University of Liverpool Radiation Risk Assessment.

For Laboratories Using Closed Sources

(Form RP-RA02).

1. Laboratory and Personnel Details.

Department
Lab Reference and Location
Lab Supervisor
DRPS
Assessor (if not the Lab Supervisor)
Commencement Date for New Work

2. Brief Description of Work within the Lab.

3. Radioactive Sources to be Used.

Isotope / Physical Form

4. General Hazards (common to ALL the radioactive sources listed in 3)

Description of Hazard
(External and Internal) / Groups at Risk* / Description of Control Measures
Current / Additional Required

* See Explanatory Notes

5. Specific Hazards (associated with only ONE of the radioactive sources listed in 3)

Isotope / Physical Form
Description of Hazard
(External and Internal) / Groups at Risk* / Description of Control Measures
Current / Additional Required

* See Explanatory Notes

6. Summary Questionnaire.

No. / Question / Y/N/NA / Comment or Action
1 / Has the advice of the Radiation Protection Office been obtained?
2 / Have any recommendations been implemented?
3 / Have all the necessary Radiation Protection Office documents been completed and submitted?
4 / Has all necessary record keeping e.g. Location Log been established?
5 / Have all the additional control measures identified in sections 4 and 5 been implemented?
6 / Is significant increase in staff, student and/or general public dose (internal or external) expected?
7 / Are extra personal dosimeters required?
8 / Is any additional external dose monitoring required?
9 / Has routine been established for regular Leak Testing (at least every 24 months)?
10 / Has routine been established for regular check of source location?
11 / Have local rules been written and made available to all relevant persons?
12 / Have all current workers read the local rules and signed to verify their understanding?
13 / Has the lab been registered as a radiation working area?
14 / Have all necessary supervised/controlled areas within the lab been clearly demarcated?
15 / Have all training requirements been implemented?
16 / Are training records maintained?
17 / Has all necessary equipment quality control, servicing and maintenance been arranged?
18 / Have all reasonable measures been taken to ensure radioactive sources are stored securely?

7. Other Comments

8. Signatures

Assessors Signature / Assessment Date / DRPS Signature

9. Review

Reviewers Signature / Review Date / DRPS Signature

Explanatory Notes.

  1. Risk assessment can be considered to be a 5 step process :

-Identify potential hazards

-Decide who might be harmed and how

-Evaluate the risks and decide whether current precautions are adequate or if more should be done

-Record your findings (i.e. on the form)

-Review the assessment periodically and revise it if necessary.

  1. It is recommended that the risk assessor should be the laboratory supervisor, who will be more familiar with the work conducted in the lab than anyone else.
  1. In deciding who might be harmed it is not necessary to list individuals by name, but consideration should be given to groups of people who may be affected. Particular attention should be paid to pregnant persons, inexperienced staff or students, lone workers and persons with disabilities. To streamline the filling out of sections 4 and 5 of the form, the following codes can be used to indicate various groups :

1 = Registered radiation workers

2 = Other non-radiation workers who may share the lab

3 = Occupants of adjacent rooms or corridors

4 = Cleaners

5 = Maintenance staff

6 = Contractors

7 = Visitors to the lab

8 = Undergraduate students

9 = Members of the general public

10 = Other (specify)

  1. Section 4 covers general hazards common to all radioactive sources listed in section 3. Section 5 of the form deals with hazards specific to each individual radioactive source listed in section 3. A separate copy of section 5 should be completed for each individual radioactive source listed in section 3.

Explanatory Notes (continued).

  1. Question 3 of section 6 refers to the Radiation Protection Office forms RP6 (for new or modified work).
  1. Question 17 of section 6 refers to any equipment used in connection with work using closed sources e.g. scintillation counters.
  1. The DRPS should sign the form to verify that s/he is satisfied with findings and outcomes of the assessment.
  1. The total number of sheets used for the assessment should be indicated in the box provided on the top right-hand corner of the first page.
  1. The assessment should be reviewed periodically (e.g. 3 – 5 yearly), and revised if significant changes in work practices have occurred. If no revision is required only section 9 of the form needs to be augmented. Any new work must be subject to an assessment prior to the work commencing (see Regulation 7 of IRR99 plus Guidance Notes).
  1. A copy of the whole assessment must be submitted to the Radiation Protection Office and the DRPS. Copies of all assessments must be retained until replaced by a new or revised assessment. After each review, if no revision is considered necessary then only copies of sections 1 and 9 should be submitted to the Radiation Protection Office and DRPS.

Filename Version Author Date Issued Review Date

RP-RA02.DOC 1 PRC 9/5/2001 10/5/2004