RadiationSafetyProgramExample

Everygaugelicenseemusthaveaneffectiveradiationsafetyprograminplace.Itwasarequirementof
yourlicenseapplicationandservesasyoureverydayguideforowninggauges.Theradiationsafety
programshouldcoverallaspectsofgaugeownership,sovirtuallyeverythingcoveredinthismanualand
trainingshouldbecoveredintheradiationsafetyprogram.
TheRSOmaintains,managesandisresponsibleforaneffectiveradiationsafetyprogram.Becausea
licensehasonlyoneRSO,mostgaugeworkerstakingthiscoursewillfeelthatitisnottheirresponsibility
toknowthisprogrammaterial.ButthegaugesafetytrainingclassdoesqualifyanindividualtobeaRSO
anditlikewisetakesacollectivecompanyefforttoachieveasuccessfulprogram.Themoreyou
understandtheradiationsafetyprogram,themoreyouwillunderstandyourroleandresponsibilityasa
gaugeoperator.
TheAPNGAexampleofaradiationsafetyprogramisbasedontheannualauditprogrampresentedin
theNRCNUREG1556LicensingGuide.Theannualaudit,arequiredconditionofyourlicense,is
performedannuallybythecompanyRSOtochecktheeffectivenessoftheradiationsafetyprogram.By
usingtheauditchecklistapproach,whichisusedtolookbackatthepastyearsperformance,youwillbe
betterabletoinstitute,understandandmanageaneffectiveprogram.
Regulatoryinspectionslikewiseusetheannualauditasachecklistforevaluatingtheeffectivenessand
performanceofyourradiationsafetyprogram.Butinspectorsalsouseliveobservationsofgauge
workerstoassesshowknowledgeabletheworkersareofsafegaugeusageandlicenseconditions.The
RSOshouldmakeperiodicobservationsofworkersinaction.Inessence,theRSOshouldbe
conductingperiodicinternalinspections.Thisisaveryimportantpartofevaluatingtheeffectivenessof
yourradiationsafetyprogram.
Regulatoryinspections,andviolations,willbecoveredinalatersection.
AlthoughmostAgreementStatesusetheNRCmaterialasatemplateitisimportanttofamiliarize
yourselfwiththerequirementsofyourregulatoryagency.Gototheirwebsiteorcontactthemabout
theirspecificrequirements.
AnExampleofaRadiationSafetyProgram
Introduction
Someoftheoverallgoalsoftheradiationsafetyprogramare:
a) Protectingthegeneralpublicandenvironmentfromunnecessaryexposuretoradiation
b) Propertrainingandinstructiontoworkersincludes:
1) TheALARAprogramandpersonnelradiationmonitoring
2) Safelyandsecurelyoperatingthegaugeattheworksite
3) Workersknowledgeofemergencyproceduresandradiationdetectionequipment
4) Safelyandsecurelytransportinggauges

5) Maintenanceandleaktests
c) Inventoryanddisposalrecordkeeping
d) Selfreporting,correctionsandenforcementoftheprogram
e) AnnualAuditsandinspections
TheRSOManagerofthegaugesafetyprogram.
I(NameofRSO),havebeendesignatedastheRadiationSafetyOfficerfor(Nameoflicensee),andwill
carryoutthedutiesandenforcetheconditionsofthelicenseincluding:
TheAnnualAudit
I,alongwithseniormanagement,willannuallyconductanauditofthegaugesafetyprogram,aswellas
checking,reviewingandcorrectinganydeficiencies.Allcopiesofauditswillberetained.Iwillconduct
periodicinternalinspections,includinginpersonobservationsofworkeractionswithgaugesduring
transportandtransportation.

Organization&ScopeofProgram

Iwillensurethattheoriginalconditionsandinformationonthelicensestayscurrent,orwhenneeded,
filefortimelyamendmentsincludingaddresschanges,newownership(inadvance),bankruptcies,and
noticeofanewandproperlytrainedRSO.

Iwillreviewthelicensetoensurethatgaugemodelsmatchandsourcequantitieshavenotbeen
exceededandwillensurethattheSealedSourceandDevice(SSD)CertificateorSheetforeachtypeof
gaugeareonfile.
Iwillchecktomakesurethatmanufactureroperation&maintenancemanualsareonhandforeach
typeofgauge.
Iwillmakesurethegaugesareusedforthewaytheyareintended.
RSOResponsibilities
Iwillstopactivitiesthatareconsideredunsafe.
IwillreviewthelicenseandSealedSourceandDeviceRegistrationandmanufacturers
recommendationsandinstructions.Iwillmakesuretheconditionsmatchupregardingthemodel/type
ofgauge,numberofgaugesallowed,thetypeofoperationslicensedfor,storagerequirements,and
maintenancerestrictionsandschedule.
Iwillmakesureallemployeesarethoroughlytrainedandtrainingcertificatesareonfile.

Iwillmakesureallnecessarypersonnelareusingpersonnelmonitoringdevices(filmbadges,TLDs)and
recordsisonfile.
Iwillmakesureallgaugesarelockedandsecuredduringstorageandtransportation.
I,andallgaugeworkers,willhavecontactinformationonhand(includingonfile,inthestoragearea,
andingaugecases)forproperauthorities(RSO,licensingagency,police)incaseofaccident,damage,
fireortheft.
Iwillinvestigateallunusualoccurrencesinvolvingthegauge(accident,damage,theft,oversights),
determinethecause,identifycorrectiveactionsandimplementsuchactions.
IwillmakesuregaugesthataretransportedmeetallUSDOTHazardousMaterialsrequirements.
Iwillmakesurethatgaugetransfersanddisposalsareproperlydocumented.
Iwillmakesureallrecordsareaccountedforandmaintained.
Iwillkeepthelicenseuptodate,checktheexpirationdate,requestrenewalsandamendmentsina
timelymanner.
Iwillgiveadvancenoticeofreciprocity.
Iwillgiveadvancenoticeofdesiretoterminatethelicense.

Training&InstructionstoWorkers

Iwillmakesurethatallemployeesworkingwithgaugesandpreparinggaugesfortransportor
transportinggaugesareproperlytrained.

Iwillensure,perCodeofFederalRegulation(CFR)19.12,thatallemployeesexpectedtoreceive
anexcessof100mrem/yroccupationaldosebegivenspecialinstructions.Althoughgaugeusers
typicallyreceivelessthanthisamountitisassumedthattheymayexceedthislimitandare
thereforesubjecttotheseinstructions:

Storage,transfer&usesofgauges
ExposureissuesandALARA
Requiredsafetytraining
Howtoreportoverexposureconcerns
workersknowhowtoreceiveexposurereports
workersreceiveemergencyprocedurestraining
workersreceiveannualrefreshertrainingonthesetopics(TheAPNGAAnnualRefresherTraining
Modulecanbeusedtoguideyouwiththistrainingitisincludedwithyourannualdues)

Eachgaugeoperatormustcompleteanapprovedgaugesafetycoursebeforeusingthegauge.(The
APNGAGaugeSafetyTrainingCourseisapprovedinmoststates&isincludedinannualduescheck
thelistforyourstatesstatus)
Iwillhavetrainingcertificatesonfileforeachworker,includingInitialGaugeSafetyTraining,
HAZMATTrainingandAnnualRefresher.
Iwillconductinterviewswitheachworkertodetermineiftheyareknowledgeableofemergency
procedures(seetheEmergencyProceduressectionundertheRegulatoryheadingonthe
APNGAhomepageandyourregulatoryagencyforguidance).
Iwillobserveeachworkeroperatingthegaugeinthefield.
Iwillobserveeachworkerperformingroutinecleaning&lubrication.
Iwillobserveeachworkertransportingthegauge.
Iwillobserveeachworkercheckingagaugeinandoutofstorage.
Iwillmakesureeachworkerdemonstratessafehandlingandsecurityduringoperation,
transportationandstorageofthegauge.
IwillmakesureUSDOTHAZMAT(49CFR172.700704)trainingisprovidedforeachworkerinvolved
inpreparingand/ortransportingagauge.(APNGAannualduesincludeaUSDOTHAZMATcourse
thatisacceptedineverystate).
IwillmakesureHAZMATtrainingrecordsarekeptonfile.

RadiationSurveyInstruments

Iwillmakesurethecompanyownsaradiationsurveymeter.Intheeventofanaccidentitwillbeused
todetectthelocationofadislodgedsource,determinetheTransportIndexofadamagedgaugeor
determinetheradiationlevelsaroundastoragearea.Itwillalsobeusedtodetermineifthegauge
slidingblockismalfunctioning.

Iwillmakesurethesurveymetermeetsthecriteriaoftheregulatoryagency.Typicallythisrequiresa
surveymeterthatisabletodetectgammaradiationandberecalibratedannually.

IfwedonotownyourownasurveymeterIwillarrangeforimmediateaccesstoone.Iwillhaveaplan
foraccessingasurveymeter.

IfwearelicensedforandperformingnonroutinemaintenanceIwillownasurveymeterthatis
calibratedannually.Irecognizethatnonroutinemaintenancewouldincluderemovalofthesourcerod.
Iwillensurethatthesourcerodwillnotberemovedifwedonothaveaspeciallicensetodoso.

Iwillkeepsurveymetercalibrationrecordsonfile.

GaugeInventory

Iwillcompleteaninventoryofgaugesevery6months.Iwillkeepaninventorysheetattachedtoa
clipboardandplaceitatthestorageareawiththedateofthenextinventory.Iwillcompleteahandson
inventoryofeachgaugeandkeepthecompleteddocumentonfile.

Iwillhaveareceiptforeachgaugeininventorythatshowsthedateeachgaugewasobtainedand
enteredintoyourinventory?

PersonnelRadiationProtection

Iwillprovide,ifrequired,personneldosimetrytoallgaugeemployees.

Iunderstandthatthedosimetry,typicallyintheformofafilmbadge,TLD(Thermoluminescent
Dosimeter),orOSL(OpticallyStimulatedLuminescence)ensuresthatALARApracticesarebeingmetand
alsocreatesarecordthatdocumentsemployeesarereceivingminimalexposurelevels.

IunderstandthatthekeycomponentofasoundRadiationProtectionProgramisasolidadherenceto
ALARAconsiderations.IwillmakesurethatALARAconsiderations(time,distance&shielding)arebeing
taughtandpracticedandincorporatedintotheRadiationProtectionProgram.

Iwillmakesure,thatifanygaugeworkersarenotprovideddosimetry,documentationisprovided
confirmingthattheyarereceivinglessthan500mremperyear.

Iwillcontinuallychecktoseeifconditionsoftheactivitiesofgaugeworkersnotwearingdosimetry
changedtowherethepossibilityofreceivinggreaterthan500mremperyearexists.

IftheydidchangeIwillperformanewevaluation.

IfinuseIwillensurethatdosimetryisprovidedforgaugeworkers.
Iwillcheckifanyworkersarereceivingmorethan500mrem.
IwillmakesurethatthedosimetrysupplierisNVLAPapproved.
Iwillmakesurethatdosimetryischangedontime.
Iwillreviewthedosimetryreportsastheyarereceived.
IwillmakesurethatNRCorequivalentAgreementStateformsarebeingused:
NRC4CumulativeOccupationalExposureHistory
NRC5OccupationalExposureRecordforaMonitoringPeriod

Examplesoftheseformscanbefoundintheappendices/attachments.

Iwillmakesurethatifaworkerdeclaredherpregnancyshewaslimitedtoamaximumof500mremfor

thetermofthepregnancy.Iwillmakesureembryo/fetusdoserecordswerekeptonfile.

Iwillmakesureallexposure,survey,monitoringandevaluationrecordskeptonfile.

PublicDose

Iwilltakestepstoprotectthegeneralpublic(nongaugeworkers)fromexposuretoradiation.

Iwillensurethatexposurelevelstothegeneralpublicarebelow100mreminayearor2mreminany1
hour.

Iwillmakesurethatgaugesarestoredinamannertokeepdosestothepublicbelow100mremina
year.

Iwillconductasurveyorevaluationofpublicaccessareasaroundthestorageareatoensurethat
exposurelevelsarebelow100mremperyear.

Iwillmonitoranygaugeadditionsorchangestothestoragearea,securityoruseofthesurrounding
areasthatwouldnecessitateanewsurveyorevaluation.

Iwillmonitorpublicaccessarearadiationlevelstodetermineifanyareashaveexceeded2mreminany
onehour.

Iwillmakesurethatgaugesarestoredinamannerthatpreventsunauthorizeduseorremoval.

Iwillkeepstoragesurveyandevaluationrecordsonfile.

Operating&EmergencyProcedures

Iwilldevelop,implementandmaintainCompanyOperating&EmergencyProcedures.

Allworkerswillhaveacopyoftheseproceduresandknowwhatstepstotakeintheeventofan
emergency.(PleaserefertoAppendixHoftheNRCsNUREGGuide1556Vol1,Operating&Emergency
ProceduresforanoutlineoruseyourAgreementStateprocedures).TheAPNGAwebsitealsocontains
informationtocomplementyourregulatoryagencyrequirements.Proceduresshouldincludethese
instructions:

Using&maintainingthegauge
Securityduringtransportandstorage
Control&surveillanceduringuse
KeepexposuresALARA
Constantaccountabilityduringuse

Howtodenyaccesstoadamagedgauge
Stepstotakeandwhotocontactwhenagaugeisdamaged

Iwillmakesuretheaboverequiredelements,asspecifiedbytheregulatoryagency,arepartofthe
procedures.

Iwillmakesureeachgaugeworkerandgaugecasehaveacurrentcopyoftheoperating&emergency
procedures,includingRSOoffice,cell&hometelephonenumbersaswellasthemanufacturersand
regulatoryagencyemergencycontactnumbers.

LeakTests

Iwillmakesureeachsealedsourceoneachgaugeleakwillbetestedontime(perthetimeinterval
statedonthelicense)andmakesuretheleaktestwasperformedperthedescriptionsandrequirements
oftheregulatoryagencyandthelicense.

Iwillmakesureallgaugeshaveacurrentleaktestbeforebeingremovedfromstorage.

Iwillmakesureleaktestresultsarekeptonfile.

Iwillmakesurethat,ifanysourcesarefoundtobeleaking,thegaugewillbepulledfromserviceand
theregulatoryagencynotified.

MaintenanceofGauges

Iwillmakesurethegaugesareroutinelycleanedandlubricatedperthemanufacturersprocedures,
therebyallowingoptimumsafetyandperformance.Iwillmakesurethatthesourcerodisnotremoved
duringcleaning,unlessspecificallylicensedtodoso.

Ifso,Iwillmakesuretoadheretothespecialrequirementspertainingtoprocedures,dosimetry,survey
instruments,individualsandcompliance.

Iwillmakesurethat3rdpartyserviceprovidersarelicensedtohandleourgaugemodelsandare
escortedatalltimes.IfwearepossessionofgaugesthatmeetquantitiesofconcernIwillmakesure
thattheserviceproviderhasanauthorizedbackgroundcheck.

Transportation

ToassurepropercomplianceoftransportationregulationsIwillonoccasionaccompanyeachworker
whiletheytransportagaugeandassurethatHAZMATrequirementsareunderstoodandmet.

Theevaluationwillcommenceatthestorageareaandconcludeuponreturntothestoragearea.

Iwillmakesurethatonlyundamaged,manufacturerprovidedandapproved,TypeAPackagegauge
casesareusedduringeverytransportofagauge.

IwillmakesurethatTypeAPackagetestresultsforeverydifferenttypeofgaugecaseinuseiskept
onfile.

IwillmakesurethataCertificateofCompetentAuthorityiskeptonfileforeachdifferenttypeof
sourceusedinthegauge.(Thiswillsatisfytherequirementfordocumentingspecialformcertificates.
Thesespecialformcertificatescanbeobtainedthroughthemanufacturerandcanusuallybe
downloadedofftheirwebsite).

Iwillmakesurethateverygaugecasedisplays(2)RadioactivelllabelsthatlegiblyshowtheTransport
Index(TI),sourcetypes&activities,andhazardclass(7).

IwillmakesurethateachgaugecasedisplaysaTypeApackagelabeldenotingUN3332,Radioactive
Material,SpecialFormandRQrequirements.

Iwillinstructworkersthateverygaugecasewillbeclosedandlockedforeverytransport.

Iwillinstructthatapplicablebillofladingandemergencyresponsesheetsaretobeusedduringevery
shipment.

Iwillassurethattheshippingpaperscontaintheproperentries:(Shippingname(RadioactiveMaterials),
HazardClass(7),UNIDNumber(3332),TotalQuantity(numberofgauges),PackageType(TypeA),
Nuclides(Cesium137and/orAm241),RQ(ifnecessary),Description(RadioactiveMaterial),Special
Form,Activity(inBecquerelsandMillicuries),Yellowlllabels,TransportIndex(TI),Shippersname,
Certificationandsignature,EmergencyResponseTelephonenumber,CargoAircraftOnlylabel.

Iwillinstructtheworkerstohavethegaugecasesecuredagainstmovementduringtransport.

Iwillensurethatdouble,independent,lockedcables,chainsorothersecuritydevicesareusedduring

transport.

Iwillinstructtheworkerstohavethegaugeconcealedwhiletransportedinavehicle.

IwillmakesurethatanyqualifiedtransportincidentsarereportedtotheUSDOT.

AuditorsIndependentSurveyMeasurements(ifmade)

IfanyindependentauditorisusedIwillmakesurethatthesurveymeasurementsdescribethetype,
locationandresultofmeasurements.Iwillnoteifanyradiationlevelsexceedregulatorylevels.

Notification&Reports

Iwillassurethatrequirednotificationsofincidentsaremadetotheregulatoryagencies.Thisdoesnot
includenonemergencyoversightsthatmustbenotedandcorrectedinyourRadiationSafetyProgram.

Iwillmakenotificationsofanylostorstolengaugesandmakeappropriatereports.

Iwillreportanyoverexposuresorhighradiationlevelsandnotethecausesandtakecorrectiveactions.

IntheeventofanyoftheaboveoccurrencesIwillcontacttheNRCEmergencyOperationsCenterat
3018165100aswellastheAgreementState,ifappropriate.

Posting&Labeling

Iwillpostormakeavailablecertaindocumentsand/orpostersforpublicviewing.IwillmakesureIam
familiarwiththeregulatoryagencysrequirements,beitNRCorAgreementState.

Iwillkeepalloriginalsunderlockandkeyandonlypostcopiesofthedocumentsandposters.

IwillposttheNoticetoEmployeesposterinanareaaccessibletoallemployees.

Iwillpostallregulationsandlicensedocumentsorpostanoticeastowherethesedocumentscanbe
viewed(postcopiesinapubliclyviewablearea).

Iwillbeawareandpostanydocumentsrequiredbytheregulatoryagencyorotherstateorlocal
authorities.

RecordkeepingforDecommissioning

Iwillbeawarethatregulatoryagenciesrequireaminimumof60daysnoticebeforeterminatingthe
licenseandtransferringordisposingofallgauges.Iwillbeawareofrequirementsandmaintainall
decommissioning,transferanddisposaldocuments.

Iwillmaintainrecordsimportantfordecommissioning.

Bulletins&InformationNotices

IwillmakesurethatIamonthemailinglistoremaillistfordocumentsissuedbytheNRCand/or
AgreementState.(Gotowww.nrc.govtosignupforNRCBulletins,InformationNoticesandNMSS
Newsletters.DothesameforyourAgreementState).

Iwillmakesurethatappropriatetrainingandactionsaretakeninresponsetothesenotices.

SpecialLicenseConditionsorIssues

Iwillmakesuretoreviewanyspeciallicenseconditionsorissuespertainingtoyourlicense(e.g.,non
routinemaintenance).

DeficienciesIdentifiedinAuditandCorrectiveActionsPlanned

IfIdiscoveranydeficienciesoroversightsduringtheyearIwillinvestigate,report,summarizeandtake
correctiveactionstorectifytheissue.Iwilldocumentthecorrectiveactions.Iwillmakesurethat
correctiveactionswillbetakenatalllicensedfacilities.Iwilllikewiseprovideanyrecommendationsfor
improvements.

EvaluationofOtherFactors

Iwillensurethatseniormanagementisconstructivelyinvolvedandinformedabouttheradiationsafety
program.

SeniormanagementwillassurethattheRSOhassufficienttimetoperformRadiationSafetyDuties.

SeniormanagementwillassurethattheRSOhassufficientstafftosupporttheRadiationSafety
Program.


SeniorManagementandRSOCommitmenttotheRadiationSafetyProgram

IdulycommittoupholdingtheRadiationSafetyProgram:
Title

RSO
SrManager

Name

Date