Re: audits/surveys?

[Joel Baumbaugh <baumbaug@nosc.mil>]

         John (and RADSAFERS),

         This subject "should" be in the archives somewhere as I "believe" 
that I remember some discussion on it in the past (although it may have 
been on another listserver).  Although you requested a reply only to 
yourself, I think that I'll reply to the list as I'm "sure" that this will 
generate some input and may be of interest to others... If I am in error in 
my supposition, than I apologize in advance to all who's mailbox(s) I'm 
trashing...jb

At 12:28 PM 8/29/00 -0500, you wrote:
>A question for the large university and other broad scope RSOs out there:
>
>How often does your department audit your authorized users?

         John, it depends on the type and amount(s) of radioisotope(s) (and 
sometimes chemical forms) used....(and in these days of belt-tightening how 
many "qualified" personnel you have to survey the labs).

>How often does your department wipe and/or meter survey their labs?

         It depends on the type and amount(s) of radioisotope(s) used (etc. 
above)... At Universities I've worked at (and at my current facility) - 1, 
2, 3, 4, or 6 month intervals depending on the above caveats, and the past 
"history" of the laboratory (i.e. are they neat/tidy and conscientious or 
"pigs").


>How often do your authorized users wipe and/or meter survey their labs?

         It depends on the type and amount(s) of radioisotope(s) used  <- 
do you detect a pattern here (grin)? - weekly to twice a year, depending 
on......(note the answers to #'s 1 - 3)


>Do you have a system of classifying their labs which may affect the 
>frequency of these audits or surveys?  What is the basis for the 
>classification?

         Note the answers to #'s 1 - 4 above....

         John, the system in use at UCSD has worked VERY satisfactorily for 
close to 20 years.  The actual classification methodology is listed in your 
UCSD Radiation Safety Manual and is a part of your Radioactive Materials 
License (RSM page II-5).  It gives a Hazard Guide Value (HGV) depending on 
how many mCi of a radioisotope is used/year, the "use factor" and the 
"relative toxicity factor".  HGV amounts (totals) then give you a 
Laboratory Classification A-1 - A-3, B-1 - B-3, C-1 - C-3 (with special 
classes for Sealed Sources, Human Use applications and "machines" and then 
the lab's final classification (Lab Classification) gives you a #'s of 
inspections/yr.  Pretty straight forward.... Most Universities I have 
worked at/visited use a "very" similar system.  In fact, UCSD has asked 
this very question of other Universities in the past and decided (a) why 
re-invent the wheel, because (b) if it isn't broken (ain't broke), why fix 
it...?

         Hope this helps,

         Joel Baumbaugh (baumbaug@nosc.mil)
         SSC-San Diego
___________________________________________________________________

>Please respond directly to me at:
>
>jzummo@ucsd.edu
>
>I will post a summary of the responses in 2 weeks.
>
>Thanks.
>
>John Zummo
>RSO
>UCSD
>
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