Health, Safety & Environment Committee

 

Subject:          ANNUAL REPORT TO COUNCIL OF THE RADIATION PROTECTION  OFFICER for the year ending 31st Dec 2008

 

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 K Brooke-Wavell (Human Sciences)

            Dr D H Ross (Materials)

            Prof P Warwick (Chemistry)

            Prof A D Wheatley (Civil Engineering)

Mr R I Temple (Manufacturing 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 2008 and received reports from the Radiation Protection Officer and from each departmental Radiation Protection Supervisor.

 

Mr John Scott from Leicester University has been retained as the University Radiation Protection Advisor for a further year.

 

THE USE OF RADIOACTIVITY AT LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY

 

There were 62 registered workers working with ionising radiation during 2008, 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. All registered workers are issued with a radiation sensitive film badge which will register any radiation exposure received. This monitoring is for the benefit of the workers and the University and it is important that workers wear their badges when ever work with ionising radiation is being carried out.  

Dose records from the film badges 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 2008.

 

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,  an X-ray generating instrument for taking bone density measurements.

 

LEGISLATIVE MATTERS:

 

Transfrontier Shipment of Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Regulations 2008 (No. 3087)

 

This legislation is primarily for control of nuclear waste and will not affect the University.

 

Commission Regulation (EURATOM) No. 302/2005

 

The EURATOM Safeguards legislation requires accountancy reporting for all organisations holding civil nuclear materials. This was designed primarily for those handling or processing large quantities of nuclear material however this requirement has now been extended to include those holding small quantities. The Departments of Chemistry and Physics both have amounts of material which are reportable. To help reduce the administrative burden on small users the Commission have the power to issue a derogation which permits a much simpler form of accountancy. An application for a derogation has been submitted to the European Commission on the University’s behalf , this should be granted within the next two months.

 

AUTHORISATION AND REGISTRATIONS:

 

There has been no change to the Authorisation and Registrations during the current year.

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION:

 

There have been no requests for information regarding ionising radiation during 2007.

 

REGULATORY VISITS:

 

There have been no Regulatory visits during 2008.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS:

 

Waste disposal

 

The established routes for the disposal of radioactive waste have proved satisfactory during 2008 and will continue to be used. There is a requirement by the Environment Agency for a regular review of radioactive waste disposal to ensure full compliance with BPM  ( Best Practical Means of disposal). The URPO has carried out a full review and is satisfied that the current arrangements for disposal are still the most appropriate.

The annual return to the Environment Agency is attached and shows that the level of waste disposed of through all routes is falling each year.

 

 

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 .The URPO has attended three 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 disposal of all of the major sealed radioactive sources has meant the University is no longer considered by the police to be a high risk establishment . The police counter terrorist advisor will no longer visit and will only contact us should there be a specific identified risk.

 

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

 

RADIATION LABORATORIES

 

The URPO has written to Professor Warwick , Head of the Department of Chemistry expressing concerns regarding the poor quality and state of some of the benching in the radiation laboratories in the Graham Oldham Building. These benches are the original wooden fittings dating from when the building was constructed and are not to the current standard required for radiation work.

The Environment Agency Inspector has not insisted on any remediation to date but it would be prudent to consider replacing them before enforcement by the Environment Agency.

The RPA flagged this as a possible problem in 2003.

 

NEW WORK:

 

Rolls Royce Fuel Cell systems Ltd, a tenant on the Holywell Park site have purchased a X-Tek revolution machine to enable the x-ray analysis of components. The company employ their  own RPA who has managed the installation, procedures and training for the instrument. The URPO has been kept fully informed and provided with all the relevant documentation. The URPO carried out an audit on the instrument on behalf of the University and is satisfied that all safety issues have been addressed.

 

The Advanced Materials Research Group, Wolfson School have placed an order for a similar  instrument  to the one owned by Rolls Royce. This should arrive within the next few months. Local rules will be needed for the use of this instrument, the URPO will liaise with the Department to establish safe working systems.

 

 

L. Sands  Jan 09

Health Safety and Environment Office

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