Generally Licensed Po-210 Static Eliminators

[Wes Van Pelt <VanPeltW@idt.net>]

Hi Radsafers,

I have a question about how you manage Po-210 static eliminator devices
which are received under a general license (see 10 CFR 31.3).  

These include devices which have a small brush and a Po-210 source used
to clean lab balances and eliminate static electricity in balances and
elsewhere. They can contain up to 500 microcuries each.

And they can be purchased from scientific catalogs and other catalogs
without any regard to radiation safety. Clearly, they can be purchased
by "anybody".

The general license (i.e., 10 CFR 31.3 itself) is quite clear that these
devices must comply with 10 CFR parts 19 and 20, as well as portions of
part 30. (Anybody disagree?)  This would include compliance with such
issues as inventory, signs, labels, contamination surveys (maybe),
transfer, disposal, employee training, etc.

My question is: if you are the RSO of an institution, do you track these
items, do you conduct routine inventory inspections, conduct employee
training, control purchase, control transfer, control disposal, control
DOT shipment, etc.??? 

Thanks in advance for your comments. If you would like to respond
directly to me 
(mailto:VanPeltW@IDT.net), I will anonymously summarize your comments.

Regards,
Wes
-- 
Wesley R. Van Pelt, Ph.D., CIH, CHP                KF2LG
President, Van Pelt Associates, Inc.     
Consulting in radiological health and safety.
mailto:VanPeltW@IDT.net        
http://shell.idt.net/~vanpeltw/index.html