Procedure for disposal of radioactive sources

Purpose

The procedure is designed to ensure that radioactive sources are disposed of in a responsible manner.

Scope

This procedure applies to all units at the University of Oslo (UiO) that dispose of radioactive sources.

Method

Disposal of waste

Requirements for waste rooms

The waste room must be locked, and access must be controlled. The entrance should be marked with signs indicating ionising radiation. The waste room must be shielded so that the radiation level outside does not exceed 7.5 ?Sv/h. At all times, the room must contain:

• an updated list of the radioactive waste with nuclide, activity level, date, and sender of the waste
• gloves
• an overview of contamination controls carried out and their methods

Equipment to measure the radiation level in the room and detect contamination must be available. The waste must be shielded so that individuals entering the waste room are not exposed to unnecessary radiation.

Preparation of waste

The waste should be packed in sealed containers that retain their contents. Old glass bottles may be used. The containers must be packed to protect them from impact. The waste must be clearly labeled with its contents (including chemical, biological, and nuclear data).

Order for collection

Radioactive waste must be delivered to an approved waste facility. Waste should be delivered annually and more frequently if needed. The approved waste contractor is the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE).

Disposal of radioactive sources

If radioactive sources are transferred to users outside UiO, one must ensure that the recipient has the necessary approvals to receive the source.

Reporting

Waste:

• Waste must be declared upon delivery.
• The amount of generated waste (nuclide, weight, activity) must be reported annually by 15 February to the Health, Safety, and Emergency Preparedness Unit, which is responsible for further reporting to the Directorate for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (DSA). The data should be summarized per institute/museum.

Encapsulated Sources: For radioactive encapsulated sources registered in DSA¡¯s electronic notification system (ems.dsa.no), a new notification must be sent when the source is disposed of.

Nuclear Material: Disposal of nuclear material (U, Th, Pu) should be immediately reported to DSA, and the material must be registered by weight in grams.

Tools

• Declaration of radioactive waste (avfallsdeklarering.no/)
• For registration in the declaration program, contact the Property Department.

References

See this page in Norwegian

Policy for radiation protection

Document information and change log

Responsible unit: Section for health, safety, and emergency preparedness