Environmental Health and Safety

Security Procedure Training for Authorized Irradiator Users

Revised: February 23, 2017

This training provides information on Security Procedures for authorized users of irradiators per Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations 10 CFR Part 37. Training shall be provided at a frequency not to exceed 12 months and when significant changes have been made to this security procedure program. This training addresses:

Granting Access to the Irradiator Room.

Types of User Access
Application Steps for Access

Security Oversight
Irradiator Operating Procedures
Renewal Requirements for Access

Granting Access to the Irradiator Room

The Chairperson of the LSU System Radiation Safety Committee shall name an individual to be a Reviewing Official. This Reviewing Official makes final trustworthiness and reliability determination on the background investigation for unescorted or escorted access to the irradiator room.
The Reviewing Official at LSUHSC-NO is the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), James J. Davis III.
The Reviewing Official may not initiate a background investigation without the informed and signed consent of the subject individual.
Refusal to provide, or the falsification of, any personal history information is sufficient cause for denial or termination of access.
The Reviewing Official shall maintain a list of persons currently approved for unescorted or escorted access.

Types of Access

Only two types of user access are allowed into the secure irradiator room.

Unescorted use
Individual may enter and use an irradiator by themselves.
Escorted use
Individual may enter and use an irradiator only if accompanied by an Unescorted user or the RSO.

Application Steps for Access

Unescorted use

First complete the General User Application for irradiator use and forward to the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) for review.
Once the information has been reviewed, the RSO will forward a Reliability and Trustworthiness form for you to forward to Human Resources for completion.
Once the information has been reviewed, the RSO will inform the applicant where they may acquire fingerprinting for an FBI background check.
Once the FBI background inspection report is reviewed by the RSO and he deems all necessary items have been completed, that person will gain electronic card access into the irradiator room.

Escorted use

First complete the General User Application for irradiator use and forward to the RSO for review.
Once reviewed, the RSO will forward a Reliability and Trustworthiness form for you to forward to Human Resources for completion.
Once reviewed, the RSO will grant escorted use.
No electronic card access is granted to Escorted Users.

Security Oversight

The University Police monitors access to the irradiator room around the clock.
Never allow any non-approved person access with you into the irradiator room. Allowing access to unauthorized personnel may result in suspension or termination of your ability to gain access to the irradiators.
University Police compares all individuals entering the irradiator room with an image file created by the RSO to identify who is in the irradiator room. If they cannot identify someone in the room they will:

Immediately go to irradiator room to investigate.
Inform all those in room to exit into the hall for verification.
Review image file and verify users have approved use.
If not approved, University Police will notify the RSO and take action as appropriate.
University Police will create a report of the incident and send it to the RSO.

Unescorted access:

Once approved for unescorted access, the RSO will assign users LSUHSC-NO electronic security card door swipe access into the irradiator room.
Once in the irradiator room after swiping door:

A email is sent to University Police and the RSO to indicate someone has entered the room.
You are being viewed in real time by University Police and your identity is being verified by an image file created by the RSO.
You are being videotaped at all times while in the room.

If University Police identifies you as an unescorted user they will take no action.
If University Police can't identify you as an unescorted user, they will arrive and investigate.

Escorted access:

Only unescorted access users or the RSO may accompany you into the irradiator room.

A email is sent to University Police and the RSO to indicate someone has entered the room.
You are being viewed in real time by University Police and your identity is being verified by an image file created by the RSO.
You are being videotaped at all times while in the room.

University Police takes no action if they identify you as an escorted user accompanied by a unescorted user.
University Police will proceed to the irradiator room to investigate if they identify you as an escorted user and you are not accompanied by a unescorted user or the RSO.

Irradiator Operating Procedures

Once in the irradiator room:

Make sure front door is closed.
Each irradiator has a use folder where you will need to record the following:

Your name.
Date and time.
Approximate exposure amount used in your experiment (Rads)

Once your experiment is complete:

Remove all of your items out of the irradiator.
Ensure the Irradiator is closed properly.
Ensure the front door is closed and leave the room clean.

Renewal Requirements for Access

Every 10 years after the initial approval access has been granted, unescorted users must submit to an updated fingerprinting background investigation.
The RSO will notify each unescorted user when the fingerprinting needs to be performed.
A signed consent must be obtained prior to any reinvestigation by the RSO. Withdrawal of consent for reinvestigation is sufficient cause for denial or termination of unescorted access authorization.
The RSO will submit the fingerprint card to the FBI for a history check.
The RSO will review the FBI history report and make determination if unescorted access is continued to be granted.

If you have questions or comments, please contact James J. Davis III, Radiation Safety Officer, at (504) 318-4952 or jdavis3@lsuhsc.edu.