This document outlines the training requirements for radiation workers at MCW. It defines a radiation worker as someone who may receive an occupational dose over 100 mrem per year. Radiation workers must receive annual instruction on safe storage, use, and handling of radiation sources, health risks of exposure, reporting procedures, and emergency response. Training can occur through direct instruction from an authorized user, classroom training offered by the Office of Radiation Safety, or approved computer/video content and must be commensurate with potential risks in the workplace.
This document outlines the training requirements for radiation workers at MCW. It defines a radiation worker as someone who may receive an occupational dose over 100 mrem per year. Radiation workers must receive annual instruction on safe storage, use, and handling of radiation sources, health risks of exposure, reporting procedures, and emergency response. Training can occur through direct instruction from an authorized user, classroom training offered by the Office of Radiation Safety, or approved computer/video content and must be commensurate with potential risks in the workplace.
For the purposes of the Radiation Safety Program at MCW, a radiation worker is an individual who is likely to receive an occupational dose in excess of 100 mrem in a calendar year.
Occupational dose, as defined by the State in HFS 157.03, means the dose received by an individual in the course of employment in which the individuals assigned duties involve exposure to radiation, or to radioactive material from licensed and unlicensed sources of radiation, whether in the possession of the licensee, registrant or other person. Occupational dose does not include dose received from background radiation, from any medical administration the individual has received, from exposure to individuals administered radioactive material and released under s. HFS 157.62 (8), from voluntary participation in medical research programs or as a member of the public.
B. Instruction
Radiation workers shall be given all of the following information annually:
1. The proper storage, transfer and use of sources of radiation in the workplace. 2. Health risks to the individual and potential offspring associated with exposure to radiation and radioactive material, precautions and procedures the individual should use in the workplace to protect themselves and minimize exposure to radiation and radioactive material, and the purposes and functions of protective devices. 3. A workers responsibility to report promptly to the Office of Radiation Safety or MCW management any condition which may constitute, lead to or cause a violation of the regulations or a condition of the license. 4. How to respond in the event of any unusual occurrence or malfunction that may involve exposure to radiation or radioactive material. 5. Radiation exposure reports provided to workers.
The extent of the instructions provided shall be commensurate with potential radiological health protection problems present in the workplace and shall take into consideration assigned activities during normal and abnormal situations involving exposure to radiation or radioactive material that can be reasonably be expected to occur.
The form Training and Instruction Checklist must be completed for each radiation worker as soon as practical after starting to work with RAM in the lab. Upon completion, the form must be signed by both the radiation worker and the Authorized User. Send the completed form to ORS.
Training of radiation workers may be accomplished in several different ways:
Direct Training by the Authorized User In all cases some direct training by the Authorized User or designee is mandatory. The specifics of how and where RAM and RAM records are stored, what precautions should be taken in specific laboratory procedures, authorized use and possession limits, are unique to each lab.
Classroom Training ORS periodically offers a classroom-based course in radiation safety for laboratory workers. This course is designed to cover training requirements not unique to individual laboratories. All radiation workers should attend this course for initial training.
Computer or Video-based Training Training materials approved by ORS may be used as a substitute for the classroom training listed above. Contact ORS for approved content.