• Training
• Radiation Monitoring Badges
• General Requirements and Procedures
• Special Requirements for Category-B and C Sources
• Leak Testing for Category-C and D sources

Training

Only people actually using contained sources must complete contained source training. If you plan to work with contained sources, you must complete:

Initial Training: The training is completely online. Go to the Employee Learning Center and log in. Click on Training by Department  > Environmental Health & Safety. On the Environmental Health & Safety tab, click on Radiation Safety and find the listing for Radiation Safety Training for Contained Source Users. 

Refresher Training:  You must complete refresher training every three years. Go to the Employee Learning Center and log in. Click on Training by Department  > Environmental Health & Safety. On the Environmental Health & Safety tab, click on Radiation Safety and find the listing for Refresher - Radiation Safety Training for Contained Source Users. 

 

Radiation Monitoring Badges 

You are required to wear radiation monitoring badges to measure your radiation exposure if you handle contained sources under the following conditions:

Co-60, Cs-137 and Ra-226 (and other energetic beta/gamma emitters)

Used in amounts > 0.1 mCi (100 µCi)

General Procedures

No Eating or Drinking: You are not permitted to eat or drink in an area where contained sources are used or stored.  

Labelling Sources: Contained sources must be labeled with a Caution: Radioactive Material label that lists the radioisotope, the amount of radioactivity, and the date the source was fabricated. If your source is too physically small to allow for this kind of labelling, consult with EHS.

Shielding:  Use lead to shield gamma and x-ray emitters. Since bremsstrahlung is a concern when beta emitters are shielded with high atomic number materials, use a primary shield of low-Z materials such as Plexiglas (for beta emitters only). Store contained sources away from normally occupied areas.  If you are uncertain about whether a source should be shielded or is sufficiently shielded, contact EHS to perform a radiation survey.

Security: Contained sources are typically small in size and easily portable. It is important to make sure your contained sources are well-secured.

1. Contained sources must be locked in a secured storage container or a secured storage area when not in use.
2. Any room in which a contained source is being used must be locked when the room is unattended.

No Source Modification.  Contained sources must be used as designed by the manufacturer and cannot be dismantled, opened , or otherwise modified unless the Radiation Safety Officer and possibly the Radiation Safety Committee have given specific written permission.

5-Year Source Recertification. EHS will assess the condition of Category-B, C, and D sources every five years. The assessment includes a leak test, an interview with the researchers to determine the frequency and method of the use of the source, verification that the source is being used as authorized, and a visual inspection of the source where practicable.

 

Special Requirements for Category-B and C Sources

Category-B and C source users must comply with additional requirements, which have been established to prevent contamination of laboratory facilities and personnel. These requirements do not apply to Category-D sources which are so rigorously designed that damage is extremely unlikely.

Wearing Disposable Gloves. Disposable gloves must be worn whenever directly handling Category-B and C sources and/or source assemblies.

Preoperational Visual Inspection. Whenever practicable, before use, inspect the source to check for damage to the potentially fragile active surface of the source. Visual inspection is practicable if the source is readily accessible (don’t dismantle a source or its holder to inspect it). Mirrors may be used to avoid looking directly at a source.  If there is any doubt about the integrity of the source, stop handling/use of the source and immediately contact EHS.

Postoperational Contamination Surveys. Following the use of a Category-B or C source, perform a postoperational survey to ensure that no contamination of the work area has occurred. Contamination could occur if the source was damaged during use. Labs using Category-B or C sources will have available an appropriate radiation survey meter.  Record the results of the postoperational survey in a Radiation Survey Log, available from EHS.

Link to https://ehs.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/files/media_files/Contamination%20Survey%20Log.pdf

Leak Testing for Category-C and D Sources

Under the terms of the University’s NJDEP license, EHS must perform leak tests of Category-C and D contained sources to ensure that the source encapsulation is intact. Leak testing is required at three- or six-month intervals, depending on the nature of the source.

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