Part 610: Authorized User Responsibilities

• 610.10 Introduction
• 610.20 Responsibilities

610.10 Introduction

The authorized user is expected to maintain control and to properly use the radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment under their authorization. An authorized user must protect university employees, students, the public, and the environment from unnecessary exposure to radiation or radioactive materials.

610.20 Responsibilities

The following are the responsibilities of the authorized user:

1. Ensuring compliance with the Radiation Safety Manual and all applicable state and federal regulations.
2. Allowing the radiation safety officer or designee or other inspectors access to areas under their control for the purpose of inspecting, surveying or other matters pertaining to the use of radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment.
3. Training personnel in the proper procedures and safety practices for using radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment, and maintaining documentation of all such training.
4. Ensuring all personnel follow proper training procedures, and comply with the Individual User Responsibilities (Part 620) listed in the Radiation Safety Manual.
5. Informing personnel of proper accident or emergency procedures, supplying necessary materials to perform those procedures.
6. Promptly reporting accidents or incidents involving radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment.
7. Ensuring that contamination surveys and waste disposal procedures are conducted as required, and maintaining the user's log as required.
8. Notifying the Radiation Safety Committee or radiation safety officer of any personnel changes and corresponding personnel dosimetry monitoring requirements.
9. Operating electron capture detectors in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Verifying that the detector and instrument are compatible and ensuring the exhaust from the detector is properly vented.
10. Making available to each user a copy of the university's Radiation Safety Manual, the authorized user's Radiation Safety Committee authorization, and the authorized user's application and related documents.
11. Verifying that any shop, maintenance, custodial, service personnel, or any private contractors, are able to perform their duties in a contamination-free work environment. If contaminated equipment must be serviced, the radiation safety officer or designee must be contacted to supervise the necessary work.
12. Receiving approval from the Radiation Safety Committee or radiation safety officer for any changes, including new procedures, new isotope use, change in facilities, etc., in the authorized use of radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment prior to the actual change in use.
13. If planning to be absent from the university for more than thirty consecutive days, designating another authorized user to be responsible for his/her use of radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment. This designated user must be qualified in the use of radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment as allowed in the radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment authorization and must be approved by the Radiation Safety Committee.
    
    The authorized user must submit for approval a written request signed by the original authorized user, the designated authorized user and their department executives, to the Radiation Safety Committee assuring that the designated authorized user accepts and recognizes the associated responsibilities.
14. Requesting a final survey of his/her workplace when terminating the use of radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment. The authorized user shall ensure all radiation-producing equipment, radioactive materials and/or radioactive waste are accounted for, any personal dosimeters used are returned, and any required recordkeeping has been completed (see Part 305.50).