Health,
Safety & Environment Committee
Subject: ANNUAL REPORT
TO COUNCIL OF THE RADIATION PROTECTION OFFICER
For the year ending 31st Dec 2007
Origin: Linda Sands
RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION
SUB-COMMITTEE:
Composition of the Committee:
Chairperson: Prof P Warwick
Secretary: Mrs L Sands
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: Mrs C Moore
Estates
representative: Mr N.Elkington
Committee membership:
The
committee met in January 2007 and received reports from the Radiation
Protection Officer and from each departmental Radiation Protection Supervisor.
THE USE OF RADIOACTIVITY AT
There were 73
registered workers working with ionising radiation during 2007, 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
Dr Curran,
the University appointed Radiation Doctor left in September 2007and has been replaced by Dr I. Ashton. Dose records for all radiation workers
continue to be kept by the Approved Dosimetry Service at
The
majority of the work undertaken with unsealed (open) radioactive materials
continues to be in Environmental Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry. 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. Radiation Generators and equipment generating adventitious X-rays
are to be found in Chemistry, Physics, IPTME, Mechanical Engineering,
Manufacturing and Electronic and Electrical Engineering. The Department of
Human Sciences are using a DXA, X-ray generating instrument for taking bone
density measurements.
The
University “Local Rules for the Protection of Persons Exposed to Ionising
Radiations” have been revised to include the new area of work involving
bone density measurements. The revisions have been submitted to the University
Council as required and have been endorsed.
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS:
The High Activity Sealed Radioactive
Sources and Orphan Sources Regulations
SI 2005 No. 2686 (HASS) 1st Jan 2008
The University has no sealed sources that need to be considered under
this legislation.
The
Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment
Regulations 2007(CDG2007)
This legislation replaces the Radioactive Material ( Road Transport) (
The basic philosophies behind the Regulations are
·
Package design should be such that the risk of any
radioactive contamination or external radiation hazard should be kept to a
minimum.
·
That all shipments should be traceable back to the
sender
·
That good quality assurance should produce public
reassurance.
The current transport arrangements the University has in place are suitable
to satisfy the new Regulations
AUTHORISATION
AND REGISTRATIONS:
The University no longer has any requirements to hold or use a mobile radioactive
source. The RP committee decided at its January meeting that the registration
for this type of source could be revoked as it was no longer required. Had the
registration been retained it would have fallen under the HASS Regulations and
involved a considerable financial outlay each year in subsistence charges.
The revocation notice was received in March 2007.
With the disposal during 2006 of the high activity sources held on campus
there was a need to have these removed from the Closed Source Registration. A
request was submitted to The Environment Agency for their removal from the
current registration. The EA were unable
to do this and required an application for a new registration. This was granted
in May 2007 and the previous registration cancelled. The new “Fixed
Condition Registration” limits the level of radioactivity to be held by Isotope but not the
number of sources, this gives the University more flexibility. There is no
annual subsistence charge for this type
of registration.
FREEDOM
OF INFORMATION:
There have
been no requests for information regarding ionising radiation during 2007.
REGULATORY
VISITS:
There have
been no Regulatory visits during 2007.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS:
Radioactive waste disposal
The
established routes for the disposal of radioactive waste have proved
satisfactory during 2007 and will continue to be used. There are increased
costs associated with the disposal of radioactive organic waste and thought
should be given at the project stage to the amount of waste which will be
produced.
Training
In house
training sessions have been held through the year for new workers handling open
and closed radioactive material and X-ray generating equipment. Bought in
training was provided for all staff involved with the use of the DXA bone
densitometer. This training was required to enable them to use the equipment
safely and to satisfy the training requirements under the Ionising Radiations
(Medical Exposure)( Amendment) 2006 Regulations. These regulations are for the
protection of persons receiving radiation exposures for medical reasons.
The URPO
has attended training days at professional bodies on current radiation issues.
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.
The officer wished to remind the University that the country is still on
a high alert regarding the threat from terrorism and that we should not become
complacent.
FINANCE:
The budgetary requirements for Radiation Protection are
·
Fees for the services of a Radiation Protection
Advisor
·
Payment of licences and authorisations under the
Radioactive Substances Act
·
Film and TLD dosimetry service provided by Queen
Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
·
Instrument calibration at the HPA
·
Disposal of radioactive waste
·
Training requirements
NEW
WORK:
The Department of Human sciences have had their DXA bone densitometer
installed and several research projects are currently being undertaken using
this instrument. The Health and Safety Inspectorate have been informed of this
change to the University working practice as required. Mr Alan Timmins, an
expert medical Radiation Protection Advisor has been retained to advise and
train in all aspects of this work. He has compiled suitable working rules for
the department to satisfy legal requirements and the URPO has made amendments
to the University Local Rules to include aspects of this new work.
All studies currently being undertaken using the DXA have been submitted
to the Ethical Advisory Committee for approval.
Author - Linda.Sands
Date - January 2008
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