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Abstract
Radiation Safety Programs at universities and colleges in the United States are responsible for the use, transport, and disposal of radioactive materials within the academic setting. The Radiation Safety Program must be designed in such a way as to ensure the safe use of radioactive material and minimum radiation exposure to radionuclide users.
As part of a needs assessment to study the incidents and accidents related to use of radioactive material which occur in the academic setting, a Radiation Safety Questionnaire was sent to Radiation Safety Officers in the United States. Twenty percent of the surveys were addressed to research facilities for comparison purposes. Accidents and incidents involving the use of radiation were analyzed and correlated to the number of Radiation Safety Officers (RSOs) employed, support staff, and size of student body.
Radiation Safety Program strength was compared with NRC violations to relate program capability with results. Data suggests an association between the number of RSOs employed, staff assistance and student body size with NRC violations.
Our results demonstrate a direct correlation between the number of RSOs employed by an institution and the incidence of NRC violations. In addition, the highest number of cases with NRC violations are associated with those institutions with two or less people assisting the RSO with radiation safety issues.
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