Ethics Guidelines
Part B - Guidelines for Projects Involving Ionising Radiation
Section 14 - Information Required on Projects Involving Ionising Radiation
The Antarctic Animal Ethics Committee (AAEC) will require the documentation outlined under Section 14.1 below to be lodged with the original application. Once the AAEC has given initial approval, the documentation required for final approval, listed as Section 14.2 will be required three months before use for final approval.
Working rules and final documentation must be discussed with the Laboratory Manager, Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) telephone (03) 6232 3354, (also the AAD's Radiation Safety Officer (RSO),) or email labmgr@aad.gov.au
Advice and assistance may be sought as required, from the Secretary, Antarctic Animal Ethics Committee, telephone (03) 62 323 356, or email: aaec@aad.gov.au
The Antarctic Research Application shall contain a description of the project and the experimental technique proposed.
14.1 Documentation Required for Initial Approval
14.1.1 The radioisotope(s) to be used.
14.1.2 Total activity of radioisotope(s).
14.1.3 Annual limit of intake (ALI) of radioisotope.
14.1.4 Possible maximum % ALI investigator might receive.
14.1.5 Half-life of radioisotope(s).
14.1.6 Sealed or unsealed source (see Section 2).
14.1.7 Chemical form (see Section 2).
14.1.8 Physical form (see Section 2).
14.1.9 Location of use.
14.1.10 Its use in the field, laboratory or both.
14.1.11 Details of estimated contamination of the area proposed for study. Include possible contamination pathways (see Section 7).
14.1.12 Environmental impact planning. Include a map of the proposed study site(s) showing the amounts to be used at each site.
14.1.13 Proposed dosage /treatment (per animal).
14.1.14 Number of treatments.
14.1.15 Justification for use and amount proposed.
14.1.16 Details of experimental techniques proposed.
14.1.17 Arrangements made for the disposal of radioisotopes at the completion of the experiment. (Please include an undertaking that your institution is prepared to take responsibility for obtaining necessary licences and disposing of residues in Australia) (see Section 9).
14.1.18 If animals are to be used:
- radioactive animal carcass procedure (see Section 10);
- post mortem on radioactive carcass working rules (see Section 10).
14.2 Documentation Required for Final Approval
To be submitted to: Antarctic Animal Ethics Committee Secretariat, Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050. This must be discussed with the AAD's Radiation Safety Officer before submission.
14.2.1 Names of field personnel, qualifications and experience.
Note: Project personnel may be required to sit a test (devised by the Health Physics Branch, Tasmanian Department of Community and Health Services) to determine their suitability to participate in activities/procedures involving radioactive materials.
14.2.2 Radiation Safety Officer(s) (see Section 5).
14.2.3 Licences
i) The radioisotope(s) being used will be licenced by the Division's RSO with the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).
ii) The Chief Investigator must obtain and submit the statutory licence from purchaser's home state (see Section 3.3.1).
14.2.4 For sealed sources, housing certificate (see Section 3.4).
14.2.5 Working rules (see Section 12 and use 12.5 as a guide).
i) Laboratory working rules (see Section 11).
ii) Field working rules.
iii) Laboratory sign posting, container labelling and packaging.
iv) Transport of radioisotopes (see Section 8).
v) Storage of radioisotopes (see Section 4).
vi) Credible accidents:
- emergency procedures (see Section 13 and use 13.4 as a guide);
- accident scenarios in relation to storage, transport and use.
vii) Decontamination procedures.
viii) Handling of waste--if using animals, waste carcasses.
ix) Minimisation of dose received.
14.2.6 Personal monitoring (see Section 5).
14.2.7 Survey instruments (see Section 5.4).
For more information email: aaec@aad.gov.au
(ASP & C)
May 2002
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