Ethics Guidelines

Part B - Guidelines for Projects Involving Ionising Radiation

Section 11 - Work Areas

Note that a comprehensive guide to the Australian Antarctic Division's work areas where radioisotopes can be used is in the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) Ionising Radiation Safety Manual.

11.1 Design aspects of laboratory work areas should be in compliance with the Australian Standard Safety in Laboratories. Part 4: Ionising Radiations AS2243.4 -1998. The user in conjunction with the AAD's RSO shall discuss work areas and should pay particular attention to the following sections in the code:

classification of laboratories using radioactive substances;
siting and layout of laboratory including location of laboratory and arrangement of rooms;
architectural aspects of laboratories including surface finishes (floors, walls and ceilings, working surfaces), laboratory furniture and fittings, and services;
ventilation of laboratories;
fume cupboards:
sinks

Note: Laboratory facilities shall have a clearly labelled sink equipped with drainage for retaining potentially contaminated water. All such water shall be returned to Australia for disposal.

11.2 Particular care should be taken with laboratory location and design on ships. Laboratory work on board ship suffers additional difficulties from movement and competing needs of other ship facilities.

11.2.1 In recent years there have been instances where natural abundance radioisotope work at the Antarctic stations and on RV Aurora Australis has been compromised by the nearby use of synthetic nuclides. The ship radioisotope laboratory should be reserved exclusively for radioisotopes, and should be able to contain spills of radioisotopes under adverse weather conditions.

11.2.2 Synthetic nuclide work is only to be done on the RV Aurora Australis in designated radiation container laboratories on deck. If natural abundance radioisotope work is to be done on a voyage then the CTD room is to be designated as a 'clean room' for that voyage, with restricted access to personnel and clothing changes required on entry etc.

11.2.3 Synthetic nuclide work has been undertaken in the laboratory complexes at all bases. Therefore natural abundance radioisotope work is to be done at a station in a designated 'clean-room' container laboratory, with restricted access to personnel and clothing changes required on entry etc. Synthetic nuclide work is to be done as per existing procedures in the designated laboratories at each base.

11.3 Users are reminded that laboratories maybe unsealed and can be used over time by different users carrying out different experiments.

11.3.1 On first occupation of an Antarctic laboratory or ship laboratory the user should conduct a contamination survey with equipment capable of detecting the radioisotopes used by previous occupants of the laboratory. The user should then check that the laboratory is in order and that all facilities that may be needed are available and working.

11.3.2 Any defects or deficiencies found at any time in the laboratory by the user shall be noted in a laboratory log for the benefit of other users and shall be reported by email to the AAD Laboratory Manager. In addition any serious or potentially serious problems arising or noted shall be reported promptly to the AAD Laboratory Manager.

11.3.3 Prior to vacating the laboratory, the user shall leave everything in order (or report to the laboratory manager anything not in order), and shall conduct an exhaustive contamination survey to ensure that no contamination remains from the user's activities. The results of this survey shall be noted in the laboratory log-book, and emailed to the AAD Laboratory Manager.

11.4 Products from decontamination of work areas on board ship or in Antarctica shall not be disposed in Antarctica or at sea, but shall be packaged in accordance with transport requirements for return to Australia.

11.5 The laboratory may be shared by a number of different workers and experiments, provided that:

The Site Radiation Safety Officer coordinates the activities and has each user revise the individual working rules and emergency procedures in order to take account of the shared activities;
Work benches, fume cupboards and other facilities allow an adequate amount of space for the sharing arrangements to proceed without jeopardising radiation protection, or other types of research.

11.6 Cigarettes, food or drink shall not be taken into or consumed in work areas.

11.7 The radiation work area shall be labelled with appropriate signs. Radioactive facilities within the work area such as temporary stores or waste disposal containers shall also be labelled with appropriate signs. Containers of radioisotope shall be properly labelled.

(ASP & C)
May 2002

Next Chapter

Return to Table of Contents