Article Published 08/23/18
For researchers approved for but not currently using radioactive material in their laboratories, there are two options that can help ease the regulatory burden on your operation.
Cancellation
When you are completely done working with radioactive material, contact EHS and request that your radioactive materials use authorization be cancelled. EHS staff will come to your lab, remove any radioactive materials you may still have, and perform a radiological survey of the area to ensure there is no radioactive contamination or ambient radiation levels above background. Once this is complete, EHS will remove the ‘Radioactive Materials’ postings from the specific room(s) and these will no longer be considered radioactive use areas; your authorization will be cancelled.
Cancelling your use authorization will require you to submit a new application if you decide to resume work with radioactive materials. Therefore, this option should only be used when such research is terminated.
Inactivation
If you are temporarily done working with radioactive material, contact EHS and request that your radioactive materials use authorization be placed into inactive status. EHS staff will come to your lab, remove any radioactive materials you may still have, and perform a radiological survey of the area to ensure there is no radioactive contamination or ambient radiation levels above background. Once this is complete, EHS will remove the ‘Radioactive Materials’ postings from the specific room(s) and these will no longer be considered radioactive use areas; your authorization will be inactivated.
If you decide to resume use of radioactive materials, contact EHS to activate your use authorization. EHS staff will post your lab(s) and meet with the Principal Investigator to review radioactive material use, protocols, and staff. A researcher can maintain their radioactive material use authorization in an inactive state for up to ten years. After ten years, the authorization will be automatically terminated and future use of radioactive materials will require submission of a new application.
Contact Laurie Scholl at 353-5389 with questions.