General Information - The University of Oklahoma maintains a State of Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) Broad License for the use of radioactive materials in academic and research activities. The Radiation Safety Office provides support to the University's users of radioactive materials in meeting the requirements of this ODEQ license. In addition to ODEQ regulated materials, the Radiation Safety Office is responsible for establishing procedures for safe utilization of radiation producing devices (e.g. X-ray instruments and accelerators). The Radiation Safety Committee, composed of University faculty and staff, acts as an advisory/appeals body in conjunction with the Radiation Safety Office.
Services - The services provided are designed to promote safety of personnel using radioactive materials, as well as assuring compliance with ODEQ regulations concerning authorization to use, inventory control proper utilization, and disposal of radioactive materials. Services provided include:
- Authorization of User/Project Involving Radioactive Materials - Provides a method by which University personnel can obtain authorization to utilize radioactive materials and have specific projects using such materials approved. Technical assistance is available from the Radiation Safety Office in experimental design and assay methodologies. The Radiation Safety Office also conducts the ODEQ required safety training for all personnel who will be involved with the project.
- Acquisition of Radioactive Materials-Provides a method by which University personnel authorized to use radioactive materials in approved projects obtain the desired materials. The Radiation Safety Office is the ordering and receiving unit for such materials in order to comply with ODEQ regulations concerning receipt testing and inventory control. Materials received are immediately delivered to the user after the required actions have been completed.
- Radiation Dosimetry and Bioassay -Provides the dosimetry materials and/or bioassay methods required to document individual exposure records for personnel involved with the use of radioactive materials. Annual exposure reports are made to all such individuals as well as maintaining, where possible, lifetime exposure histories.
- Laboratory Safety Surveys -Individual users are responsible to monitor for contamination within their own respective laboratories. To provide documented compliance and enhanced safety for laboratory personnel, the Radiation Safety Office conducts regularly scheduled surveys of all laboratories utilizing radioactive materials. Reports of the results of surveys are sent to the responsible users.
- Instrument Calibration -The Radiation Safety Office performs regularly scheduled calibrations of survey equipment. Calibration of other assay equipment, such as scintillation counters, is also available upon request.
- Radioactive Waste Management -The Radiation Safety Office provides instructions for appropriate methods of radioactive waste management to all users. Properly packaged materials will be picked up by the Radiation Safety Office for disposal in compliance with ODEQ and other regulatory agency rules.
- Emergency Response -In the event of an accident involving radioactive materials, personnel should contact the Radiation Safety Office. If the accident involves injury to personnel the UNIVERSITY EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER (911) should be used first to request medical assistance and the emergency unit advised that the accident involves radioactive materials. The night number for Radiation Safety emergency assistance is posted in each laboratory.
- Training Programs in Radioassay Methods -On request, the Radiation Safety Office will conduct short courses in methods of radiotracer analysis such as beta and/or gamma scintillation counting. A graduate credit lecture/laboratory course in Radiotracer Methodology is also available for University personnel wishing instruction in experimental design and conduct.
- Special Requests -In some cases an individual may wish to utilize a form or amount of radioactive material not authorized under our ODEQ Broad License. In this case the Radiation Safety Office will need to submit a license amendment request to the ODEQ for such utilization. Due to time delays in regulatory approval, advance notice of such special requests is recommended.
Download Additional Information:
Waste Algorithim Documentation
Solid Radioactive Waste Procedures
Requirements for Working With X-ray Producing Equipment
Utilization and Disposal Record
Nuclide Safety Data Sheets