9.4 - SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR UNIVERSITY STAFF DEPARTMENTS

Radiation precaution signs and labels apply to all personnel. They do not mean that a hazard exists unless it is explicitly so-stated; they do mean that a hazard could exist if inappropriate action were taken. Most frequently these signs mean that radioactive materials are present in shielded containers. These containers, which may be of metal, glass or plastic (depending on the type of radioactive material contained), are individually labeled and should not be touched or moved by staff personnel who must perform work in a restricted area. All working areas of these rooms are checked frequently for radioactive contamination and are safe for work by cleaning, maintenance or public safety personnel.

9.4.1

Housekeeping

The Director of Facilities Maintenance and Operations shall ensure that all housekeeping personnel (whether University or contractor employees) assigned to work in Hannan, McCort-Ward and Nursing-Biology attend an initial RSO lecture on elementary radiation safety as part of their indoctrination for employment at CUA, and receive refresher training on an annual basis. Attendees shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following minimum rules which have been established for their safety:

1. Housekeeping personnel shall not do any work inside a fume hood or glove box which bears a radiation warning sign; and
2. Housekeeping personnel shall remain outside any area within a laboratory which is roped off with a yellow and magenta radiation warning rope.
3. Housekeeping personnel shall not dispose of packages, or empty waste containers, that bear radioactive material labels.

9.4.2

Maintenance

The Director of Facilities Maintenance and Operations shall ensure that all maintenance personnel (whether University or contractor employees) assigned to work in Hannan, McCort-Ward and Nursing-Biology  attend an initial RSO lecture on elementary radiation safety as part of their indoctrination for employment at CUA, and receive refresher training on an annual basis.  Additionally, the Director of Facilities Maintenance and Operations shall obtain prior clearance from the Radiation Safety Officer before permitting maintenance work to proceed on the following types of facilities:

1. Fume hoods bearing a radiation warning sign;
2. Ducts and blowers which service fume hoods bearing a radiation warning sign;
3. Pits or sumps in the sewer system for Hannan and McCort-Ward;
4. Any facilities in the Radioactive Materials Storage Area; or
5. Any other facility where there is any question as to the possible presence of radioactive contamination.

In working within restricted areas, maintenance personnel shall remain outside any area which is roped off with a yellow and magenta radiation warning rope, unless accompanied by the Authorized User who is responsible for the area, or by the Radiation Safety Officer.

9.4.3

Public Safety

The Associate Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management shall ensure that:

1. All newly-hired Campus Police Officers attend an initial RSO lecture on elementary radiation safety as part of their indoctrination for employment at CUA, and receive refresher training on an annual basis.
2. All Campus Police Officers attend an annual refresher lecture on radiation safety.
3. Public Safety guards who find a restricted area open and unattended shall:
   
   
   1. Close and lock the room; and
   2. Report the matter to the Dispatcher.
4. The Department of Public Safety shall notify the cognizant Department Chair and the RSO, on the next regular working day, of the date, time and location of the action taken under subparagraph (9.4.3.c).

9.4.4

Purchasing

The The Director of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement shall ensure that:

1. A purchase order is not prepared (nor a purchase order number provided for an order placed by telephone) for any radioactive material unless the requisition has been approved by the Radiation Safety Officer. If in doubt, the originator of the requisition, or the Radiation Safety Officer, shall be asked if the material being ordered is radioactive.
2. All purchase orders for radioactive material shall show the delivery address as:
   
   The Catholic University of America
   Radiation Safety Office, Room 215A
   Environmental Health & Safety
   Power Plant Building
   620 Michigan Ave., NE
   Washington, DC 20064
   
   
In addition, purchase orders must be accompanied by instructions stating that if the Radiation Safety Office is not open at the time of delivery, packages of radioactive materials shall be delivered to the Department of Public Safety in Leahy Hall.

9.4.5

Sponsored Programs And Research Services

The Associate Provost for Research shall ensure that each proposal for or solicitation of support for research, which indicates that the use of radioactive material or other sources of ionizing radiation (such as X-ray or X-ray diffraction machines) is intended in the course of the proposed research, has been reviewed and endorsed by the University Radiation Safety Officer before it is released to the addressee. The endorsement of the Radiation Safety Officer is solely for University internal purposes and should not accompany the proposal when it leaves the University. 

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