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IKN-RS-SOP-01: Receiving and Storage Radioactive Material

DOCUMENT NO.  :  IKN-RS-SOP-01

Introduction

Receiving Radioactive Material Procedures are used as a method to monitor the integrity of the package and indirectly keep the regulatory agencies aware the compliance with the packaging and transport regulations.

PURPOSE

To comply with the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 304 Radiation Protection (Transport) Regulation 1989. This procedure applies to IKN in order to protect workers and the public from unnecessary exposure from radioactive material.

RESPONSIBILITY

  • Radiation Protection Officer (RPO)
  • Physicist
  • Radiation Workers

FREQUENCY

Upon case

EQUIPMENTS

  • Approximately 2” x 2” absorbent paper wipes
  • Counting containers
  • Counting apparatus (contamination meter)
  • Calibrated survey meter

PROCEDURE

  1. All radioactive material delivered to designated personnel will remain unopened until the package is delivered to the appropriate department
  2. Designated personnel will check the package for damage. 
  3. RPO shall be notified if damaged packages are found and will remain in the receiving area until further instructions received from the RPO.
  4. Daytime deliveries by courier services will be delivered directly to the department ordering the material. If the package is undeliverable, it remains the responsibility of the courier service.

Regular Working Hours Delivery

  1.  If the package is not damaged it will be delivered to the department's respective personnel as listed on the packing slip.

After Hours Delivery

  1.  If the package is not damaged it will be delivered by security personnel to the Radioactive Temporary Store at L1 (X1-305).
  2. Individual departments will be responsible for picking up their respective packages promptly upon notification.

Receiving Radioactive Material

  1. Follow the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 304 Radiation Protection (Transport) Regulation 1989 guideline.
  2. Report any of the following incidents to the Radiation Safety Office:
    1. Dose rate at the package surface exceeds 2000 μSv/hr.
    2. Dose rate at 1m from the package exceeds 100 μSv/hr.
    3. Incorrect package label
    4. Inner package damage
  3. Establish procedures that document the following:
    1. Record of shipper, carrier
    2. Accuracy of labels, shipment, activity
    3. Entering of radioactive material to department inventory
    4. Condition of package received
    5. Method used to ensure package met regulatory criteria (wipe test, surveys)
  4. Compare the measured exposure rate at one meter with the TI on the shipping Label. This pertains to Yellow II and Yellow III labeled containers only.  The TI is the transport Index and is measured at one meter from any surface on the package.  If the measured exposure rate exceeds the TI by more than 20 %, stop the procedure and immediately notify the RPO.
  5. Verify that the wipe test counter has passed its daily constancy check.
  6. Wipe-test the surface of the package. Wipe, using a dry wipe with moderate pressure, over at least 100 cm2 of the surface of each package face.  Place the wipe sample in a counting container and place the container in the calibrated position in the wipe test counter.
  7. Open the package with the following precautionary steps:
    1. Remove the packing slip.
    2. Open the outer package following the supplier’s instructions, if provided.
    3. Open the inner package (if any) and verify that the contents agree with the packing slip.
    4. Check the integrity of the source container. Look for broken seals or vials, loss of liquid, condensation, or discoloration of the packing material.
    5. If anything is other than expected, stop the procedure and notify the RPO.
  8. Wipe tests the surface of the source container (primary shield) and records the results. The activity on the source container surface wipe samples must be less than 2000 dpm/ 100cm2.
  9. Identify any contaminants by gamma-ray spectrum. Count the room background and calculate the net counts above background for each contaminant.
  10. Record all data in form IKN-RS-F-055 Radioactive Material Receiving Record.
  11. Maintain all receiving records for a period of at least 2 years.

Storage of Radioactive Material

  1. The storage area for radioactive material requires the following:
    1. restricted access to only those personnel authorized by the licence or permit
    2. radiation warning sign indicating “radioactive material”
  2. Radioactive material with a half-life of less than 90 days may be transported to the designated longer term storage area to permit the decay of the activity to background levels. Currently the designated storage areas are:
    1. Nuclear Medicine Radionuclide Ward : Room WA155
    2. Nuclear Medicine Clinic : Room NM147
    3. Radioactive Preparation room : Room RT270
    4. Radioactive Storage Room : Room RT244
  3. Any material being placed in the longer term storage area should be packaged and labelled accordingly:
    1. Radioactive waste disposal container, available in selected area/rooms should be used. The boxes are pre-labelled with a radiation warning symbol. Any other containers must have a radiation warning symbol attached.
    2. The contents of the container should be contained in an appropriate plastic bag to prevent leaking of any contents. Biohazard labels must be fastened to any container containing biohazard waste.
    3. A radioactive material storage tag must be filled out and attached to the container or any other container being placed in the storage room. Storage tags are available in the storage room or from the radiation safety office. Storage tags must indicate the department or permit holder, isotope, and quantity of material, date placed in storage, the earliest release date and the signature of the RPO before placing the item in storage.

REFERENCES

  1. Atomic Energy Licensing (Basic Safety Radiation Protection) Regulations 2010.
  2. Atomic Energy Licensing (Transport) Regulations 1989.
  3. Nuclear Medicine Resource Manual, IAEA 2006.
  4. Applying Radiation Safety Standards in Nuclear Medicine, Safety Reports Series No. 40, IAEA 2005

DISCLAIMER

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was developed based on compilation of best available information, knowledge, field experience, and general practices to provide guidance to IKN staff in performing the activities defined herein, in a consistent and standardised manner.
IKN does not guarantee nor accept any legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained herein.
IKN shall take no responsibility for and will not be held liable for this document being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our power and control.