Environmental, Health & Safety Office

MERCER UNIVERSITY

Institutional Radiation Safety Committee (IRSC)
 

Membership    

The President of Mercer University designates the Senior Vice Provost for Research & Institutional Official as the individual responsible for administrative oversight of the Radiation Safety Program. The Senior Vice Provost for Research & Institutional Official appoints the members of the Institutional Radiation Safety Committee annually.  

Current Membership

Meetings

The IRSC will meet at least once every six months. The IRSC Chair can designate additional meetings as necessary, or at the request of one of the members or Radiation Safety Officers (RSO). All meetings will be recorded in the form of minutes. Minutes will be distributed to all members for approval.

Quorum

In order to conduct business that requires voting, at least one half of the members must be present, including the University Radiation Safety Officer (URSO).

Responsibilities

Members of the IRSC are expected to:

1. Commit to regularly attend scheduled meetings

2. Understand the conditions of Mercer University’s Specific Limited License

3. Review the Mercer University Radiation Safety Manual

4. Become familiar with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Rules and Regulations for Radioactive Materials, Chapter 391-3-17

5. Committee members must review for approval or disapproval all applications to use radionuclides, including protocol / project descriptions. This process may be conducted outside of the official meetings, via email delivery of applications to all members.  Then, a vote will be conducted via email.  Results of the vote will be discussed at the next scheduled meeting and recorded in the minutes.

6. The committee will consider all situations brought forward by any member, or any concerned individual.

7. Members will selectively participate in an annual review of the radiation safety program.

Authority

The IRSC in conjunction with the URSO has the authority to identify radiation safety problems and initiate recommendations and corrective actions.

Applying to Use Ionizing Radiation

A faculty member, or Principle Investigator who wishes to use radioactive material  regardless of quantity (exempt quantities are not excluded) or any instrument that generates ionizing radiation must follow the procedure outlined below.

1. A Statement of Training and Experience in Radioisotope Handling form must be completed and submitted to the RSO and or URSO.

2. An Application for a Permit to Use Radionuclides  must be completed and submitted to the RSO and or URSO.

Note: The training and experience form is only required if you are applying for the first time. However, an Application for a Permit to Use Radionuclides must be completed for requests for new radioisotopes and or new protocol or project descriptions.

Note:  For more information, please refer to the Radiation Safety Manual.