Radiation Safety Training

[Max deLaubenfels <madness@u.washington.edu>]

	Sue,
	Everyone working with radioactive material here at the UW 
undergoes training.  The full course is 8 hours, covered in four 2 hour 
sessions.  For researchers who arrive at the UW with previous training, 
we require only that they attend the last two sessions, which deal with 
UW rules, survey techniques, and waste regulations.  The first two class 
sessions cover basic radiation physics and the biological effects of 
ionizing radiation.  Everyone, regardless of training, is required to 
pass a 25 question exam that takes about 40 minutes.  The exam is open 
book and they correct their own exam.  We have a booklet that we give to 
each worker that has all of the class information in it, as well as data 
about specific nuclides.  Currently we have no annual training, but that 
may change very soon.  From the information you gave in your message I 
personally don't believe you are over training your people.  We do get 
researchers through here who believe they should be exempt from any sort 
of training at all, especially when they have had extensive training 
elsewhere.  We argue that there are safety procedures here that are 
likely UW specific and that they should become aware of these at the 
least.  The State Department of Health backs us up on this, and for that 
reason we don't get a lot of protracted argument.  Safety training is 
important, especially these days when the various regulations are 
changing so rapidly.  2 1/2 hours is VERY reasonable, in my oppinion.  I 
hope this helps...

Max deLaubenfels
Radiation Safety
University of Washington
madness@u.washington.edu