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Did you know that over 500 NIH employees across 12 different ICs are approved as irradiator users?  Are you one of them?  This is a reminder that all NIH irradiator users in the Washington/Baltimore area must complete Irradiator Security Program training by August 31.  

The requirements of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) mandate that this training be received by all users of sealed source (cesium and cobalt) irradiator equipment each year.  The 2019 annual refresher training is currently open and can be accessed at https://drs.ors.od.nih.gov/training/Pages/index.aspx.  It will take approximately 10 minutes of your time to complete. 

By completing this training, you are helping the NIH remain in compliance with NRC requirements.  The Division of Radiation Safety notes that over 150 security alarms were triggered in irradiator rooms for police response in 2018, but thanks to proper user training no alarms were due to user non-compliance.  Great job, NIH!

Please note: annual irradiator refresher training for researchers at Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Research Triangle Park, and NCI-Frederick is managed under a separate program. Irradiator users at these locations should contact their local Radiation Safety offices for information about training requirements.   X-ray irradiators do not have the annual training requirement, so if your irradiator is an x-ray type of device, you are exempt from NRC requirements. 

Questions on radiation safety training can be addressed by contacting the Division of Radiation Safety Training Office at 301-496-2255.