The college is required to maintain emergency response equipment as part of the reactor license. The college maintains approximately ten radiation protection instruments as well as temporary dosimetry and an air sampler. If these two alternate sources are not available, there are several dozen radiation survey instruments scattered throughout campus, but there are no more than two in any single location. For this reason, any attempt to clean up a spill involving I-125 will require forced air breathing apparatus. The TSO owns two Scott Air pack forced air packs, and are experienced in their use, but are not qualified to use them.
Certification is required by federal regulations.
Presently only one lab uses appreciable quantities of I-125. In conclusion, the TSO is capable of recovering from all but the worst of natural disasters, as they apply to the radiological situation on campus. Improvements could be made by including radiological survey instruments in the TSO vehicle, by providing for an alternate power source to the liquid scintillation counters, upon the loss of electricity, and by providing for the qualification of TSO personnel in the use of forced air breathing apparatus.