When equipment that has been used with radioactive materials requires service or is being sent to surplus for disposal, a survey for contamination must be performed prior to transport of the unit or performance of the work. Examples of such equipment include, but are not limited to: hot sinks, fume hoods, refrigerators, freezers and analytical instruments.
Equipment Maintenance Surveys
- Notification, Survey and Removal of Equipment from Use
- Radiation Safety is notified by Facilities Operations and Development, Facilities Engineering, the Approved Supervisor or designee of an item that must be surveyed. The Approved Supervisor must ensure that all items in the unit (e.g. fume hood, refrigerator) have been removed and performed a preliminary survey. The survey consists of an instrument survey, if appropriate, and a smear wipes survey to determine the presence of contamination. The results of these surveys must be sent to Radiation Safety. Radiation Safety personnel will then perform a confirmatory survey.
- Radiation Safety personnel will tag the unit indicating a survey is being performed and that the unit may not be used, repaired or removed until results are obtained. The tag states, “Suspected Radioactive Contamination, Do Not Use This Unit, Do Not Remove This Tag, Removal of This Tag Must Be Done by Radiation Safety Personnel Only”.
- Results of Survey for Removable Contamination
- Contamination Not Present: If removable contamination is not found, Radiation Safety personnel will remove the original tag, replacing it with a tag that states “Do Not Use This Unit, Removal of This Tag Must Be Done by Physical Facilities Personnel Only.” Radiation Safety will inform Physical Facilities that removable contamination was not found, and of any precautions to be taken. Please note that the laboratory must still complete a work order with Facilities Operations and Development. When the work is complete, Physical Facilities personnel should return the tag to Radiation Safety.
- Contamination Present: It is the responsibility of the laboratory supervisor to have the unit decontaminated to less than 200 dpm/100 cm2. Results of the decontamination survey must be submitted to Radiation Safety prior to service or work being performed on the unit. Radiation Safety personnel will perform a confirmatory survey. When decontamination is accomplished, Radiation Safety will institute the tagging system as described above.