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
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
THE USE OF RADIOACTIVITY AT
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
Dose
records from the film badges continue to be kept by the Approved Dosimetry Service
at
No worker
has received a recorded radiation dose while working 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, 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
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
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
The Advanced Materials Research Group,
L. Sands Jan 09
Health Safety and
Environment Office
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