Simple physical, chemical, and biological safety assessments as part of a routine institutional radiation safety survey program.

Abstract

To assist in providing comprehensive surveillance for potential health and safety hazards, simple assessments of physical, chemical, and biological safety concerns were incorporated into traditional radiation safety facility surveys for a biomedical research and clinical care facility for a 1-y period. Customized training was provided to radiation safety staff members concerning each of the hazard areas identified and a brief checklist was developed. During the 1-y period 802 laboratory and clinic surveys were performed, and of the 372 safety issues noted by the staff, approximately 55% were identified as not related to traditional health physics surveillance activities. The utilization of these simple safety audit tools as part of a routine radiation safety surveillance program can serve as a cost effective way to assist in maintaining a teaching, research, and clinical environment that is free from a variety of recognized hazards.