Radiation Safety
Carnegie Mellon University uses ionizing radiation emitted from radioactive material (RAM) and radiation-producing devices (RPD) for teaching and research purposes. These activities may present risks to the user, to other individuals and to the environment. The university has put forth its own policies, procedures, and guidelines to establish a safe work environment for personnel who use radioisotopes, x-ray producing equipment, or other sources of ionizing radiation.
The university’s Radiation Safety Program (RSP) has two major objectives:
- To achieve full compliance with local, state and federal laws and regulations governing the use of RAM and RPDs
- To ensure that persons engaged in these activities keep their radiation exposures "as low as reasonably achievable" (ALARA)
About Radiation Safety
Services
Organization
Carnegie Mellon University operates under the provisions of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP)-Bureau of Radiation Protection, Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and the Title 25, for the procurement, possession, transportation, and use of all radioactive materials (RAM) and radiation-producing devices (RPD). The physical form and activity of the materials that the university may possess at any one time vary depending upon the licensure requirements.
Two licenses authorize the use of RAM and RPD's on campus:
- USNRC/DOE special nuclear materials license
- PADEP specific license and RPD registration
Executive Management
The Executive Management Representative (EMR) is at the senior level of management and, as the delegate for the university’s President, has the ultimate responsibility for the licenses and the activities associated with the RSP. Therefore the EMR has a key role in overseeing implementation and management of the RSP. The EMR is a member of the RSC, and attends all committee meetings.