SIUC Center for Enviromental Health and Safety

Southern Illinois University’s radiation safety program began in the late 1960’s but issues in recent years have expanded the responsibilities of the program. The program now regulates how much radioactive material labs can have and what types of radioactive material they can have.

Rich Dyer is the Radiation Safety Officer for the Radiation Safety Program on campus. Dyer’s main job is to regulate radioactive material, x-ray machines and lasers. These are used in scientific labs, student health and dental areas. State regulations require compliance by following and being approved by the Ill. Department of Nuclear Safety Operating Regulations. This department ensures compliance for the university.

The radiation safety program is overseen by the radiological control committee made up of experienced faculty members who approve use of radioactive materials in labs on campus. Lab faculty have to apply to use the materials then be approved by the committee. The lab faculty must explain what they will be using the radioactive material for in detail to be approved by Dyer and the committee. “In most instances clarification of details are needed before approval” Dyer said. “Usually changes or recommendations are made as to approval or sometimes a more detailed explanation is needed before approval can be granted.” “Faculty might be disapproved on cost basis if the chemical has high disposal cost,” Dyer said.

As the radiation safety officer, Dyer also deals with exposure issues to radiation. To measure radiation exposure rates Dosimetery badges are issued and used by faculty, staff and students who have use certain types of materials. “No one on our campus has ever had an instance where they have gone over their annual limit,” Dyer said. “Typically no one receives over ten percent of their annual occupational level and most people stay within the range of background to less than five percent of their yearly exposure limit.”

Dyer provides radiation training though the Center for Environmental Health and Safety on campus. “Training modules on guidelines are given along with an exam following to ensure those working with radioactive materials are aware of what they are doing and have proper instruction on how to handle the chemicals,” Dyer said. The training and exam must be completed before faculty is able to work with radioactive materials in their labs. “We also train people who do not work with radioactive material but who enter the labs such as custodial staff and physical plant,” Dyer said. “We are happy to offer assistance to one person or to a group of people.” “We have different sessions on an annual basis or when ever they want by request.”

Once training and the exam are complete, faculty must be approved for applying to order a radioactive chemical. Once faculty has been approved the order is filled. “It is delivered at the Center for Environmental Health and Safety where I check over the package to make sure no leakage or other suspicious activity has occurred in the ordering and delivery process,” Dyer said. “The chemical is then categorized and delivered to the lab that ordered it.”

There has been at least one case of leakage of radioactive material in a lab. According to Dyer, it occurred when people in the lab tried to repair part of an instrument, which caused the source of contamination. “We surveyed the lab, cleaned the contamination, and fixed the instrument,” Dyer said.

Safety checks are done on radioactive material laboratories once a month to test for contamination. A Geiger counter is used to detect radioactive emissions in areas that are tested. Safety checks ensure labs comply with regulations and force them to stay in compliance. “Preventive procedures help problems from becoming a big mess.” “We work with the folks on campus; there are lots of nice people in the labs,” Dyer said. “We support their research efforts and take care of the safety matters by helping when we can so they can concentrate on their research.”

The removal of waste materials from labs is also handled by the center. According to Dyer, short half-life materials decay to background levels before being incinerated. “This way the materials are no more radioactive than anything else,” Dyer said. Each isotope has a half-life, which varies depending on the chemical. “If a chemical has a half of 14 days it will take at least 140 days to decay to the point of being ready for incineration” Dyer said.

“Some chemicals having a long half-life must be removed by an off campus vendor,” Dyer said. “In this instance the removal costs of radioactive waste can be extreme - a single 55 gallon drum can range from $800 to $2800 in cost.”