GUIDE ST 6.

1 / 17 March 2008

RADIATION SAFETY WHEN USING

UNSEALED SOURCES
1 General 3
2 Risk assessment 3
3 Laboratory classification 3
4 Requirements for the structure and equipment
of radionuclide laboratories 4
4.1 General 4
4.1.1 Protection of the general public 4
4.1.2 Protection of workers 4
4.2 Type C laboratory 4
4.2.1 Fire safety 4
4.2.2 Surface materials and furniture 4
4.2.3 Ventilation 5
4.2.4 Sewerage 5
4.3 Type B laboratory 5
4.4 Type A laboratory, facilities for production of radionuclides
and large-scale use of unsealed sources 6
4.5 Handling facilities of radiopharmaceuticals and other
premises of the nuclear medicine unit 6
4.5.1 General 6
4.5.2 Handling facilities of radiopharmaceuticals and patient rooms 7
4.5.3 PET-CT and SPET-CT 7

This Guide is valid as of 1 June 2008 until further notice. It replaces Guide ST 6.1,
Radiation Safety Requirements for Radionuclide Laboratories, issued on 1 July
1999.
Helsinki 2008 ISBN 978-952-478-419-1 (pdf)
ISSN 0789-4716 ISBN 978-952-478-420-7 (html)

STUK • SÄTEILYTURVAKESKUS Osoite/Address • Laippatie 4, 00880 Helsinki

STRÅLSÄKERHETSCENTRALEN Postiosoite / Postal address • PL / P.O.Box 14, FIN-00881 Helsinki, FINLAND
RADIATION AND NUCLEAR SAFETY AUTHORITY Puh./Tel. (09) 759 881, +358 9 759 881 • Fax (09) 759 88 500, +358 9 759 88 500 • www.stuk.fi
STUK OHJE ST 6.1 / 17 March 2008

5 Storage of radioactive substances 7

6 Surface contamination 8
7 Working with unsealed sources 8
8 Tracer tests outside the laboratory 9
8.1 Radiation safety requirements 9
8.2 Notifications to STUK 10

9 Abnormal incidents 10
9.1 Preparation for abnormal incidents 10
9.2 Procedures in the event of an abnormal incident 10
9.3 Notification of abnormal incidents 10

Authorization
Under section 70, paragraph 2, of the Radiation Act (592/91), STUK – Radiation and
Nuclear Safety Authority (Finland) issues general instructions, known as Radiation
Safety Guides (ST Guides), concerning the use of radiation and other operations
involving radiation.
The Radiation Act stipulates that the party running a radiation practice is
responsible for the safety of the operations. The responsible party is obliged to ensure
that the level of safety specified in the ST Guides is attained and maintained.

Translation. Original text in Finnish.

This Guide includes the requirements relating to the implementation of Council

Directive 96/29/Euratom; OJ No. L 159, 29.6.1996, p.1.
guide ST 6.1 / 17 March 2008 STUK
1 General
In order to ensure the safe use of radioactive
substances, it is important that attention is paid,
already when planning a laboratory or other
place of radiation use, to the radiation safety
requirements arising from the nature of the
work and the radionuclides used. The underlying
principles of the planning are to ensure that
it is safe to work in the laboratory, discharges
of radioactive substances into the environment
remain minimal also in abnormal conditions, and
that the passage of radioactive substances from
the laboratory into the hands of unauthorised
persons is prevented.
According to section 26 of the Radiation Act
(592/1991), the safety requirements, affecting
safety in the use of radioactive substances, that
are to be taken into account in the planning of
laboratories and other premises will be confirmed
by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority
(STUK). This guide lays down the requirements
for radionuclide laboratories and storage rooms
of radioactive substances, in which radioactive
substances are used or stored as unsealed
sources.*) Some general instructions for working
in radionuclide laboratories are also set out. In
addition, this guide states the requirements for
tracer tests carried out outside the laboratory.
Guide ST 6.2 has been issued on the treatment
of radioactive waste.
2 Risk assessment
The party running a radiation practice (hereafter
the responsible party) must identify the risks of
the operations in advance. When planning such
premises where radioactive substances are used
and stored as unsealed sources, the planning
shall be based on a risk assessment carried
out by the responsible party to ensure the ap-
propriateness of the facilities. The assessment
shall take into account external radiation (also
doses to the hands), internal radiation, contami-
nation risk, stay time in the laboratory facilities,
*) A sealed source is a source, the structure of which
prevents any dispersion of radioactive substances into the
environment in normal use conditions. Other radiation
sources are unsealed sources.
access control, security arrangements and poten-
tial abnormal incidents, among other things. If
the conditions change considerably, risks shall be
reassessed.
3 Laboratory classification
Radionuclide laboratories are classified as
laboratories of type C, B and A. The laboratory
type required for a specific operation is determined
by the radionuclides used, the activity handled at
any one time, and the nature of the work involved.
In radionuclide laboratories, the controlled and
supervised areas, as specified in Guide ST 1.6,
shall also be defined and delineated.
The radionuclide laboratory shall be equipped
to comply with the requirements of laboratory
type C, B or A, in accordance with the activity
limits specified in Table I. If the activity handled
at any one time is less than the exemption value
given in Guide ST 1.5, no structural special
requirements will be set for the laboratory.
Table I. Definition of the laboratory type on the basis
of the radionuclides used and the activity handled at
any one time.
Laboratory Maximum activity handled at
type any one time
Type C 10-fold exemption value*)
Type B 104-fold exemption value*)
Type A Larger than 104-fold exemption
value*)
*) The amount of activity as given in Guide ST 1.5.
The activity limits presented in Table I shall be
applied when radioactive substances are handled
using conventional chemical procedures. In case
of uncomplicated handling, such as the dilution
of stock solutions, the activities specified in Table
I can be multiplied by ten. In case of especially
hazardous work with a danger of splashing
or vaporisation (e.g. animal experiments,
complicated handling of liquids, handling of dry
matter), a coefficient of 0.1 shall be used. For the
storage of radioactive liquids a coefficient of 100
3
STUK guide ST 6.1 / 17 March 2008
can be used. The quantities of stored unsealed
sources are, however, to be kept to minimum.
4 Requirements for the
structure and equipment of
radionuclide laboratories
4.1 General
In the planning of a radionuclide laboratory, the
radiation protection of workers and members of
the general public shall be taken into account.
4.1.1 Protection of the general public
In the planning, the following factors shall be
taken into account:
• The operations shall be planned and executed
in such a manner that the annual effective
dose for other persons than those engaged
in radiation work does not exceed 0.3 mSv.
This dose constraint is set according to the
section 7 of the Radiation Act (1512/1991) to
fulfil the principle of optimisation of radiation
protection and to take into account the
exposure caused by various radiation sources.
• Moving of radioactive substances on site shall
be kept to minimum by locating those premises
between which radioactive substances need to
be moved close to each other.
• The premises in which radioactive substances
are handled must be sufficiently protected. It
is especially important to pay attention to the
radiation shielding of such premises in which
radionuclides emitting penetrating radiation
are stored.
• Unauthorised access to radionuclide
laboratories and storages of radioactive
substances must be prevented.
• The management of radioactive waste shall be
arranged so that it does not cause a radiation
hazard (see Guide ST 6.2).
• If the nature of the operations results in
unavoidable minor discharges of radioactive
substances into the air, sewage system or
otherwise into the environment, special care
shall be taken to ensure that the quantities of
substances thus discharged remain below the
activity limits specified by STUK and as small
4
as reasonably possible (section 23, Radiation
Decree). Radiation protection regulations for
the discharges of radioactive substances into
the environment are issued in Guide ST 6.2.
4.1.2 Protection of workers
To protect workers from unnecessary radiation
exposure, the following principles, in addition
to those presented in item 4.1.1, are to be taken
into account in the planning of a radionuclide
laboratory:
• the radionuclide laboratory shall be spacious
enough to enable safe working
• a sufficient number of radiation shields and
personal protection devices shall be available
• all surfaces shall be easy to clean.
The classification of workers in radiation work
is addressed in Guide ST 1.6, the monitoring
of radiation exposure in Guide ST 7.1 and
the arrangement of medical surveillance of
occupationally exposed workers in Guide ST 7.5.
4.2 Type C laboratory
A type C laboratory is intended for the handling
of low activities. The structures and the
equipment in the laboratory are similar to those
of a modern, well-planned chemistry laboratory.
The radionuclide laboratory shall be furnished
with a sign indicating a danger of radiation
(see Guide ST 1.3). The laboratory shall be
lockable. Ground-floor windows shall not provide
unimpeded access to the radionuclide laboratory.
In addition, the requirements laid down in items
4.2.1-4.2.4 apply to the type C laboratory.
4.2.1 Fire safety
With regard to the fire safety and the fire-
technical requirements of the structural elements,
the laboratory must fulfil the requirements set
out for premises in special use, as specified in
The National Building Code of Finland, Section
E1 “Fire Safety of Buildings” and E2 “Fire Safety
of Production and Warehouse Buildings”.
4.2.2 Surface materials and furniture
• The floor and the surfaces of working benches
shall be made of materials impermeable to
moisture and resistant to ordinary chemicals,
guide ST 6.1 / 17 March 2008 STUK
such as dilute acids, alkalis and organic
solvents.
• Joints and gaps shall be filled so as to obtain a
smooth, easy-to-clean surface.
• The walls and the ceiling shall be made of
materials that have a smooth surface and are
easy to clean.
• The working areas must be equipped with
only the minimum furniture needed, the
coatings of which do not accumulate dust and
are easy to clean.
• No office or similar facilities may be located in
the laboratory facilities.
4.2.3 Ventilation
• It shall be possible to ventilate the laboratory
sufficiently.
• The distance between the intake and exhaust
openings of the ventilation system of the
building shall be sufficient to prevent possibly
contaminated exhaust air from flowing back
into the intake opening.
• If due to the nature of the work, it is probable
that radioactive substances will pass into the
air, the laboratory shall be equipped with a
sufficient number of fume cupboards or glove
boxes.
• The flow rate of air at the working opening of
the cupboard shall be at least 0.5 m/s when
the height of the opening is 30 cm.
• Any faucets connected to the cupboard shall
be operable from outside the cupboard.
• The exhaust blower shall be located so as to
ensure negative pressure in the exhaust duct.
• The fume cupboards and glove boxes shall
be equipped with a light indicating when the
blower is in operation.
• The exhaust air must not be circulated but
shall be led outside via a separate exhaust
duct.
• The need to filter the exhaust air shall be
considered case by case. It depends on the
nature of the work, the radionuclides used
and on their chemical and physical form. If it
is necessary to filter the exhaust air, the filter
shall be located as close to the fume cupboard
or glove box as possible, in such a manner
as to prevent the radioactive substances,
accumulating in the filter, from constituting
a radiation danger to the environment and to
allow easy replacement of the filter.
• The exhaust duct shall be designed so that
radioactive vapours do not condense in it.
• When necessary, the exhaust duct shall be
furnished with a sign indicating a danger of
radiation, in a manner that is clearly visible
for the maintenance personnel.
• For maintenance, ventilation drawings shall
indicate which ventilation flues come from
radionuclide laboratories.
• More detailed regulations for discharges into
the air are given in Guide ST 6.2.
4.2.4 Sewerage
The following factors concerning sewerage shall
be taken into account:
• If liquid radioactive wastes are discharged
into the sewage system, there shall be a
separate sink for this purpose, which shall be
labelled with an ionising radiation symbol.
• The sewage pipes from the radionuclide
laboratory should lead directly to the main
sewage pipe. Inside the building, they
should not be connected to any other sewage
pipes than those coming from radionuclide
laboratories.
• When necessary, the sewage pipes from
radionuclide laboratories shall be furnished
with a sign indicating a danger of radiation,
in a manner which is clearly visible for the
maintenance personnel.
• It is recommendable to prevent reflux.
• There shall be a washbasin for washing hands.
The faucets of the basin shall be operable
without having to touch them.
4.3 Type B laboratory
In addition to what is stated above about type C
laboratories, a type B laboratory must fulfil the
following additional requirements:
• The laboratory must have a vestibule with
a washbasin as well as space for changing
and keeping protective clothing and for
contamination measurements.
• The floor coating shall be unbroken and
extend at least 10 cm up the walls. All lead-
throughs for piping shall be insulated.
5
STUK guide ST 6.1 / 17 March 2008
• The floor and the working benches shall be
strong enough to bear the weight of a radiation
shield assembled of lead bricks, for example.
• When locked, the windows must not be
openable without a separate key.
• The laboratory shall be furnished with
mechanical ventilation which maintains the
air pressure in the handling area, during
the use of radioactive substances, slightly
lower than that in the surrounding area, in
order to ensure that air flows towards those
areas of the room which are most subjected to
contamination.
4.4 Type A laboratory, facilities for
production of radionuclides and large-
scale use of unsealed sources
A type A laboratory is intended for the large-scale
use of radioactive substances. The maximum
activities of radioactive substances used in type
A laboratories are specified in the safety license,
taking into account the environmental conditions,
the laboratory’s security systems, the properties
and activities of the radionuclides to be used,
and other factors linked to radiation safety. If the
operations are expected to cause releases into
the environment (into the air, waters, soil), plans
for a type A laboratory and other large-scale use
of radioactive substances, such as radionuclide
production, shall be submitted to STUK for
inspection prior to the start of construction. In
the plan, the following matters concerning the
environment, and the use, structures and safety
arrangements of the laboratory shall, at the very
least, be presented for the appraisal of safety:
• a map of the region showing the location of
the installation
• residential and working premises in the near
environs of the installation
• utilisation of soil and waters in the environs of
the installation (e.g. agricultural land, water
supplies, wells)
• a description of the operations, the
radionuclides used and their activities
• layout of the rooms in the laboratory (plan
drawings)
• heating, plumbing and ventilation
arrangements (especially the filtering of
exhaust air)
6
• structural materials (a summary of the
construction method)
• a description of the treatment and discharge
of radioactive wastes
• a description of the radiation meters to be
used for the protection of workers and the
environment, and of their calibration
• a description of potential abnormal incidents
and precautions as to them
• an evaluation of the exposure levels of
workers and residents, caused by the incidents
mentioned above.
The requirements set for the type B laboratory
also apply to the type A laboratory. In addition,
STUK lays down safety requirements for each
type A laboratory on a laboratory-specific basis,
depending on the information presented in the
plan. Final approval for the start-up of operations
is granted in the safety license.
4.5 Handling facilities of
radiopharmaceuticals and other
premises of the nuclear medicine unit
4.5.1 General
Units, where radioactive substances are used as
unsealed sources in diagnostic and/or therapeutic
nuclear medicine procedures, typically include:
• handling facilities of radiopharmaceuticals
• a room for changing clothes (vestibule)
• a room for carrying out cell labelling
• a room for administering radiopharmaceuticals
to patients
• a waiting room for patients
• for patients, a room for changing clothes and a
toilet
• imaging facilities
• a storage room for radiation sources
• a storage room for radioactive waste
• possibly a room for measuring samples
• a patient room for those receiving radionuclide
therapy.
The patient room of patients who have received
radionuclide therapy may need to be radiation-
shielded to protect other patients and workers.
Radiation shielding of the imaging room may
also be necessary in order to prevent radiation
guide ST 6.1 / 17 March 2008 STUK
sources outside the room from disturbing the
functioning of the imaging device.
When dividing the premises into controlled
and supervised areas, guidelines laid down in
Guide ST 1.6 must be followed. The waiting rooms
of patients and imaging rooms can normally
be classified as supervised areas. The rooms
of patients receiving radionuclide therapy are
generally controlled areas.
4.5.2 Handling facilities of
radiopharmaceuticals and patient rooms
Operations involving handling facilities for
radiopharmaceuticals and patient rooms
shall be arranged according to the following
requirements:
• In relation to handling facilities of
radiopharmaceuticals, it shall be taken into
account that the operations are regulated
by both the Drug Act (395/1987) and by the
Radiation Act (592/1991) as well as by the
provisions issued by virtue of both of these
Acts.
• STUK oversees compliance with the
Radiation Act and with the provisions
and regulations issued by virtue of it. The
National Agency for Medicines is responsible
for the regulatory control of, and instructions
for, radiopharmaceuticals as well as medical
devices and accessories (Medical Devices Act,
1505/1994).
• A laboratory used for the handling of
radiopharmaceuticals must comply with the
requirements set for a type B laboratory (see
items 4.2 and 4.3 of this Guide).
• Regulations for the handling facilities of
radiopharmaceuticals have been laid down
by the regulation of National Agency for
Medicines 7/2007.
• The storage and injection of ready-to-use
radiopharmaceuticals is allowed also in other
suitable premises.
• For administering therapeutic amounts of
radiopharmaceuticals, there shall be a
separate room with a floor coating as specified
in item 4.2.2.
• There shall be a separate patient room for
those patients receiving 131I therapy who are
staying at the hospital. The patient room shall
be equipped with its own toilet and washing
facilities. The patient room shall be furnished
with a sign indicating a danger of radiation.
• The surfaces of the room where radiopharma­
ceuticals are administered to patients and
of the imaging room shall be easy to clean,
and the rooms shall be suitable for handling
unsealed sources.
4.5.3 PET-CT and SPET-CT
The requirements for structural shielding for
CT devices belonging to PET-CT or SPET-CT
equipment are the same as for x-ray devices. The
radiation safety requirements for x-ray facilities
are issued in Guide ST 3.6.
5 Storage of radioactive
substances
Radioactive substances shall be stored in such
a manner as to prevent them from constituting
a radiation hazard to the environment or
passing into the hands of unauthorised persons.
If significant quantities of radioactive waste
are generated, a separate storage facility for
radioactive waste might be needed. The following
requirements apply to the storage of radioactive
substances and radioactive waste:
• As regards the fire safety of the storage facility
of radioactive substances, the requirements
specified in item 4.2.1 shall be taken into
account.
• With regard to the surface materials and
furniture, the requirements specified in item
4.2.2 shall be taken into account.
• The radiation shielding of the storage facility
shall be sufficient to ensure that the annual
radiation dose accruing from stored radioactive
substances does not exceed 0.3 mSv for people
other than those engaged in radiation work.
The dose rate outside the storage room should
not be more than 2.5 µSv/h.
• The storage room must not be used for any
other purpose.
• The storage room shall be furnished with a
sign indicating a danger of radiation.
• The storage room shall be organised so that
each radiation source can be taken into and
out of the room without causing any danger.
7
STUK guide ST 6.1 / 17 March 2008

• Solutions which may develop excessive
pressure shall be stored in such a way that
there is no danger of radiation even if the
container or package is broken.
• If radioactive substances may be released into
the air, it shall be possible to ventilate the
storage sufficiently.
• The storage room of radioactive substances
shall be lockable.
• In the radionuclide laboratory, radioactive
substances shall be stored in a locked cupboard
or a locked refrigerator.
• Ground-floor windows shall not provide
unimpeded access to the storage facility of
radioactive substances.
6 Surface contamination
Good working practices, regular cleaning and
contamination measurements are important for
keeping the contamination at a low level on
the premises. Cleaning of radioactive substances
on the premises may also be necessary when
operations are closed down and the radionuclide
laboratory is put to other use.
If the activity levels on various surfaces in
the radionuclide laboratory and in other places
of radiation use exceed the limits specified in
Table II, measures are to be taken to remove
or isolate the contamination. If the working
site, tools or clothing cannot be decontaminated
sufficiently, their use shall be restricted and the
passage of radioactive substances into the body
and their dispersal into the environment shall be
prevented by other measures.
The surface activity limits do not apply to
the inner surfaces of fume cupboards and other
similar handling areas, such as glove boxes,
nor contamination protectors which are used in
addition to the standard protective clothing when
working in contaminated areas. Also in such
cases, contamination shall, however, be kept as
low as reasonably possible.
When determining surface activity, the
amount of both fixed and non-fixed contamination
is to be taken into account. The surface activity is
determined as the average activity over an area
of not more than 100 cm2. The smear method is
set out in standard SFS 4575.
7 Working with
unsealed sources
When using unsealed sources, attention shall be
paid not only to the exposure caused by external
radiation but also to the exposure caused by
internal radiation, which may be caused by
contaminated breathing air, working benches
or other surfaces. The passage of radioactive
substances out of the laboratory or into the hands
of unauthorised persons shall be prevented.
Below is a list of general working instruc­
tions:
• Unauthorised people are not to be admitted to
the radionuclide laboratory.
• The radionuclide laboratory must be kept
clean.
• Tools and instruments which have been used
for handling radioactive substances shall be
cleaned after use and kept separate from
other tools and instruments.
• A sufficient number (to be decided depending
on the nature of the operations) of radiation
shields, personal protection devices and

Table II. Surface activity limits.

Radioactive substance Working areas and tools Workers

Controlled area*) Supervised *) Clothing Skin
and other area
(Bq/cm2) (Bq/cm2) (Bq/cm2) (Bq/cm2)
Alpha emitters 4 0,4 0,4 0,2
Beta and gamma emitters 40 4 4 2
*) The definitions of and requirements for controlled and supervised areas are set out in Guide ST

1.6.

8
guide ST 6.1 / 17 March 2008 STUK
radiation meters shall be available in the
laboratory.
• Workers handling radioactive substances
must wear adequate protective clothing. Such
protective clothing must not be worn outside
the laboratory.
• It is not permitted to eat, drink, smoke or
make up in a radionuclide laboratory. Neither
is pipetting by mouth permitted.
• Work involving the handling of volatile or
dusty radioactive substances shall be carried
out in a fume cupboard or glove box.
• If the work carries a specific risk of
contamination, working alone in the
radionuclide laboratory should be avoided.
• During work stages with a risk of
contamination, working surfaces shall be
covered with a material preventing the spread
of the contamination.
• When handling radiation sources, radiation
shielding (syringe shields, lead shields or
equivalent) shall be used whenever possible.
• Radiation sources shall be labelled so that
they are easily identifiable. The labelling shall
at least include: the radionuclide, its activity,
date the activity was measured and the person
who measured it. For unsealed sources, the
total volume or activity concentration shall
also be indicated (activity per unit of volume,
for example).
• Tools and equipment needed for preventing
the spread of radioactive substances and
removing contamination shall be available at
all times.
• The dose rate of external radiation and the
amount of contamination in the radionuclide
laboratory shall be monitored at appropriate
intervals. Contamination measurements
shall be carried out after finishing work and
always when considerable contamination of
working benches or other surfaces, the air
of the laboratory, working clothes or tools is
suspected. The results of the measurements
shall be documented.
• A record shall be kept of incoming shipments
containing a radioactive substance and of
stored radioactive substances.
• A record shall also be kept of radioactive
wastes and discharges.
In addition to what is stated above, any
laboratory-specific special regulations and
instructions shall be followed.
8 Tracer tests outside
the laboratory
Radioactive substances are used as unsealed
sources in tracer tests also outside the laboratory.
Radioactive substances can, for example, assist
with the measurement of flow rates and lag
times of industrial and sewage processes, or
of the mixing of substances in such processes.
The radionuclides used for measurements
are normally short-lived gamma emitters, the
movement of which can be traced from the
outside of pipes, or by taking samples.
Tracer tests using radioactive substances are
prohibited in those water systems, the water of
which is used as drinking water.
8.1 Radiation safety requirements
The following radiation safety requirements
apply to tracer tests:
• The requirements stated in Guide ST 6.2
for discharges of radioactive wastes into the
environment also apply to tracer tests carried
out outside the laboratory. When necessary,
the fulfilment of these requirements shall be
demonstrated by calculations (evaluation of
the radiation exposure caused by the tracer
tests to the member of the critical group) or by
monitoring the discharges.
• A person who independently carries out
tracer tests outside the laboratory must be
a radiation safety officer qualified to use
unsealed sources in the industry, research and
education (see Guide ST 1.8).
• When shipping radioactive substances,
the transport regulations of radioactive
substances must be followed.
• When tracer tests are carried out outside
the laboratory, the controlled area shall be
separated by barricade tape or a clearly visible
equivalent warning line, and furnished with a
sign indicating a danger of radiation.
• Access of unauthorised persons into the
controlled area must be prevented.
9
STUK guide ST 6.1 / 17 March 2008
• There must be written instructions for
the tracer tests, including instructions for
radiation protection and the event of abnormal
incidents.
• After finishing the tracer test, measurements
shall be carried out to ensure that the area is
not contaminated.
In addition to requirements stated above,
STUK may set out further requirements for a
single tracer test. Other requirements shall be
considered case by case.
8.2 Notifications to STUK
An advance notification of tracer tests shall be
made to STUK at least two weeks prior to the
date of the tracer test. The advance notification
shall be in a written form and must contain at
least the following information:
• the holder and number of the safety license,
and the radiation safety officer
• the place and time of the tracer test
• the purpose of the tracer test
• the radionuclide used, including its chemical
and physical form
• the total activity used in the tracer test, the
number of measurements to be taken, the
activity used in a single measurement, and
the expected time of the tracer test
• risk assessment (a description of the amounts
of radioactive substances discharged into
the environment and an evaluation of the
radiation exposure to the member of the
critical group).
9 Abnormal incidents
9.1 Preparation for abnormal incidents
The responsible party must identify the possible
hazardous abnormal incidents associated with
the use of radiation sources in advance. The
responsible party must plan and implement
operations in a manner that minimises the
likelihood of abnormal incidents. Steps must
nevertheless be taken to prepare for potential
abnormal incidents by such means as issuing
10
written instructions to workers engaged in duties
involving radiation sources on how to act in the
event of abnormal incidents.
Further details of action to be taken in the
event of abnormal incidents and of reporting
of such incidents to STUK are set out in Guide
ST 1.6.
9.2 Procedures in the event
of an abnormal incident
In the event of an abnormal incident, all
feasible measures shall be taken to decrease the
radiation exposure and to prevent the spread
of contamination. The causes of the abnormal
incident shall be identified and actions shall be
taken to prevent similar incidents in future.
9.3 Notification of abnormal incidents
Under section 17 of the Radiation Decree, STUK
must be notified without delay of any abnormal
event involving the use of radiation. The first
notification (normally by telephone) must state
the following details:
• the responsible party (safety license-holder)
and the radiation safety officer
• the name and contact details of the person
submitting the report
• the time and place of the incident
• a short description of the incident
• details of any persons involved in the
hazardous situation and of their possible
radiation exposure
• the immediate measures taken due to the
incident.
A written report on the abnormal incident shall
also be sent to STUK. In addition to the foregoing
details, the written report must also give an
account of the causes and consequences of the
abnormal incident (particularly of potential
radiation exposure) and of the measures taken to
prevent corresponding incidents in future.
Medical Devices Act sets out the regulations
for notifying National Agency for Medicines of
hazardous situations.
guide ST 6.1 / 17 March 2008 STUK
Bibliography
1. International Atomic Energy Agency. Safe
Handling of Radionuclides. IAEA Safety
Series No. 1. Vienna: IAEA; 1973.
2. International Atomic Energy Agency. Applying
Radiation Safety Standards in Nuclear
Medicine. IAEA Safety Reports Series No. 40.
Vienna: IAEA; 2005.
3. International Atomic Energy Agency. Nuclear
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0023–0043.
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Pergamon Press; 1991.
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Nuclear Medicine. ICRP Publication 52.
Oxford: Pergamon Press; 1987.
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Worker in Medicine and Dentistry. ICRP
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A good practice guide on all aspects of
ionising radiation protection in the clinical
environment; Prepared by the Institute of
Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)
with the support of NRPB, HSE, Health
Departments, Environment Agencies. York;
IPEM: 2002.
9. DIN 25425-1. Radionuklidlaboratorien - Teil
1: Regeln für die Auslegung. Berlin: Deutsches
Institut für Normung.
10. DIN 25425-2. Radionuklidlaboratorien – Teil
2: Betriebliche Strahlenschutzanweisungen.
Berlin: Deutsches Institut für Normung.
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11
STUK guide ST 6.1 / 17 March 2008
ST GUIDES (13 November 2008)
General Guides
ST 1.1 Safety Fundamentals in Radiation Practices, 23
May 2005 (in Finnish)
ST 1.3 Warning Signs for Radiation Sources, 16 May
2006
ST 1.4 Radiation User's Organization, 16 April 2004
ST 1.5 Exemption of the Use of Radiation from the
Safety Licence and Reporting Obligation,
1 July 1999
ST 1.6 Operational Radiation Protection,
29 December 1999
ST 1.7 Radiation Protection Training in Health Care,
17 February 2003
ST 1.8 Qualifications of Persons Working in
Radiation User’s Organization and Radiation
Protection Training Required for Competence,
16 April 2004
ST 1.9 Radiation Practices and Radiation
Measurements, 17.3.2008
Radiation Therapy
ST 2.1 Quality Assurance in Radiotherapy,
22 May 2003
ST 2.2 Radiation Safety of Radiotherapy Equipment
and Treatment Rooms, 2 February 2001.
Diagnostic Radiology
ST 3.1 Use and Regulatory Control of Dental X-ray
Installations, 27 May 1999
ST 3.2 Mammography Equipment and Their Use, 13
August 2001
ST 3.3 X-ray Examinations in Health Care, 20 March
2006
ST 3.6 Radiation Safety in X-ray Facilities,
24 September 2001.
ST 3.7 Breast Cancer Screening Based on
Mammography, 28 March 2001
Industry, Research, Education and
Commerce
ST 5.1 Radiation Safety of Sealed Sources and
Devices Containing Them, 7 November 2007
ST 5.2 The Use of Control and Analytical X-ray
apparatus, 26.9.2008
ST 5.3 Use of Ionising Radiation in the Teaching of
Physics and Chemistry, 4 May 2007
ST 5.4 Trade in Radiation Sources, 2 October 2000
ST 5.6 Radiation Safety in Industrial Radiography,
17 February 1999
12
ST 5.8 Installation, Repair and Servicing of
Radiation Appliances, 4 October 2007
Unsealed Sources and Radioactive
Wastes
ST 6.1 Radiation safety when using unsealed
sources, 17 March 2008
ST 6.2 Radioactive Wastes and Discharges,
1 July 1999
ST 6.3 Use of Radiation in Nuclear Medicine,
18 March 2003
Radiation Doses and Health
Surveillance
ST 7.1 Monitoring of Radiation Exposure, 2
August 2007
ST 7.2 Application of Maximum Values for
Radiation Exposure and Principles for the
Calculation of Radiation Dose, 9 August
2007
ST 7.3 Calculation of the Dose Caused by Internal
Radiation, 23 September 2007
ST 7.4 The Dose Register and Data Reporting,
9.9.2008.
ST 7.5 Medical Surveillance of Occupationally
Exposed Workers, 4 May 2007
Non-Ionizing Radiation
ST 9.1 Radiation Safety Requirements and
Regulatory Control of Tanning Appliances
1 December 2003 (in Finnish)
ST 9.2 Radiation Safety of Pulsed Radars,
2 September 2003 (in Finnish)
ST 9.3 Radiation Safety during Work on Masts at
FM and TV Stations, 2 September 2003 (in
Finnish)
ST 9.4 Radiation Safety of High Power Display
Lasers, 28 February 2007 (in Finnish)
Natural Radiation
ST 12.1 Radiation Safety in Practices Causing
Exposure to Natural Radiation, 6 April
2000
ST 12.2 The Radioactivity of Building Materials
and Ash, 8 October 2003
ST 12.3 Radioactivity of Household Water,
9 August 1993
ST 12.4 Radiation safety in aviation, 20 June 2005