What is radiation?
Radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles. Natural forms of radiation include uranium and thorium found in soil or rocks and cosmic radiation from outer space. Man-made examples include X-rays generated by medical and dental equipment and radiation given off by radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine procedures. Visit the Health Physics Society website for more information.
What is the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation?
Ionizing radiation has sufficient energy to alter the atomic structure of an atom causing it to become charged or ionized. Examples of ionizing radiation include x-rays, gamma rays, alpha particles, beta particles, and neutrons. Non-ionizing radiation does not have sufficient energy to cause ionization. Examples include microwaves, radio waves, magnetic resonance imaging, and lasers. Visit the Radiation Emergency Medical Management website for more information.
What are the possible effects of exposure to ionizing radiation?
Effects are typically grouped into two categories: deterministic and stochastic. Deterministic effects have a threshold below which no effects are seen. Sunburn is a deterministic effect. Stochastic effects such as cancer have no threshold although the probability associated with experiencing a stochastic effect does increase with dose. Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection website for more information.
What does the Office of Radiation Safety do?
We manage the radiation safety program for UConn Health. The program has two primary missions. To ensure UConn Health complies with all regulatory requirements and to ensure occupational exposures are being maintained as low as reasonably achievable. Refer to the radiation safety manual or services section of this website for more information.
How do I contact the Office of Radiation Safety?
You can call us at 860-679-2250. You can also visit us in person. Our main office is located on the 5th floor of the laboratory building in L5048.
Who is the radiation safety officer and how do I contact this person?
The current radiation safety officer is Kevin Higgins. He can be reached through ORS or directly at 860-679-4925. You can also visit him in person. His office is located on the main floor of the laboratory building (LM045).
How do I know if I need a dosimeter badge?
Individuals likely to receive 10% of a federal limit or 25% of a state limit are required to wear dosimetry. We also require those working with or handling radioactive materials and all declared pregnant workers as well as those operating mobile x-ray equipment to wear dosimetry.
If you are working with radioactive materials or x-rays, or your job exposes you to ionizing radiation, please contact the Office of Radiation Safety. We will assess you to determine if dosimetry is required. If required, it will be provided.
What are my rights as a radiation worker?
Your rights as a radiation worker are outlined on the NRC website in Form 3. This form is posted in areas where radioactive materials are used or stored.
How do I obtain a copy of my personal exposure report?
Landauer badge wearers can obtain their exposure reports by following this link to the Landauer Individual Dose Review.
Instadose users should go to the Account Management Program (AMP+) website and log in with their Instadose application credentials. Once logged in, click on the “Instadose Reading History link”. You can also follow the “Read History” link located on the “Badges” and “Badge Reader” tabs of the application.
If you have any issues, questions, or issues navigating to your exposure records, please contact ORS at 860-679-2250.
What do I do if I lose my dosimeter or leave it at home?
For lost Landauer badges, please contact ORS at 860-679-2250 to obtain a temporary or replacement badge prior to entering a radiation area.
For Mirion (Instadose) badges, please contact the Graduate Medical Education Office at 860-679-2147.
Do not enter a radiation area without a badge and never use someone else’s badge.
What if I do not realize I am missing my dosimeter until after I am exposed?
Contact ORS at 860-679-2250. We will estimate your exposure and adjust your records.
How do I minimize my exposure to radiation?
Remember time, distance, and shielding. The less time you are exposed to a radioactive source or an energized radiation-generating device, the lower your dose will be. The more distance you place between yourself and a radioactive source or radiation-generating device, the lower your dose will be. Placing shielding between you and a source or radiation-generating device reduces your exposure. Use mobile shields whenever possible. Wear PPE (lead aprons/thyroid collar) whenever working in an area where fluoroscopy is performed.
What is a declared pregnant worker? How do I declare myself pregnant?
Declared pregnant workers are individuals who voluntarily declare themselves pregnant or indicate they are attempting to become pregnant. Once a worker formally declares a pregnancy, ORS provides two dosimeters. The torso badge is worn outside the lead apron. The fetal badge is worn around the waist, inside the lead apron. ORS will then ensure dose to the fetus remains below 500 mrem for the term of the pregnancy. Refer to the ORS SOP-1 or contact ORS at 860-679-2250.
How do I obtain lead/lead equivalent PPE, apparel, or eyewear?
Contact your supervisor. Departments are responsible for providing PPE. They maintain their own inventory of lead/lead equivalent aprons, thyroid collars, etc. If your location does not have sufficient lead/lead equivalent PPE, notify your supervisor and/or contact ORS at 860-679-2250.
Can I use my own lead/lead equivalent PPE here at UConn Health?
Yes, however, all lead/lead equivalent PPE, apparel, or eyewear must be inventoried, inspected, and tagged by ORS prior to initial use. It is then inspected annually.
Please contact ORS prior to using any personal items that have not yet been added to the lead apron inventory.
How do I obtain, transport, store, or dispose of radioactive materials?
Refer to the Radiation Safety Manual and contact ORS for instructions regarding the purchase, receipt, storage, or disposal of radioactive materials.
How often should my lab be surveyed?
Principal Investigators (PIs) actively using Radioactive Materials (RAM) must survey their labs monthly. Radiation Safety will audit to ensure this is happening. Radiation Safety will survey these same labs quarterly.
PIs not actively using but storing material in their labs are not required to survey the labs monthly. However, Radiation Safety will continue auditing and surveying them quarterly.
For labs not actively using or storing RAM, no surveys are required.
Contact ORS at 860-679-2250 with any questions.
What steps should I follow when purchasing radiation-generating equipment such as X-rays, CT, or C arms?
All radiation-generating devices (RGDs) must be added to the official inventory, registered with the State of Connecticut, and tested by a medical physicist prior to initial use. Please contact ORS at 860-679-2250 for assistance, prior to purchasing any new equipment.
How often should my X-ray, CT, or C-arm be tested and serviced? What kind of testing or servicing is required?
RDGs must be tested by a qualified medical physicist prior to initial use, once every 12 months, and following major maintenance. They also need to be inventoried in the Clinical Engineering computerized maintenance management system (TMS).
Most RGDs (those being used on patients) must also be preventively maintained on an annual basis. For more information, refer to the Medical Physicist Testing policy on the Policy Manager website and/or Contact Clinical Engineering at x2594.
Who is authorized to use x-ray equipment?
Physicians, Physician Assistants, and state/board-certified radiology/dental technologists are permitted to use X-ray equipment on patients. Additional training and credentials are required for CT, MRI, mammography, and fluoroscopy equipment. Contact the Medical Staffing Office at 860-679-4450 for more information.
How do I report a radiation safety concern?
Please report any/all safety concerns to your supervisor and to ORS in person, via email, or by calling 860-679-2250. As a radiation worker, you also have the right to contact the NRC as outlined in Form 3, Rights and Responsibilities of Radiation Workers.