Atomic board doze must for colleges: UGC
Universities and colleges would now need to seek Atomic Energy Regulatory Board’s (AERB) approval for purchase of radioactive substance, intent of its use, and safety of storage facility.
University Grants Commission (UGC) officials said the commission has issued these guidelines to universities in the wake of the “disposal of Cobalt 60-isotope by Delhi University in a casual manner causing death of one person and illness to many others.
Eight months ago the origin of Cobalt-60 at Mayapuri Scrap market was traced to Delhi University’s chemistry department. The element lay unused for 25 years in the department. In his letter to all the vice-chancellors and to the human resources ministry, UGC secretary N A Kazmi said that compliance with these guidelines is mandatory without exception and UGC is to be intimated of action taken in this regard at the earliest.
As per the guidelines, educational institutions have to obtain a no-objection certificate from the atomic board, which can also monitor the colleges from where they procure the material. They are also directed to maintain proper disposal mechanism for liquid radioactive substance. UGC officials said even the use of X-ray machine will now require AERB approval.
Its eight-point guidelines on procurement and registration include availability of emergency response plans, trained manpower such as Radiological Safety Officer (RSO) and commitment to return spent sources to original supplier.
The guidelines have been divided into administrative mechanism, procurement and usage of radioisotopes, radiation instrument survey/reporting, disposal of radioisotopes and emergency procedures.
The rules state, “In universities and other institutions of higher education and research, the awareness and adherence to regulations seems to be lacking, as has been observed in the recent incident of disposal of Cobalt-60 isotope in a very casual manner causing one death and grave injuries to common people.”
The atomic agency has made it mandatory that all radiation-related activities in laboratories have to be carried out by designated radiation staff under the supervision of an RSO, who can be a faculty with experience in radiation field and get designated as RSO by AERB on the recommendation of the institution.
Source: [Times of India]
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