Radiation Safety
The Office of Environmental is responsible for assisting
the Yale community in the use of radiation and radioactive
materials. Various programs and services designed to ensure
the safe receipt, handling, use, and storage of radioactive
materials are administered by Radiation Safety, under the
direction of the University's Radiation Safety Committee.
Radiation Safety evaluates all proposed uses of radioactive
materials, and reports findings to the Radiation Safety
Committee, which issues authorizations for use of these
materials. In conjunction with authorizing researchers
to handle radioactivity, Radiation Safety places all orders
for radioactive materials to be received at Yale, and subsequently
delivers these materials to the laboratories authorized
for their use. Radiation Safety provides general surveillance
of all radiation safety activities through its laboratory
survey program and extensive personnel
and environmental monitoring programs.
Interesting and informative radiation safety seminars
are provided on a variety of topics related to radiation
safety. Seminar schedules are distributed periodically
to all authorized Principal Investigators in addition to
being posted throughout the University. Specific training
sessions are provided to the New Haven Fire Department,
Campus Police and Ancillary staff. Specialized seminars
and/or small lab trainings/discussions are also provided
upon request.
Centralized multiuse radionuclide facilities are maintained
and supervised by Radiation Safety for use by Principal
Investigators. Specialized equipment is available in these
laboratories to allow for the safe performance of high
activity experiments.
Radiation Safety responds to emergencies involving radioactive
materials including personal contamination incidents. Radiation
Safety is also available to provide advice and expertise
on handling incidents, spills and radiation safety issues.
Yale's licenses to use radioactive material are issued
by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. (Click
here for a copy of NRC's Form 3 "Standards for Protection
Against Radiation (Part 20); Notices, Instructions and
Reports to Workers; Inspections (Part 19); Employee Protection".) Radiation
Safety is responsible for ensuring that all activities
conducted with radioactive materials at Yale are performed
in accordance with the conditions of these licenses and
that all required documentation is maintained. Radiation
producing equipment and radioactive materials are also
registered with the State of Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection. DEP regulatory requirements are
also followed.
Additional programs administered include safety programs
for lasers, x-ray producing equipment, electron microscopes,
uranium and thorium use, irradiators and accelerators as
well as radon monitoring of Yale buildings. Requests for
clearances of facilities and equipment for unrestricted
use are also handled by Radiation Safety. Anyone needing
more information about radiation safety is invited to call
785-3550.
