Georgetown University Medical Center EH&S Newsletter
Susan Martin, DirectorSim Shanks, Radiation Safety Officer
How to Pass an Unannounced Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Inspection
How to Purchase Autoclave Bags
How to Suffocate in a Cold Room
How to Treat Ethidium Bromide Waste
How to Obtain a Copy of The Updated GU Lab Chemical Hygiene Template
Via this edition of the EH&S newsletter, the staff of EH&S hopes to provide explanations of EH&S policies and procedures. The Director and RSO both wish to begin this issue with an overview of the Environmental Safety and Health program.
As you may know, the EH&S program includes Biological Safety, Laboratory Safety, and Radiation Safety. The Institutional Biosafety Committee reviews and approves scientific use/ protocols involving potentially biohazardous materials. Similarly, the Radiation Safety Committee reviews/ approves the use of radioactive materials. EH&S implements the requirements of these committees and the respective governing agencies.
Laboratory safety is coordinated by EH&S through lab inspections, train-the trainer sessions, protocol review, and providing safety and health related information.
While committee members and EH&S staff play an important role in the safety and health program at GU, it is that of support and guidance. The success of the EH&S program due to the cooperation and professionalism of all GU staff.
This has resulted in the following: · A reduction in the number of work-related accidents at GU; and · Less fines from federal and local regulatory agencies.
EH&S would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff for their valuable contributions in making GU a safe place to work.
This is the first in a series of articles designed to give you the answers to those things you’ve always wondered about, but never knew quite how to ask. This article is about your portable survey meter and how you can best interact with it. Let’s start at the beginning and work to a height of satisfaction that you can personally achieve with your probe. Your portable survey instrument is divided into two parts. The probe, which you actually use to detect radioactivity, and the base, which contains the electronics and a meter face by which you are able to determine with some precision what your probe is seeing (or more accurately detecting). EH&S will describe how to interpret those detections in another article, so for now let us describe the basics in the best use of your instrument.
1. Look at the calibration sticker mounted on the base. Read the calibration date and calibration due date. All calibrations are performed yearly. If it is past the calibration due date, notify the Radiation Safety Office (RSO) before using the instrument.
2. Ensure that the probe is capable of detecting the isotope that you are using. Isotopes and efficiencies will be listed on the calibration sticker or on the probe. If you have more than one probe, match the listed serial number with the proper probe. If the isotope is not listed, contact the RSO.
3. Check for tightness of cable connections. Your instrument does not like being turned on with loose cable connections. Permanent damage to the instrument will occur!
4. Now check the battery strength. Exactly how you perform this check is dependent on the instrument manufacture, but they all have the same basic indicating method. Most often there is a battery position located on the on/off switch. The meter face will have a scale indicating battery full strength to the right, and lowest to the left. Bring the meter to the RSO if the batteries indicate a low reading.
If your meter has passed all the above checks and tests, you are ready to go into action. Turn the on/off knob to the lowest scale multiplication factor possible. Ensure that you are not close to any areas of radioactive storage or disposal. If you have a protective cap on the end of your probe, remove it. Turn on the audio. If you have an F/S switch, ensure it is in the "F" position.
Allow a 15-30 second warm up time. Determine the background by observing the needle movement. Watch for the highest and the lowest reading in a 10 second period. Take the average of the two and record this as your background.
If your meter has a check source, center the probe window into direct contact with it. Increase the range multiplier setting. Depress the reset switch each time until you can obtain a clear reading. This should agree within ±20% of the recorded value on the calibration label. If there is a problem, contact the RSO.
Now you are ready to take your probe in hand and begin your search either on yourself, your work area or throughout the lab and equipment. Remember: your probe is primarily unidirectional. It (the probe face) must be pointed directly at the region of interest to obtain the best results. Keep the probe face 1/2 inch distant from the surface you are scanning. Move your probe at a speed of approximately 1 inch/second. Listen to the audio and watch where you are pointing your probe. Do Not watch the needle movement! The audio will be your guide to contamination. It responds faster than the needle. Simply listen for a sustained increase of clicks that is at least twice the rate of your background.
If an accelerated rate in the clicking is heard, find the highest click rate and hold the probe at this spot and record the counts per minute. Find the center and determine the spread of the contamination. Take a wipe to determine if it is removable. Clean the area as appropriate and record the actions you took to decontaminate the area or object.
One last very important note. Never ever leave your probe exposed and unprotected when it is not in immediate use. Damage can easily occur and repair is costly. Cradle it and cover the probe face with the end cap. Protect it from sharp objects. Handle it and the base with loving care.
The findings of the inspection resulted in three Severity Level IV violations. A Severity Level IV violation is the least severe of four levels. None of the violations were due to activities in the research laboratories. This is the fourth consecutive year that NO violations were cited for activities in the research labs. This is a reflection of the willingness on the part of the research community to do that which is necessary to meet the requirements of federal and local regulations, even when the rules or policies sometimes seem to be excessive and time consuming. The Radiation Safety Committee, Georgetown University Administration and EH&S staff wish to thank and congratulate you for your efforts and cooperation.
A copy of the inspection report is available in the EH&S office, room LM12, Preclinical Science Building.
Normally breathing approximately 80% nitrogen, a person can suffocate if this concentration increases only slightly. The increased nitrogen means a corresponding decrease in the concentration of oxygen.
Some cold rooms have fresh-air supplied via ductwork to help reduce the likelihood of oxygen displacement. However, care should always be exercised when working with nitrogen in small, enclosed spaces such as cold rooms.
1. Perform the following in a fume hood.
2. For each 10 mg EtBr per 100 ml solution, add 100 ml household bleach. (Bleach deteriorates over time upon exposure to air. If in doubt about the quality, use an excess amount and stir overnight.)
3. Stir at room temperature for 4 hours*.
4. Rinse the destroyed EtBr solution down the sanitary sewer drain with 10 parts excess water.
Commercial filters are available that filter EtBr waste to remove it from solution. However, the filter must then be discarded as hazardous waste.
*A non-mutagenic solution of 2-carboxybenzophenone
results.
Above method taken from “Waste Disposal in Academic Institutions”, James Kaufman (editor), Lewis Publishers,
1990.
Basic Radiation Safety: Required for new RAM workers who cannot demonstrate they have had previous basic training in the handling and use of radioactive materials. Call EH&S for more information. New RAM Worker: Required for new laboratory personnel who are not required to attend the Basic Radiation Safety course. Refresher Training: Required for personnel using radioactive materials each 12 months (after completing either the Basic or New RAM Worker training).
Date Basic New Ram Worker Refresher Sept. 10 8-5pm, LA2 12:30-3:30, LA2 Oct. 8 9-12pm, LA2 Oct.15 4-5:30pm, LA6 Nov. 12 8-5:00pm, LA2 12:30-3:30, LA2 Dec. 12 9-12pm, LA6 Dec. 17 12-1:30pm, LA6 Call EH&S (7-4712) to register at least one day prior to the class.
Or email a message to: thompsonp@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu