1. Policy StatementThe University is committed to ensuring the safety, health and security of staff, students and others who are on University premises and are working with ionising or non-ionising radiation. Under these circumstances there are special risks due to the nature of the hazard. These risks may have implications for those directly exposed or their offspring and may become apparent in the short or only after an extended period of time. This policy particularly applies to employees and students whilst performing tasks using equipment or substances that fall into the following categories.
2. LegislationThe Radiation Safety Act 1975 and the Radiation Safety (General) Regulations (1983-1997) provides a number of restrictions to the use of potentially hazardous radiation producing equipment. The Act is administered by the Radiological Council, a statutory body set up under the Act. The Act and Regulations refer extensively to current Australian,/New Zealand Standards and NH & MRC Codes. 3. ResponsibilitiesThe responsibility for implementation of the following general procedures rests with the relevant Heads of Schools, Managers and Supervisors. Each workplace is responsible for preparing and enforcing their own procedures and for informing, instructing, training and supervising staff and students whose activities are affected by this policy. To assist the Head of School maintain radiation safety within their School the University has nominated School Radiation Safety Officers and Local Laser Safety officers. Staff and students are required to comply with the workplace procedures and to report any accidents or incidents and also any safety, health or security concerns. Each individual is responsible for taking reasonably practicable steps to ensure their own safety and personal security when working with radiation. The Registrant and Radiation Safety Officer under the General Regulations are required to institute and maintain a system of radiation safety at the University. In particular the Registrant has appoint a Radiation Safety Officer and a Radiation Safety Committee to perform duties imposed regarding radiation safety as below: (a) prepare working rules for the safe use and operation of radiation (b) ensure that the Regulator is fully informed of radiation usage at the University (c) ensure that appropriate safety devices, equipment, radiation monitoring and surveying devices are available regularly tested and in good order. (d) provide medical examination of radiation workers where necessary; (e) maintain all records required by the Act and Regulations to be kept by the Registrant; (f) ensure that any conditions, restrictions or limitations imposed on the registration are complied with. (g) notify the Registrant of any suspected or known contravention of the Regulations and Act (h) if any person is unnecessarily exposed to radiation, evaluate the radiation dose received by that person. (i) notify the Registrant of radiation doses which exceeds the limits or any abnormal or unplanned radiation exposure (j) ensure relevant radiation users have the appropriate licences or are under the supervision of a licensed user. 4. Procedures4.1 Authority All personnel working with radiation must have received appropriate training in relation to the hazard. Unauthorised use of radiation is not permitted within the University. 4.2 Risk assessment of the radiation work to be carried out is required. 5. TrainingEach workplace area is responsible for preparing and enforcing their own procedures and for informing, instructing, training and supervising staff and students in these. Assistance with this is available from the Safety and Health on 6488 3938. 6. References
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