Radiation and laser safety

Radiation sources and lasers are used in a number of research, teaching and clinical areas at UQ.

If you work with radioactive substances, radiation apparatus and lasers, you must follow the Radiation Safety - Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management Procedure.

The procedures and guidelines help to ensure we comply with Queensland's radiation licensing and regulation requirements. These include requirements for individuals, as well as for compliance certification of radiation laboratories, radiation-producing equipment and lasers.

Contact your area's Radiation Safety Officer or the University Radiation Protection Consultant for more information or advice about legislation, procedures or any other aspect of working with radiation and lasers.

Radioisotope fact sheets

Radioisotope fact sheets provide information about commonly used radioisotopes, including maximum limits for laboratory work, licence requirements and safety procedures.

Go to the Radiation Safety - Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management Procedure to download radiation Radioisotope fact sheets.

For information on other radioisotopes, contact the University Radiation Protection Consultant.

Training

Before you work with radioactive substances, radiation apparatus or lasers, you must complete training and may be required to obtain a licence. Check the training and induction requirements for radiation or laser workers.

Laser registration

Lasers must be registered. Laser custodians must complete the Laser registration form (PDF, 92.1 KB)and return to Local Laser Safety Officer (LSO), or Health Safety and Wellness Lead/ Manager/ Coordinator, if no LSO.

Project approval

Projects using ionising radiation and Class 4 lasers in medical cosmetic or related procedures must be conducted in accordance with the Radiation safety - regulatory compliance and risk management procedure.

Complete an ionising radiation in research-project assessment form (PDF, 230.4 KB) or the laser radiation research-project assessment form (PDF, 155.6 KB).
Send the form to the appropriate local Radiation/Laser Safety Officer for initial review.
The Radiation or Laser Safety Officer will forward the form to the University Radiation Protection Consultant for final approval. Don’t start work on the project until final approval is granted.

Human or animal exposure to radiation

If your project involves the exposure of human or animal subjects to radiation, you may need to meet additional requirements.

You must comply with the relevant Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) code of practice:

human subjects: ARPANSA Code of Practice for the Exposure of Humans to Ionizing Radiation for Research Purposes (2005)
animal subjects: ARPANSA Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Veterinary Medicine (2009).

You may also require current ethics approval from the relevant research ethics committees for research with humans and animals. After reviewing your project assessment form, the University Radiation Protection Consultant can provide documentation to use in your application for ethics approval or advice on further actions if needed.