Are you a cesium or cobalt irradiator user? This is a reminder that all NIH irradiator users (Bethesda, Rockville, Baltimore and NIAID-IRF) must complete their annual refresher training before the August 31, 2020 deadline.

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. [This requirement does not apply to x-ray irradiator users.] The 2020 refresher training is currently open and can be accessed at https://drsportal.ors.od.nih.gov/training/irref/html/.

It will take no more than 10 minutes of your time to complete, and you must be on the NIH network to access the link.

Ensuring all sealed source irradiator users complete this training is an important part of helping the NIH stay in compliance with NRC requirements. The Division of Radiation Safety (DRS) notes that there were 200 security alarms triggered in irradiator rooms for police response in 2019, but thanks to proper user training NONE of the alarms were due to user non-compliance. Great job, NIH!

Note that annual irradiator refresher training for researchers at RML, NIEHS/RTP, and NCI-Frederick are managed under a separate program and these users should contact their local radiation safety offices for specific 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.