***This could be you . . .***

*A researcher ingested radioactive dust. He made notes on his work and
then held his pencil, which had dust on it from his hands, in his
mouth.*

# 1. Applicability of this chapter

You are required to follow this chapter if you handle radioactive
materials or radiation-producing equipment.

# 2. What this chapter covers

This chapter covers the minimum requirements for handling and using
radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment. The chapter
includes ionizing radiation such as X-ray diffraction units and
nonionizing radiation such as that produced by radar and microwaves.

Requirements for ionizing radiation

# 3. Ionizing radiation and why is it harmful

Ionizing radiation is any of the following: alpha particles, beta
particles, gamma rays, X rays, neutrons, high-speed electrons, protons,
and other atomic particles. Ionizing radiation doesn't include sound
waves, microwaves, radio waves, or visible, infrared, or ultraviolet
light. These are covered in the next subchapter. Ionizing radiation is
harmful because it alters the cells of the human body and could produce
cancer and other chromosome damage.

# 4. Precautions to take when working with ionizing radiation

If you work with ionizing radiation, you shall:

a.  Get approval to bring radioactive materials or radiation-producing
    devices onto JSC, Sonny Carter Training Facility, Ellington Field,
    and White Sands Test Facility. *No one*, whether NASA employees,
    contractors, visiting scientists, post-doctorate researchers, etc.,
    is allowed to bring any radioactive materials or radiation-producing
    devices onto JSC-, Sonny Carter Training Facility-, Ellington
    Field-, or White Sands Test Facility-controlled property until he or
    she gets approval from the NASA/JSC Radiation Safety Officer.

b.  Make sure you have been authorized by the Radiation Safety Committee
    (RSC) to work with radioactive materials or radiation-producing
    equipment. See specific authorization procedures described in Part 3
    of JPR 1860.2, "Radiological Health Manual."

c.  Wear appropriate protective clothing whenever you or your clothing
    could be contaminated.

d.  Wear personnel-monitoring equipment (usually dosimeters) if you work
    in a "Radiation Area." The JSC Radiation Safety Officer (JSC RSO)
    may require you to have a bioassay to check your level of internal
    radioactive material uptake.

e.  Make sure that you don't expose yourself or anyone else to radiation
    unnecessarily or beyond the permissible exposure levels contained in
    Part 3.9 of JPR 1860.2.

f.  Keep contamination levels as low as possible. Make sure that you
    don't carry contamination beyond restricted areas. See Part 3.6 of
    JPR 1860.2 for specific procedures on personnel and area
    contamination and maximum permissible contamination levels.

g.  Have written emergency response plans for both major and minor
    spills and releases as required by the RSC. Report to the JSC RSO
    and the Facility Manager as soon as possible after any incident
    where:

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1.  Someone could have been overexposed to radiation.

2.  Government equipment could have been damaged due to a spill or loss
    of control of a radiation source.

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h.  Use appropriate signs to mark restricted, radiation, high-radiation,
    or very-high-radiation areas. Mark any area that requires
    personnel-monitoring equipment. Standard signs with the radiation
    CAUTION symbol are available from the JSC RSO. Part 3.6 of JPR
    1860.2 describes specific sign requirements.

# 5. Controlling radioactive materials and radiation-producing equipment

You control radioactive materials and radiation-producing equipment by
tracking when and where it comes on site, where it is stored and used,
how it is transferred, and how it is disposed of. Follow these
precautions:

a.  The JSC RSO or designee shall approve all purchase requests for
    radioactive material or radiation-producing equipment. They will
    survey new packages containing radioactive material promptly
    (usually at logistics receiving) for contamination and radiation
    levels. See Part 3.5 of JPR 1860.2 for specific procedures.

b.  The JSC RSO needs to approve all storage and use areas for
    radioactive material. You shall:

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1.  Mark each room or area in which radioactive material is used or
    stored as containing radioactive material.

2.  Label each container of radioactive material as such. Part 3.5c of
    JPR 1860.2 describes specific marking and labeling procedures.

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c.  Document all transfers of licensed material, making sure that the
    material is properly identified and the radiation levels are
    controlled. The JSC RSO or designee shall:

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1.  Approve and keep a record of all radioactive material shipments.

2.  Certify that materials are properly classified, described, packaged,
    marked, and labeled under applicable regulations (both NRC and DOT).
    Part 3.5d of JPR 1860.2 describes specific procedures for
    transferring licensed material.

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d.  Request disposal through the JSC RSO. Only a licensed radioactive
    waste disposal contractor may dispose of radioactive wastes. There
    are limited exceptions. Don't release radioactive gases or
    particulate radioactive material into the air. Part 3.13 of JPR
    1860.2 describes specific procedures for disposing of waste.

# 6. Special requirements for off-site contractors doing radiographic work on site

If you are doing any kind of work involving radiation on site at JSC,
you shall follow all requirements in this handbook as well as in JPR
1860.2. In addition, you shall notify the JSC RSO 24 hours before
beginning work or before bringing radioactive materials or equipment on
site.

Requirements for non-ionizing radiation

# 7. Nonionizing radiation and why is it harmful

Nonionizing radiation includes any of the following from the
electromagnetic radiation spectrum: ultraviolet rays, visible light,
lasers (for laser controls, see Chapter 6.2 of this handbook), infrared
radiation, radar, radio waves, microwaves, and Hertzian waves. Equipment
that produces nonionizing radiation includes radio frequency (RF) and
microwave devices such as radar, telemetry, communications systems, and
test equipment; laser systems and optical devices; and microwave ovens.
Nonionizing radiation is classified as a physical agent and can be
harmful because it produces thermal and other effects that damage cells
in the body. RF and microwave devices may cause these effects through
electric and magnetic fields and induced currents. For more information
on hazards from nonionizing radiation at JSC, contact the JSC Radiation
Safety Office.

# 8. Exposure limits for nonionizing radiation

The exposure limits for nonionizing radiation depend on frequency. JSC
uses limits found in the ACGIH publication "Threshold Limit Values for
Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices"
(latest version). You can find additional information on exposure limits
for RF radiation in the ANSI/IEEE C95.1 Standard, "IEEE Standard for
Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency
Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz." Remember, as with all
hazardous physical agents, keep the exposure as low as reasonably
achievable. Contact the JSC Radiation Safety Office for assistance in
determining the specific exposure limit for the nonionizing radiation
from your equipment, process, procedure, or application.

# 9. Approvals for using equipment that produces nonionizing radiation

You shall receive approval from the JSC RSO/Laser Safety Officer before
using any nonionizing radiation source that can cause health or
biological damage. UL-listed COTS equipment that isn't modified is
exempt from this requirement.

# 10. Information to provide and precautions to observe to get approval for using equipment that produces nonionizing radiation

You shall:

a.  Describe the potential nonionizing radiation hazards and their
    controls to all personnel within the area.

b.  Make sure that everyone in the area knows your emergency procedures.

c.  Make sure that everyone who uses the equipment has demonstrated a
    thorough knowledge of the system operations and safety precautions.

d.  Immediately notify the JSC RSO and the area supervisor of any known
    or suspected mishap from your nonionizing radiation source.

e.  Notify the JSC RSO and the area supervisor of modifications to
    previously authorized nonionizing radiation systems. Don't operate
    the modified system without prior JSC RSO approval. Your
    modification may require approval by the JSC RSO or the RSC.

# 11. Precautions when working with nonionizing radiation

You shall follow these precautions when working with nonionizing
radiation:

a.  Don't look into waveguide horns, antennas, or open waveguides when
    any microwave equipment is on.

b.  Don't stay around high-frequency radiation over 25 mW/cm^2^.

c.  Ask the Radiological Safety Office to measure and evaluate the X-ray
    hazard posed by all equipment with voltages over 15,000 V.

d.  Don't wear metal jewelry or eyeglasses near electronic equipment
    radiating RF energy, even if the level is below the established safe
    value. Jewelry or eyeglasses may act as a conductor and cause a
    shock or burn.

e.  Follow Chapter 6.2 of this handbook, "Laser safety and health," for
    using and controlling lasers.

# 12. Requirements for RF interference

For RF interference, you shall:

a.  Make sure that the operation of industrial, scientific, medical, and
    other equipment generating RF energy doesn't interfere with
    authorized radio, radio-navigation, and telecommunication systems.

b.  Treat equipment generating RF energy between 30 Hz and 30,000 MHz as
    a cause of interference unless you provide the equipment with power
    line filters, shielding, bonding, and grounding.

c.  Keep RF energy within the limits in Chapter 7 of the *Manual of
    Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management*.

# 13. For more information on radiation protection

You can find more information on radiation protection in these
documents:

a.  10 CFR, "U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Rules and Regulations"

b.  21 CFR 1000 -- 21 CFR 1040, "Food and Drug Administration Rules and
    Regulations"

c.  29 CFR 1910.1096, "Ionizing Radiation"

d.  29 CFR 1910.97, "Nonionizing Radiation"

e.  49 CFR 177, "Carriage by Public Highway"

f.  ANSI/IEEE C95.1, " IEEE Standard for Safety Levels With Respect to
    Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to
    300 GHz," American National Standards Institute, 1982

g.  JPR 1860.2, "Radiological Health Manual"

h.  JPD 1860.4, "Radiological Protection Policy"

i.  JPR 1107.1, "The JSC Organizations," paragraph 4.5, "JSC Radiation
    Safety Committee"

j.  JPC 1152.15, "Medical Isotopes Subcommittee of the JSC Radiation
    Safety Committee"

k.  *Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency
    Management*, U.S. Department of Commerce, Chapter 7: "Authorized
    Frequency Usage," National Telecommunications and Information
    Administration, Washington, D. C., 1989

l.  *Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents
    and Biological Exposure Indices (TLVs^®^ and BEIs^®^)*, American
    Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist, latest edition

m.  ANSI/IEEE C95.1 Standard, "IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with
    Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields,
    3 kHz to 300 GHz"

n.  Presidential Guidelines for Diagnostic X-Rays at Federal
    Installations, approved January 16, 1978

# 14. Responsibilities for radiation safety

a.  As a ***supervisor***, you are responsible for:

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1.  Making sure that your employees participate in the JSC Radiation
    Protection Program.

2.  Providing training to your employees in their radiation tasks and
    procedures.

3.  Assuring that all JSC issued personal radiation dosimetry devices
    are returned to the Radiation Safety Office in conjunction with all
    employment termination.

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b.  As the ***JSC RSO***, you are responsible for:

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1.  Implementing JSC's radiation protection program.

2.  Supervising the Radiation Safety Office.

3.  Answering to the JSC Radiation Safety Committee.

4.  Being appointed by the Director, Space and Life Sciences.

5.  Following your specific JSC RSO responsibilities described in Part
    2.4 of JPR 1860.2.

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c.  The ***Director of the Space and Life Sciences*** is responsible
    for:

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1.  Making sure that the radiation protection program is developed and
    carried out.

2.  Securing licenses or permits where required.

3.  Establishing an RSC.

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d.  The ***Radiation Safety Committee*** is responsible for:

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1.  Coordinating the requirements for controlling radiation among the
    various agencies that regulate radiation.

2.  Approving all uses of radiation on site.

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e.  The ***Radiation Safety Office*** is responsible for:

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1.  Reviewing procedures.

2.  Monitoring operations.

3.  Educating personnel in radiation protection and in the safe handling
    of radioactive materials and radiation-producing equipment.

4.  Providing radiation dosimetry equipment such as thermo-luminescent
    dosimeters, pocket dosimeters, warning signs, and labels for
    radiation or radioactive materials.

5.  Making sure that all operations meet NRC requirements.