus in July 2006 and sent for disposal. This was a complex operation involving a German recycling company, University security staff, the RPO and departmental staff. The removal required considerable planning and was carried out without any problems.

This instrument was a big liability for the campus and its removal has reduced security concerns and fire safety issues.

Further redundant sources have been disposed of under the Government amnesty and 50% of the disposal costs recovered. This has removed from campus all of the high risk sources and has removed a considerable historical liability.

All departments requiring new closed sources must understand that there will be considerable disposal costs for this radioactive material and that the department will be responsible for this cost.

 

NEW WORK:

 

A successful bid for funding has enabled the Department of Human sciences to purchase a bone densitometer. This will enable the Department to take x-rays of participants involved in research projects on campus, instead of sending them to one of the local hospitals for the measurements to be taken.

This is a completely new area of work involving the use of ionising radiation at Loughborough University and it will be necessary to inform the Heath and Safety Executive of this change before work commences.

It will also be necessary to take advice from a Radiation Protection Advisor suitably qualified in this field to make sure that all the legal requirements are met under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 and also the Ionising Radiations Regulations Medical Exposures 2000.

A suitable location has been found for the instrument in Human Sciences; Local Rules and working practices are currently being formulated.

Training must be undertaken by all users of this instrument and a suitable training programme is being sourced externally.

There will be ethical issues to be considered for the research projects using the densitometer as all exposures to human participants must be justified. All projects must have the approval of the Ethics Committee before they proceed to satisfy the Justification requirements in the IRMER regulations.

It is expected that the densitometer will be in use in 2007.

 

Author – Linda Sands, Health Safety and Environment Office

Date – January 2007

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