1. Survey waste materials (especially glass and metals) and put only contaminated articles in the rad waste container (wipe test if using H-3 or C-14).
2. Use only the quantity of radioactive material needed.
3. Use short-lived radionuclides whenever possible. They represent "free" disposals.
4. Prudently reduce the frequency of bench paper replacement.
5. Reduce the work area so less bench paper is needed, especially for H-3 and C-14.
6. Learn about and use, wherever possible, the growing number of non-radioactive research tools.

While the use of microwave ovens increases, people may not realize that many of the same heat safety precautions still apply. A researcher at the University of Calgary placed a 500ml Gibco media bottle of gelled borate buffer in a microwave and set the timer for 4.5 minutes. The bottle lid was loosened but not removed. During the heating process, the gel apparently moved into the bottleneck, forming a seal. The bottle exploded with sufficient force to blow the oven door off and completely destroyed the housing. Fragments of glass and plastic were scattered up to 25 feet in all directions. Fortunately, no one was injured. A New Scientist article describes how water can become superheated - where the liquid is above the boiling point but has not turned to steam. A slight jar, such as removing from the oven, can trigger the sudden, explosive conversion of some water to steam. The resultant splashing can cause hot water and steam burns.

For your own sake, and for your co-workers, always think ahead and be cautious. If you receive any injury, be sure to file a Form 19 Employee's Report of Injury to Employer through your supervisor. This helps the University track accident causes and preventive measures. It also puts you in a good position should some complication arise later.

NO PIGS IN THE TRASH!!!
Lead shipping shields, commonly known as "pigs" in the trade, are still being found in the radioactive waste. These items may not be discarded in this fashion. They must be decontaminated and discarded as hazardous waste. Also, a waste pickup of short-lived (<90 days) radioactive waste can not be made if there are any radiation labels or symbols in the waste. All such labels must be removed or totally obliterated before pickup.

RSO Column - Bob Wilson, Director

Laboratory workers have suffered eye injuries after being exposed to ultraviolet radiation. This may be due to wearing the incorrect type of safety glasses or not following safety procedures. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of non-ionizing radiation in the electromagnetic frequency range between visible light and x-rays. The UV spectrum is divided into three main regions, each of which can cause a specific biological effect:

1. The near UV, with long wavelengths of 400 to 300 nm, also called black light, is responsible for pigmentation of the skin after exposure.
2. The far UV, wavelengths of 300 to 200 nm, also referred to as the erythemal region, is responsible for skin reddening and sunburns as well as irritation to the conjunctiva and cornea (lab workers at UNC have received such exposures).
3. The extreme UV, short wavelengths of 200 to 4 nm, is noted for its germicidal effect.

The cornea and conjunctiva of the eye are primarily absorbers of UV energy. Mild exposures produce no immediate effect. However, several hours later discomfort results due to inflammation of the cornea (keratitis). It is particularly important to select UV shielding eye protection specifically designed to absorb the radiation of the ultraviolet source being used. If you do not know what wavelengths your safety glasses are designed for, contact the supplier. For additional information, call the Radiation Safety Office at 3-6777. Adopted from the "LAB SAFETY SPECTRUM", McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.

We had our annual Regulatory Inspection of the main uses of radioactive material in March and April. It was said to be one of the most intense inspections ever. Several Notices of Violations were found, including:
            Lab security (one lab); source leak test and inventory records (in Radiation Safety); lack of surveys (medical lab); unauthorized use of a device (medical). A plan for corrective action has been submitted and accepted. UK is back to full compliance with these requirements. Several comments were also made, and these have also been addressed. These comments (recommendations) include:
            Medical staff training, and monitoring; dose calibrator QA; safety postings; personnel monitoring reporting and lost report estimating; food and security of labs.
            It is clear that lab security and food items in work areas will always be an issue. These are the direct responsibility of each Authorized User. A disappointment was the hard regulatory stand on lab eating areas. The Agency makes it clear that there must not be any eating, drinking or application of cosmetics within a radiation work area. We will work this out over the next few months, but some areas previously OK by UK interpretation will probably be disallowed. Your cooperation and assistance on this is appreciated.

Contamination Documentation - Fred Rawlings, Assistant Director

Contamination control is a fact of life in the working research lab, but when contamination exceeds the action level during wipe testing, how do you document that you did the right thing?

The right thing, of course, is to decontaminate the area(s) and document that you did so. Whenever a swipe test indicates that the contamination level is greater than one thousand DPM per one hundred square centimeters, (>1000DPM/100cm2), you must decontaminate the area.

An easy way to document that you have successfully deconned the area is to report the number that is greater than the action level in the format you have set up, then repeat the reporting with the swipe taken after cleaning. This may be done by recording the number on a map, listing it with reference numbers to a map of the lab, or attaching the printout of a scintillation counter to a numbered map.

Most auditors will recognize that a reading greater than 1000DPM/100cm2 followed immediately by a second reported swipe test less than 1000DPM/100cm2 indicates that the area was cleaned and retested. You may make a note to that effect on the retest to remove any doubt.

Don’t be hesitant to record a swipe test that is above the action level, because the action you take to clean and retest the area in question shows good lab hygiene. Documenting it correctly proves your case.

RADIATION SAFETY OFFICE PERSONNEL
Radiation Safety Office, 102 Animal Pathology 0076 UK Campus, 3-6777, bmwils2@pop.uky.edu

Cindy Aubrey, Office Support Asst.	Tracy Cayson, Admin. Support Asst.
George Ellis, Rad. Health Tech. I	Fred Rawlings, Asst. Director
Dave Rich, Rad Health Tech. II	Jerry Schlenker, Sr. Health Physicist
Dave Wilson, Rad. Health Tech. III	Bob Wilson, Director and Editor
Carrie Creasey, Student Assistant	Simeon Hodges, Student Assistant