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Journalism of Courage
Five months after the radiation leak at Mayapuri was traced to the Delhi Universitys Department of Chemistry,where the radioactive Cobalt-60 had been lying unused for 25 years and was later auctioned off to scrap dealers in Mayapuri,the University Grants Commission on Monday approved comprehensive guidelines on usage of radioactive material by varsities and colleges across the country.
Entitled UGC Guidelines for Universities,Research Institutes and Colleges for procurement,storage,usage and disposal of radioactive and other hazardous material/chemicals,the guidelines list out standard operating procedures SOP to be followed by each institute to prevent Delhi University-like laxity.
The salient features of the new guidelines are:
Each varsity should have a University Safety Committee USC,constituted by the Academic Council,to review the safety in handling of radioactive and other hazardous chemicals. An apex committee at the UGC level will monitor these safety committees.
All the radiation-related activities in laboratories have to be carried out by designated radiation staff under the supervision of a Radiation Safety Officer RSO a faculty with experience in radiation designated so by AERB.
Procurement and usage of radioisotopes must be carried out as per the Atomic Energy Act,1962,Atomic Energy Radiation Protection Rules,2004,and Atomic Energy safe disposal of radioactive waste Rules,1987,and other related notifications. Each lab will have to prominently display the SOP.
For the liquid readily soluble/dispersible in water waste,a very small quantity can be disposed by a qualified personnel in the sanitary sewage system. The gross quantity of radioactive material released into the sewerage system by the institution should not exceed 37 Gbq per year. Solid radioactive waste in small quantity can be disposed of by burial in pits located at isolated sites owned by the varsity.
An AERB-cleared incinerator may also be used for incineration of radioactive animal carcasses as long as they will not result in air-borne radioactive contamination in excess of operational limits.
Besides,the guidelines outline emergency procedures for fire incidents,contamination of personnel while handling unsealed source,and dos and donts in a chemical lab emergency.
