FW: Laboratory Eating/Drinking Policy

["Williamson, Matthew" <Matthew.Williamson@nypa.gov>]

Sorry for this length but I thought it would be applicable to others...

To name a few regulatory documents...

REG GUIDE 8.18
Information Relevant to Ensuring that Occupational Radiation Exposures at
Medical Institutions will be as Low as Reasonably Achievable

The following good work habits are particularly important in
ensuring that exposures are maintained ALARA:
  ... e.   Radioactive solutions should never be pipetted by mouth.
     f.   Eating, smoking, drinking, and application of cosmetics
should be prohibited in laboratories where radioactive materials are
handled....

REG GUIDE 8.23
Radiation Safety Surveys at Medical Institutions

1.8  Ingestion
     Surveillance should be included in the radiation safety program to
ensure that workers properly observe rules to prevent ingestion of
radionuclides, e.g., rules against eating, drinking, or smoking in work
areas or while wearing potentially contaminated clothing; storing foods
in work areas; pipetting by mouth; and wearing contaminated laboratory
coats to the cafeteria or other unrestricted areas.  Water fountains
close to radioactivity work areas should be smear tested regularly.

REG GUIDE 10.8
Guide for the Preparation of Applications for Medical Programs

j.   Describe contamination control procedures, including
prohibitions against smoking, eating, drinking, or applying cosmetics in
restricted areas and instructions for individuals who prepare doses and
radiopharmaceuticals to monitor their hands after each procedure and at
the end of the day.

5.   Do not eat, drink, smoke, or apply cosmetics in any area where
     radioactive material is stored or used.

NOTICE 95-51, Dated: 10/27/1995, 
Recent Incidents Involving Potential Loss of Control of Licensed Material

e.	Food and beverage storage.  
Generally, licensees have
procedures prohibiting eating, drinking, and smoking in
radiologically restricted areas.  In light of these events,
licensees should review their programs to determine how food,
particularly lunches, snack foods, and beverages in unsealed
containers, are permitted or stored in their facilities.

HPPOS-318	PDR-9306280312
Title:  Technical Assistance Request, Authorization of Employee Eating and
Drinking Areas in Labs at Veterans Administration Medical Center, Martinez,
California

...NMSS cannot justify an absolute requirement that all areas for eating and
drinking be separated from use areas by physical barriers such as doors.

The eating and drinking areas may be authorized, provided the following
radiation safety concerns are sufficiently addressed by VA-Martinez:

1.	The licensee must specify the typical procedures carried out,
quantities involved, and radioactivity measured for each isotope in each
lab.  Large quantities of radioisotopes may cause greater health and safety
concerns. For example, the procedures conducted in lab area 113A may involve
the use of phosphorous-32 or iodine-125 in millicurie quantities which could
result in considerable spread of contamination and could not be approved
without a barrier such as a door.

2.	The licensee must develop sufficient safety measures to assure that
there is no transfer of food, drink, or radioactive materials between the
radioactive material use area and the eating area.  For example, what
measures will be taken to assure that employees remove their protective
gloves and wash their hands before entering the eating area?

3.	The licensee must detail how the eating area will be separated from
the working area and how the flow of radioactive material into the area will
be restricted.  For example, the area could be marked by tape and posted
with signs, provided such notices are clearly visible to prevent inadvertent
entry with radioactive material.

4.	The licensee must confirm that food, drink, or personal effects will
not be stored with radioactive materials.  Specifically, does the eating
area designated in room 112A also serve as a radioactive storage area (is
radioactive material stored in the freezer, refrigerator, or cabinet)?

5.	The licensee must designate one sink in each lab that will only be
used for non-radioactive hand, utensil, and/or dish washing.   The sink must
be restricted from radioactive material and, if possible, should be in close
proximity to the eating area.  This sink should be included in the routine
laboratory surveys.

6.	The licensee must address the frequency of radiation surveys and
types of measurements to be made in each of the labs.  Alternatively, the
licensee may provide evidence that the existing frequency of scheduled
surveys for each lab and corresponding air filtration systems will be
effective in monitoring the safety of the designated eating areas.  For
example, one area of concern is whether wipe tests for removable
contamination of tritium and carbon-14 will be performed at effective
intervals in area 115A.

7.	The licensee must describe both initial and periodic training.  The
training must specifically inform employees of the restrictions in place and
precautions to be followed.  Both new and current laboratory personnel,
including janitorial and other assisting staffs who have access to the
laboratory, must receive training.

8.	The licensee must assure that entry and exit to the designated
eating and drinking areas can be obtained without bringing food and drink
through a radioactive materials use area.  This appears to be a problem with
room 112A.

The determination of the adequacy of the responses provided by VA-Martinez
to authorize the two eating and drinking areas is the decision of the
regional office.




Matt Williamson
Indian Point Unit 3
Williamson.m@nypa.gov <mailto:Williamson.m@nypa.gov> 	
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