Radiation safety

All staff members, students and affiliated researchers who’s work involves radiation are obliged to:

• attend mandatory courses (see Course link)
• apply the protective measures that apply to each type of radiation (see Course link and Radiation protection regulations)
• provide KI's radiation protection expert with a copy of the radiation risk assessment, RADRA (see Documents).

Ionizing radiation

Before implementing a new method/procedure/moment involving ionizing radiation, the requirements listed below must be met.

Radioactive substances (open/sealed radioactive sources)

Each research group/core facility shall obtain a local license from the radiation protection expert. A request for a local license shall be sent by e-mail to KI's radiation protection expert (see Contacts).

Work/research involving open radioactive sources requires mandatory courses listed below:

• Attend web course Introduction to radiation protection (repeated within five years)
• Attend course Open radioactive sources (repeated within five years)
• Attend introduction at the isotope laboratory with the radiation safety assistant of the research group.
• Review the radiation safety instructions at KI (see Regulatory documents).

Each research group/core facility shall provide KI’s radiation protection expert with a copy of a signed delegation for a radiation safety assistant (see Documents). In addition to the mandatory courses listed above, the radiation safety assistant shall also complete the courses below.

• Attend the web course Radiation protection assistant.
• Attend the web course KLARA radiation registration.
• Attend an introduction with the radiation protection representative of the facilities (see Contacts).

X-ray

KI’s radiation protection expert shall be contacted before purchase (or liquidation) of an X-ray equipment. The research group/core facility shall provide a contact person, who shall ensure preventive maintenance and radiation safety checks according to manufacturer recommendations.

KI staff involved with X-ray equipment is obliged to attend mandatory courses listed below. 

• Attend web course Introduction to radiation protection (repeated within five years)
• Attend the system specific course, for example
  • X-ray irradiator
  • X-ray imaging system
  • Dental X-ray imaging system
  • Other X-ray systems
• Attend an introduction at site with the contact person of the X-ray system.
• Review the radiation safety instructions at KI (see Regulatory Documents).

UV light

Contact KI’s radiation protection expert before purchase of UV equipment. The research group/core facility shall provide a contact person, who should be appointed to ensure that preventive maintenance and radiation safety checks is performed according to manufacturer recommendations.

Staff using UV sources are obliged to attend the web course Basic UV safety and attend an introduction at site with the contact person for the UV system.

Guideline values for UV exposure can be found in SSM's regulation 2008:48 (see Links).

Laser

Contact KI’s radiation protection expert before purchase of laser that might require a special license (laser class 3B or 4) according to SSM regulations (see Links). 

Staff using laser sources are obliged to attend the web course Basic laser safety and attend an introduction at site with the contact person for the laser system.

Nuclear holding

Nuclear holding at KI require fulfilment of Euratom 302/2005 (see Links). The nuclear elements are Uranium, Thorium and Plutonium. All staff members involved in nuclear holding shall attend the course Nuclear holding at KI and review the instructions for nuclear safeguards at KI (see Regulatory documents)