Radiation safety committee
Charles Sturt University is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its employees, and to ensuring that students and visitors to the University premises are safe from risks resulting from exposure to radiation used in either teaching or research.
The Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) was established to ensure the University incessantly complies with the NSW Radiation Control Act (1990) and the Radiation Control Regulation (2003). The object of the NSW Radiation Control Act is to "secure the protection of persons and the environment from exposure to harmful ionising and non-ionising radiation to the maximum extent that is reasonable practicable, taking into account social and economic factors and recognising the need for the use of radiation for beneficial purposes". In line with the objectives of this Act, the Radiation Control Regulation was then established to ensure the safe use of radiation devices and radioactive substances.
The role of the RSC, in accordance with the above Act and Regulation(s), is to ensure radiation safety measures are maintained and complied with, across the University. The RSC fulfils this by:
- Creating, maintaining and disseminating a Radiation Safety Manual which incorporates guidelines, policies and procedures in the acquisition, handling, storage and disposal of radioactive substances, irradiating apparatus and the safe use of non-ionising radiation.
- Maintaining a master register of the location and use of all radioactive substances and irradiating apparatus.
- Recording and monitoring the licensing of appropriate officers for the receipt, storage and use of radioactive substances, and also the licensing of appropriate officers for the operation of irradiating apparatus.
- Considering the radiation safety and legislative implications of all proposed research involving the use of radioactive substances and/or irradiating apparatus conducted at the University, and approve that all meet the required radiation standards.
- Conducting annual audits of all Radiation Facilities at the University, to ensure they comply with the relevant Australian Standards, Acts and Regulations.
- Organising Laboratory Radiation Safety Training courses for staff and students who use radioactive substances and/or irradiating apparatus to ensure they are skilled in Laboratory Unsealed Source Radiation Safety.