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
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
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
Low doses
were recorded for some workers who visit the Cyclotron facility at
The
majority of the work undertaken with unsealed (open) radioactive materials
continues to be in Environmental Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry and the
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
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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