Designated Areas Identification of and Areas and Designated Sinks The presence and extent of and areas may be identified as described below and shown in figs. 1 & 2. Designated sinks may be identified by the labelling described in figs 3 & 4. The designation of both and areas, and designated sinks, should be regularly reviewed to ensure that they are correctly classified and labelled. Both the URPO and the RPA must be consulted regarding any proposed changes to the designation of these areas. If radiation work is discontinued in an area which was previously designated as a or area, or if a designated sink is no longer required for disposal of aqueous radioactive waste, a thorough check must be made by the RPS to ensure that no contamination remains. Results of the monitoring must be recorded and a copy sent to the URPO. All radiation hazard signage should then be removed. Please refer to GN18. Areas Designation of areas Regulation 16 of the IRR99 requires that an area be designated as a Area if: any person is likely to receive an effective dose greater than 6mSv a year (or an equivalent dose greater than 3/10 of any relevant limit; or it is necessary for special procedures to be followed to restrict significant exposure or limit the probability and magnitude of radiation accidents). Each area must be physically demarcated, or, if this is not reasonably practicable, delineated by some other suitable means and all access points to areas must be labelled with suitable radiation warning signs. In the case of a mobile sealed source or mobile x- ray unit, a temporary controlled area may be described by reference to distances from the source. Fig1. Area S.Willis Page 1 of 6 Newcastle University
Access Access to areas is restricted to Classified persons or persons (workers or visitors) following an approved written system of work which will ensure that they are most unlikely to receive more than three-tenths of any dose limit. Entry into a area must be solely for the purpose of carrying out approved duties or procedures and all involved must have received adequate training. Except for the RPS, URPO, RPA, USO s or Inspectors exercising a statutory power, or in cases of fire or other serious emergency, no-one else may enter a area without following a written system of work. In the event that a visitor who is a Classified worker at another establishment requires access to a area, the URPO should be consulted in order to ensure that the requirements of Regulation 15 of the IRR99 may be met. Systems of Work A system of work should be drawn up by the relevant RPS, in conjunction with the URPO & RPA. It should be clear and concise but must include information on time restrictions, and safety clothing, handling devices, shielding etc. which are required. Personal monitoring of the persons to whom the system applies will be required to demonstrate its effectiveness. Such monitoring records will be kept for two years. Access to Areas by Maintenance and Cleaning Staff Maintenance and cleaning staff may not enter any room which displays a radiation warning sign on the door, nor touch any bench or apparatus displaying the sign, unless explicit permission has been obtained from the RPS (or authorised deputy or URPO) and, where maintenance work involves a potential radiation hazard, entry is in accordance with a Permit to Work. Suitable permit to work forms for this purpose are issued by the University Safety Office and are also available as URPO Form PW1 (RPO GN17). The RPS is responsible for checking that the area/equipment is free from any significant radiation or contamination before signing the permit and giving permission for work to commence; this may involve monitoring the area and temporary removal of sources of radiation. The RPS must also ensure that any activities within the department which could introduce a fresh radiation hazard have been stopped for the duration of the work. Areas Designation of Areas areas must be designated if any person is likely to receive an effective dose greater than 1mSv a year (or an equivalent dose greater than 1/10 of any relevant limit; or it is necessary to keep the conditions of the area under review to determine whether the area may require designation as a controlled area. In practice this requirement is extended to cover all areas used for handling radioactive materials which are not designated as areas. Areas in which radioactivity is present solely in the form of samples prepared for liquid scintillation counting need not be defined as areas so long as the samples to be counted are below the exemption levels. areas need not occupy an entire room but will cover work-stations or storage locations where radioactive S.Willis Page 2 of 6 Newcastle University
materials are present. All such areas must be identified by means of suitable radiation warning signs. Fig 2. Area Access to Areas There are no special restrictions on access to supervised areas, but radioactive materials, x-ray equipment, and equipment/workstations marked with the radiation hazard trefoil (because of potential contamination) should only be used by registered radiation workers. Designated Sinks Aqueous radioactive waste may only be disposed of via sinks specifically designated for this purpose. No radioactivity may be put into undesignated sinks. A label (see Fig. 3) must be clearly displayed above all designated sinks. Designated sinks must not be used for washing or drawing water and must be kept clean and uncluttered at all times. Pipe work below designated sinks must be labelled (see Fig. 4) to warn maintenance staff of the potential hazard. Due to the risk of accidental contamination the space below a designated sink must not be used for storage. S.Willis Page 3 of 6 Newcastle University
Figure 3: Designated Sink Signage Figure 4: Designated Sink Tag Designated sinks and associated pipe work are identified on building plans. Maintenance work on designated sinks and associated pipe work may only be carried out with the written approval of the RPS. For further information refer to Permit to Work Systems issued by the University Safety Office or URPO Form PW1 (RPO GN17). The RPS should advise the URPO of any proposed changes to sink designation. Old Records Old records less than 2 years old which are no longer required by the school (e.g., moved lab) must be sent to URPO for long term storage. Records from laboratories that have ceased radiation work or ceased to exist (refurbishment works) must be sent to URPO for long term storage. S.Willis Page 4 of 6 Newcastle University
Designated Laboratories Open Sources Description / School 4.10 Devonshire IRES M1040 Cookson ICaMB M3034 Cookson ICaMB M4042 Cookson IAH M4056 Cookson ICM MB224 Haematology ICM M3114 Leech ICM B58 Bedson NSc 1.1 Wolfson ICM M1051 Cookson ICaMB M1086 Cookson ICaMB M2017a Cookson ICaMB M3013 Cookson BMS M3023 Cookson BMS M4015 Cookson IAH M4057 Cookson ICM MB097 Cookson CBC MB120 Cookson CBC G30 Dental NNP E77 Dental NNP 1.003 POG NICR 1.013 POG NICR GRAN POG NICR GRAN Leech BMS M1143b Leech URPO M2164 Leech ICaMB M4127 Leech ICM MBRWS Leech URPO S.Willis Page 5 of 6 Newcastle University
Institute for Human Genetics (ICFL) G117 ICFL (NHS) DMGU G223 ICFL (NU) HMGU BRWS ICFL IHG Campus for Ageing and Vitality F05 PET-CT Scanner PET Waiting Suite Wolfson Research Centre Newcastle MR Centre Newcastle MR Centre - annex Closed Sources MG171 Dental School R340 Bedson Building M1.143 Leech (URPO) E4-34 Merz Court X-ray generators Description M3.036 Cookson X-ray Diffraction MB064 CBC PET-CT& Sealed Source Description 513B Herschel X-ray diffraction G20 Bedson X-ray Diffraction MB047 CBC Irradiator G0.28 Paul O Gorman Irradiator B107 ICFL Irradiator Basement Stephenson Stress Analysis 3011 Drummond X-ray Diffraction 3.7 Daysh Sedigraph particle analysis 3.7 Devonshire Portable XRF S.Willis Page 6 of 6 Newcastle University