The University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to use by-product radionuclides (license nos. 48-09944-01/03) and by the State of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services to use accelerator produced radionuclides, naturally occurring radionuclides, and machine produced radiation. The NRC and HFS require that the use of radiation and radionuclides be strictly controlled to ensure that both the people using the materials and members of the general population receive as little radiation exposure as possible. The NRC specifes the organization of the radiation safety program for each institution under their jurisdiction. At UWM, the program is organized as follows:

Figure 1. Organization of Radiation Safety Program at UWM

The Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is ultimately responsible for the effective operations of the campus Radiation Safety Program.

The Assistant Chancellor of Administrative Affairs serves as the certifying official for the University's Nuclear Regulatory Commission license activities and will ensure that sufficient resources are available to support the campus Radiation Safety Program.

The campus Radiation Safety Program is part of the Department of University Safety & Assurances (US&A) within the Division of Finance and Administrative Affairs.

The Director of (US&A) has been delegated administrative responsibility for the campus Radiation Safety Program.

The Radiation Safety Program is the combined personnel, offices, laboratories, and administrative responsibilities which make up the radiation protection and control service at UW - Milwaukee. The Radiation Safety Program ensures that UWM faculty, staff and students comply with all federal, state and University radiation safety regulations. The Radiation Safety Program (also referred to as Radiation Safety) has it’s main office in Lapham Hall, Room 217. The Radiation Safety Laboratory is located in Lapham Hall, Room 218. All radioactive materials orders are checked in and dispensed from 218 Lapham Hall.

The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) manages the campus Radiation Safety Program. The RSO remains abreast of current Federal and State regulations concerning the use of radioactive materials and ensures that NRC license conditions are met by authorized users of radioactive materials, radiation workers, and the radiation safety staff. The RSO is responsible for implementing the tasks and procedures associated with the University's Radiation Safety Program, including monitoring, surveying, testing, records maintenance, reporting and enforcement as mandated by the NRC. The RSO is available to consult with researchers who are preparing proposals, who are currently engaged in research utilizing radionuclides, and those who utilize radioactive materials in laboratory courses.

The Assistant Radiation Safety Officer remains informed of all regulations pertaining to radiation safety and the University's use of radioactive materials. The Assistant RSO will assume the duties of the Radiation Safety Officer during times that the RSO is unavailable.

Radiation Safety Staff work with the RSO and the Assistant RSO to ensure that the use of radionuclides in campus laboratories and classrooms complies with the conditions of the University's NRC license and regulations imposed by the State of Wisconsin. Radiation Safety Staff perform day to day tasks associated with the University's Radiation Safety Program, including monitoring, surveying, testing and waste management.

Authorized Users are faculty members or accredited scientists whose written application for authorization to possess and use radioactive materials has been approved by the RSO. The Authorized User is the foundation of the campus program. Since the Authorized User is most familiar with the details of their research and teaching, it is the User's responsibility to assure that their research program and/or teaching activities comply with NRC license conditions and that their laboratory staff utilize radioactive materials in a safe manner. This is a responsibility that cannot be delegated.

Radiation Workers are individuals who use radioactive materials or machines which produce radiation. These individuals must be trained by and work under the supervision of an Authorized User. Radiation Workers must read the handbook Radiation Safety for Laboratory Workers and take and pass the associated exam. Additional information on training is found in Section 6, Personnel Training.

Laboratory Workers are individuals who work in laboratories where others are using radioactive materials, but who do not handle or work with those materials. All Laboratory Workers must read the handbook Radiation Safety for Laboratory Workers and take and pass the associated exam. Additional information on training is found in Section 6, Personnel Training.