Re: Radioactive Material Distribution

[Paul Lavely <lavelyp@uclink2.berkeley.edu>]

At UC Berkeley we receive as many as 5,000 packages a year. We have a good working agreement with our purchasing department. The process is that vendors (and others) are to send ALL radioactive shipments directly to us. We receive the package and verify that the authorized user has a permit for that isotope, chemical form, amount and that they will not exceed their yearly order limit. If all is OK, we survey the box, open it to the primary container (some exceptions), and survey for leakage.

The box is repacked, sealed, and is delivered to the building storeroom or directly to the lab (depends on size of the department and if they have a central storeroom). The storekeeper delivers to the lab and verifies that the "lab" gets the package.

In the last ten years we have lost one package and that was due (we think) to the box being disposed of as trash before the vial was removed.

So far this system has worked and the users, regulators, and shippers have accepted it.

Paul Lavely
(510) 643-7976



>Here is another question for Radiation Safety Officers at reseach
>institutions. How do you ensure that individuals who pick up radioactive
>material packages from the Radiation Safety Office are authorized? That is,
>how do you know they should receive the material for the Authorized User
>listed on the package? Do you have a list, ID badge, special password?
>
>Thanx,
>Bob
>
>Robert Casparius, RSO
>Radiation Safety Office
>University of Kentucky
>102 Dimock Animal Pathology Blding
>Lexington, KY 40506-0076
>recasp0@pop.uky.edu
>http://www.uky.edu/FiscalAffairs/Environmental/radiation/welcome.html
>Phone: (606) 323-6777
>Fax: (606) 323-4752