Events in the world since September 2001 have lead to heightened concerns about safety and security both nationally and locally. Although it is important that we maintain our daily routine, there is a need to emphasize some basic safety procedures. Many of these are common sense habits that will go a long way in helping you, your co-workers, colleagues and students feel safe at all times.

Be prepared to respond to emergencies by knowing the location of the two nearest exits from your work area. Keep aisles, hallways and doorways clear of clutter. Keep fire doors closed at all times. If you hear the fire alarm, immediately stop what you are doing, grab your personal belongings, if safely possible, and exit the building. Gather outdoors in a pre-determined area where you can be accounted for. Await the "All Clear" signal from the University Police or other building official before returning to your classroom or work area.

Know your vendors and suppliers, and inspect all incoming equipment, packages, and supplies upon arrival. Notify the supplier or carrier of any damages and IMMEDIATELY notify the University Police of any suspicious materials --- never open or intentionally move a suspicious article or package.

Please remember that those of us working with hazardous materials --- e.g., radioactive, chemical, biological or controlled substances --- have special responsibility for their safe acquisition, use, storage, transfer and disposal. This includes keeping unoccupied laboratories locked, and securing higher hazard materials inside a locked refrigerator, freezer or other storage container when not in use. Maintain close control over who has access to these materials.

If we all work together and use common sense, we can continue to feel safe and secure. Additional information and resource links about emergency preparedness and response are available on the web at the EHS & RM website: www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/EMERGENCY/

On August 11, 2003 Wisconsin became an "Agreement" state. The Wisconsin Division of Radiation Protection now has regulatory control over byproduct, accelerator produced and naturally occurring radioactive materials That division will now license, control and inspect our campus.

UWM will continue to maintain an NRC license for field activities outside of Wisconsin's jurisdiction. We are waiting to receive final approval of our "broad scope" license that has been transferred to the state. Once that approval is received, I will finalize revisions of the "Guide to Safe Use of Radionuclides at UWM" and "Radiation Safety for Laboratory Technicians" program documents to reflect the regulatory changes. This change will have the greatest effect on labs using accelerator-produced materials. Inspectors will now review the use, survey and inventory records of those materials (Be-7, Co-57, etc) to ensure compliance.

If you are interested in reviewing a copy of the new HSS 157, or have questions about this change, please contact me at the Radiation Safety Program office.

Your Best Defense Against Exposures and Contamination:

A researcher begins a radioactive experiment by aliquoting 50 uCi of ³²P from a stock vial into an eppendorf tube. She has on a pair of gloves, a lab coat, safety glasses, a badge and is working behind plexiglass shielding over absorbent material. She works for three hours, finishes her procedure, disposes of her wastes properly, and then surveys herself with a Geiger counter before she goes home.

Sounds like she did everything correctly. However experiences here and at other institutions have shown that even while practicing good work habits as outlined above, contamination or skin exposure incidents can occur. A volume as small of 10 ul of liquid stock solution contaminating a single floor tile can be rapidly spread by foot traffic and contaminate laboratories and adjacent areas. Yet the actual act of "spilling" such material can be virtually invisible to the naked eye. Contaminated gloves can have an existing pinhole or develop a tear. Lab coat sleeves can brush up against contaminated items. A droplet containing uCi's of radioactivity can inadvertently end up on the user causing an unnecessary skin exposure.

So, what can radioactive materials users do to increase your level of safety and prevent an exposure or contamination incident?

• Wear two pairs of gloves (in addition to a well-fitting lab coat and safety glasses) when handling radioactive materials.
• Turn on your Geiger counter (or other appropriate monitoring equipment) before beginning any procedure utilizing radioactive material. Make sure it is in working condition by checking the background and check-source readings. Have it at your side for the duration of your procedure.
• Check your gloves and sleeves for contamination frequently throughout your procedure. This is especially important in the early stages of experiments when concentrated stock solutions are handled. Checking after each step of the procedure or every 10 to 15 minutes is good practice. Contaminated gloves should be removed carefully and discarded as radioactive waste as soon as they are found to be contaminated. After removing contaminated gloves, survey inner gloves and skin for contamination before putting on fresh gloves.
• ALWAYS perform a post-procedural contamination survey using a Geiger counter or other appropriate survey instrument. When using 3H, wipe tests must be used to perform these checks. Contamination surveys are your primary means of defense. Remember to always check: yourself, including your lab coat clothing; your un-gloved hands and your shoes (soles and tops); the immediate work areas where material was used; and all floor areas near where material was handled or carried.

Notify Radiation Safety (x4275) immediately for all cases of radioactive contamination of the skin or personal clothing as well as contamination identified on the floors or other items not expected to become contaminated during routine use of radioactive materials. After hours, use the emergency numbers posted in the labs or contact the University Police at 9-911 and inform then that you need assistance with a radioactive material incident.

Radiation Safety technician Jeff Marshall has been called to active duty with the US Army. All requests for radiation safety services should now be made directly to Sharron Daly at 229-4275, email: sdaly@uwm.edu.

In order to minimize the potential risks associated with radiation exposure strict dose limits have been established. Even though there are dose limits and administrative control levels that are safe, we strive to keep our radiation dose well below these limits. The ALARA program and associated protective measures further reduce risks to workers by keeping radiation exposure doses well below the established limits.

ALARA stands for As Low As Reasonably Achievable. The ALARA concept is an integral part of all activities that involve the use of radiation or radioactive materials. This concept includes reducing both internal and external exposure to ionizing radiation.

Lets take a closer look - What is "reasonable? The ALARA concept itself grows out of the assumption that any radiation exposure carries with it some risk. Since work that entails radiation exposure is sometimes part of some beneficial endeavor, the ALARA effort is related to balancing the assumed risks of radiation exposure against the benefit of performing the work. So "reasonable" in this context means that the risk from receiving the exposure is "worth" the net benefit of the activity. In other words, ALARA means preventing unnecessary exposure as well as any over-exposures.

The main goal of the ALARA program is to reduce both the external and internal radiation doses to a level that is "as low as reasonably achievable". The three basic protective measures to reduce external exposure are: minimizing the time you are exposed; maximizing the distance you are from a source of radiation; and using shielding to prevent exposure whenever possible. Internal exposure risks are reduced by prohibiting eating and drinking in areas in which radioactive materials are used. Additionally the use of protective equipment (goggles, face shields) to protect the mucus membranes and gloves to protect the skin will limit the risk of internal exposure.

The implementation of the ALARA concept is the responsibility of all users of radioactive material. The success of the ALARA program depends on each worker's attitude and actions. ALARA should be a routine part of your work with radioactive materials.

As I have mentioned before, those of us at Environmental Health and Safety try hard to keep current and well-informed of the often complicated rules involved with the packaging and transport of radioactive materials and hazardous materials. Remember, any time radioactive materials are transported on or across a public street, or highway, we are required to comply with the applicable requirements of the Department of Transportation (49 CFR 170-189) for shipment. That means preparing shipping papers, using DOT-approved packaging, appropriate labeling of the package and vehicle if required, and a host of other typical radioactive material transportation actions.

Radiation Safety staff will package any material for off-campus transport or shipment following all applicable regulations. We have three different reusable DOT certified containers available for use when required and maintain a small inventory of other DOT-approved packaging.

If you will be involved in the transportation or shipment of radioactive materials, the DOT requires initial training, as well as refresher training every three years. Radiation Safety has these training materials available; if you need training or have questions about the transportation of radioactive materials, please contact Sharron Daly, UWM RSO at 229-4275, email: sdaly@uwm.edu

Off-campus shipment of radioactive waste is highly regulated and very costly. It is important that all disposable items that are contaminated with radioisotopes are collected in a well-labeled, approved waste container to ensure proper handling and disposal. All wastes ready for pick-up and disposal must be labeled with the isotope, activity and date. Additionally liquid wastes need to be labeled with the chemical components.

There is a lot that each individual radioisotope user can do to help the University control the amount of radioactive waste that needs to be shipped off campus. For example, any item that has clearly not come in contact with radioactive material should not be placed in the radioactive waste container ... that pair of gloves you had on while preparing the non-radioactive portion of your procedure; the paper towel you used when you washed your hands; outer wrappers from disposable items. All of the above-mentioned items are examples of materials that often find their way into radioactive waste containers and become part of the campus radioactive waste stream.

Each unnecessary item in the waste container has to be handled and stored by the Radiation Safety Program. If it was placed in a container with radioisotopes with half lives of greater than 120 days it will need to be shipped off-campus to one of a limited number of radioactive waste disposal facilities at significant cost to the University.

Let common sense be a guide when disposing of lab materials. If there is any question whether an item is contaminated, please put it in the radioactive waste container. But, if an item is clearly not contaminated please take the time to place it in the appropriate regular trash container.