Radiation Safety Officers
Radiation Safety Officers (RSO) oversee the safety of radiation users in labs and are responsible for:
- administering personal and area monitoring
- record keeping
- emergency and incident procedures
- contamination control
- storage and transport
- ensuring risk assessments are conducted and reviewed
- X-ray safety
Training
You must complete the same training as radiation users, plus Radiation Safety Officer Training through myDevelopment.
A refresher course is available if you’ve completed training more than three years ago or trained elsewhere.
Ionising radiation approvals
Before using ionising radiation (X-rays, sealed or unsealed sources), you must complete the Request to Acquire, Relocate or Dispose of a Radiation Source. This is required for all procurement and use of radiation sources.
Monitoring
You should only issue an Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) badge to users who have completed the required training. To add or remove workers from the personal monitoring program, call ARPANSA on (03) 9433 2211, or send them a completed Wearer Registration Form (pdf).
Pregnant workers
Workers who’ve declared a pregnancy and whose work exposes them to radiation sources above regulatory limits require a monitoring program. You must arrange monitoring in line with the Using Ionising Radiation Procedure.
Purchase, acquisition, transfer and disposal of radioactive sources
Before purchasing:
- Check if the isotope amount or concentration is above the limits specified in Schedule 1 of the Radiation Regulations 2017. If so, a licence is required.
- If an ionising radiation source (X-ray, sealed source, unsealed radioactive material) is being procured, a Request to Acquire, Relocate or Dispose of a Radiation Source application must be in place for that source. You should check that the isotope and chemical form are covered by the approval.
Unsealed sources
Departments must maintain a logbook of unsealed source acquisition and use.
Sealed sources and irradiating apparatus
Notify HSW before you purchase, dispose of or transfer sealed sources, sealed source apparatus or irradiating apparatus. This includes:
- buying new equipment
- disposing of existing sources or apparatus
- transferring items to another department or outside organisation.
Transporting radioactive materials
Transport of radioactive materials must follow the Code of Practice for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (2019). Road transport must be arranged through a licenced courier. Contact HSW for support.
Need help?
Contact Health, Safety & Wellbeing at hsw@monash.edu