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Radiation Safety

The Radiation Safety Office of the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Program at the NCI-Frederick administers a comprehensive radiation safety program that satisfies the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as well as NCI-Frederick operational requirements. Although compliance issues command a great deal of emphasis, the basic philosophy of NCI-Frederick is to provide a safe working environment for all individuals using radioactive materials and/or radiation producing machines.

The Radiation Safety Office provides training courses dealing with health physics as well as site-specific radiation safety issues. In addition, our bioassay program, exposure monitoring program, laboratory survey effort, and inventory control procedures are all designed and executed to ensure that our commitments to individual safety are met.

Radiation Safety Officer

Mr. J.T. Moore at x1902 jmoore@ncifcrf.gov

Radiation Safety Staff:

Radiation Safety Office ext. 5730

Tammie Ford tford@ncifcrf.gov
Angie Mann mann@ncifcrf.gov
John Sater john_sater@ncifcrf.gov

Frequently Asked Questions
NCI-Frederick Radiation Documents
Radiation Calculators and Conversions
Other Links

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I get my own Radiation Program?

Applying for a New NCI-Frederick Radiation Program

The NCI-Frederick Radiation Safety Committee reviews and approves all Applications for NCI-Frederick Radiation Programs.

Steps to Take:

Radiation Program Application must be completed.

* Make sure you attach copies of all Radiation Protocols to the Application.

A Radiation Training and Experience Form must be filled out for each proposed Radiation Worker (including the proposed Radiation Program PI) wishing to manipulate Radioactive Material at the NCI-Frederick. Each proposed Radiation Worker (including the PI) must complete

NCI-Frederick Radiation Safety Training For New Users

(a self-paced computer-based training program) This training is located at the following address:

* The NCI-Frederick Radiation Safety Office will verify completion via online tracking.

The Application Package (consisting of the Application and all Training and Experience Forms) is to be forwarded to the NCI-Frederick Radiation Safety Office. Once reviewed, the Package will be sent to the NCI-Frederick Radiation Safety Committee for final review and approval.

-THE APPROVAL PROCESS CAN TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY-

2. How do I become a Radiation Worker?

Take the

Online Training for New Users

Fill out a

Radiation Training and Experience Form

Read and sign the Protocol Specific Training Document (Working Safely with Radioactive Materials) for the Radiation Program. Have the Radiation Program Principal Investigator sign your Training and Experience form and forward it along with a copy of the signature sheet, from the Protocol Specific Training Document, to the Radiation Safety Office. Once you are approved, you will receive a Dosimeter badge (if applicable), and the program PI will receive a confirmatory memo listing any further requirements or restrictions.

3. Is there any other additional training required as a Radiation worker?

Yes, a Radiation Refresher training is required every two years. You will be contacted by the Radiation Safety Office when your training is due.
Click here to take the Radiation Refresher training course.

4.Who do I contact to have my radioactive waste picked up?

Contact the Waste Management Office at x1384 or email radwaste@ncifcrf.gov

5. My desk is in a radiation lab. May I eat or drink at my desk?

No. Eating, drinking, or storage of food/drink items is not allowed in laboratories.

6. What do I do if I did not receive my isotope order on the day it was supposed to arrive?

Contact Radiation Safety. A follow up with the Purchasing Department may be necessary as well.

7. How do I get removed from a Radiation Program?

Have the program PI or Radiation Area Supervisor send a memo to the Radiation Safety Office requesting that you be removed from all isotope usage under that program.

8. Why did I not get a Dosimeter badge?

Persons who are approved to use only 3H are not routinely issued a Dosimeter badge.

9. Other people in my lab have a ring badge, why don’t I?

Only persons approved to work with 10mCi or more of 32P, approved to perform Iodinations, or are on X-ray programs are given ring badges.

10. What do we do if we have a radiation spill?

Contact the Radiation Safety Office Immediately (x1451). After hours, contact Security (x1091).

11. May I pour small amounts of radioactive material down the sink?

Not even the smallest amount can be put down the drain. It is not even appropriate to clean contaminated laboratory equipment in Facility sinks.

12. Why is it so important to keep radioactive material-use labs locked?

All radioactive material must be kept secure from unauthorized removal when it is not under constant surveillance.

13. Is it ok for me to work with isotope in someone else’s lab?

One is only allowed to manipulate radioactive materials in approved use-areas within one’s approved Radiation Program.

NCI-Frederick Radiation Documents

NCI-Frederick Radiation Safety Manual

NCI-Frederick EHS Operations and Compliance Manual C-2 "Radiation Protection"

Survey Meter/Geiger Counter Procurement Notification

Radiation Program Application

Radiation Program Renewal Application

Radiation Training and Experience Form

X-ray Producing Machine Program Application

X-ray Producing Machine Program Renewal Application

X-Ray Program User Application Form (PDF Document) (Word Template)

Electron Microscope Program Renewal Application

Electron Microscope User Application Form (PDF Document) (Word Template)

Irradiator Program Renewal Application

Irradiator User Application Form (PDF Document) (Word Template)

Dosimeter Reports General Information

Radiation Calculators and Conversions

Decay/Activity Calculators http://www.radprocalculator.com/

Unit Converter http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/rss/ram/unitconvert.htm