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Policy for radiation protection

Requirements for UiO

Organisation of Work

The University Director is responsible for ensuring that:

  • The work involving the handling of radiation sources at UiO is suitably organised.
  • UiO has a central radiation protection coordinator in the Section for health, safety, and emergency preparedness.

Requirements for faculties, museums, and the university library

Organisation of work

The unit’s top leader is responsible for ensuring that:

  • The work with radiation sources is suitably organised within the unit and that the use of radiation sources is within UiO's approvals/permits for radiation use.
  • The premises are appropriate and correctly marked.
  • Procedures for the use of radiation sources, from acquisition to disposal, are prepared and maintained.
  • A risk assessment is conducted in collaboration with users for the use of radiation sources that may pose health or environmental risks, and that substitution assessments are undertaken. Risk assessments should be reviewed at least every third year or upon changes in the use of radiation sources.
  • A risk assessment focused on securing radiation sources is conducted, and necessary security measures provided by legislation or identified in the risk assessment are implemented.
  • Local response cards for handling alarms, evacuations, and interventions in case of unwanted events with radiation sources are prepared.
  • The unit maintains an updated list of all radiation sources at the unit and ensures all notifiable radiation sources are registered in the Directorate for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety’s (DSA) source register.
  • The unit maintains an updated overview of the inventory of radioactive materials, including acquisitions, storage, and waste.
  • An adequate number of local radiation protection coordinators are appointed to assist the leader in the practical implementation of radiation protection work.
  • Changes in the appointment of local radiation protection coordinators are communicated to the Section for health, safety, and emergency preparedness.
  • A room manager is appointed for premises where radiation sources are stored and used.
  • Those handling radiation sources are exposed to the lowest practicable levels.
  • Radiation doses from ionising radiation sources are mapped and recorded.
  • Transportation of radiation sources occurs safely and in accordance with regulations, both internally and externally.
  • Declarable waste is properly declared, and radioactive waste is disposed of annually.
  • Any emissions are as low as possible and within UiO's emission permits.
  • Reports to authorities are completed and submitted within specified deadlines.

Local Radiation Protection Coordinator Responsibilities:

  • Support management in radiation protection work.
  • Maintain an overview of radiation sources and their use within the unit.
  • Possess knowledge of the dangers associated with radiation sources and protective measures.
  • Understand relevant legislation and the approvals pertaining to radiation use.
  • Know central policies and procedures at UiO relevant to the use of radiation sources within the unit.
  • Manage the unit's registrations in DSA’s electronic notification system for radiation sources.

Training

The unit’s top leader is responsible for ensuring:

  • Training is conducted following the policy for health, safety, and environmental training.
  • Regular drills for handling unwanted events with radiation sources.

Reporting

The unit’s top leader is responsible for ensuring:

  • Institutes and museums prepare the reports required by authorities.
  • The inventory of nuclear materials is reported upon request from the Section for health, safety, and emergency preparedness, and the acquisition or disposal of nuclear materials is reported to DSA immediately.
  • Events that are notifiable under the regulations are reported to DSA immediately and no later than three working days. A copy of the report is sent to the Section for health, safety, and emergency preparedness.

Requirements for units in the central administration

Section for health, safety, and emergency preparedness (HMSB)

The Section for health, safety, and emergency preparedness, through the central radiation protection coordinator, shall ensure to:

  • Compile UiO’s annual report as per the requirements in the approval according to the Radiation Protection Regulation § 9 d. Extensive non-medical research-related radiation use and UiO’s emission permit to DSA.
  • Compile UiO’s collective applications for approvals according to the Radiation Protection Regulation.
  • Oversee UiO’s occupational dose register at DSA.
  • Develop and maintain overarching procedures at UiO for radiation protection.
  • Ensure there is an offer of courses in working with radioactive sources.

Property department

Shall ensure:

  • The availability of a suitable number of waste rooms.
  • Storage of technical drawings for drainage, extraction, and ventilation systems, as well as thickness and materials used in walls, floor slabs, and other shielding measures built into the building structure.

References

See this page in Norwegian

Document information and change log

Responsible Unit: Section for health, safety, and emergency preparedness

Version Date Brief description of Change Case No. Signed by
3.0 27.10.2025 Policy completely revised from the previous version. 2025/ 115115-2 Arne Benjaminsen
Published Mar. 13, 2013 - Last modified Oct. 27, 2025