ALARA Program

The ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) concept is a vital part of the radiation safety program at LLU/LLUMC. Simply stated, ALARA is a radiation safety philosophy that seeks to keep radiation doses to workers as low as can be reasonably achieved. ALARA is achieved through both administrative and engineering controls.

Administrative Controls

Guidance and Regulatory Agencies - Several scientific groups provide information and recommendations concerning radiation safety. These groups include the National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP), the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). These groups provide only recommendations without the force of law and do not enforce or establish radiation safety policy. The agencies responsible for developing and enforcing radiation policy are the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the State of California Department of Health Services (DOHS), and the Department of Transportation (DOT). These agencies often adopt the recommendations from the NCRP, ICRP, etc. 

LLU/LLUMC License - Radioactive materials and radiation-producing machines are used in many laboratories at LLU/LLUMC. This work is authorized by a broad scope radioactive materials license granted by the State of California Department of Health Services, Radiological Health Section. Specific requirements for radiation use at LLU/LLUMC are outlined in the LLU/LLUMC Radiation Safety Manual. Projects involving the use of radioactive materials and/or radiation-producing machines are reviewed and approved by the LLU/LLUMC Radiation Safety Committee before work is started. Therefore, each faculty/staff member (principle investigator) wishing to use radiation/radioactive materials must request authorization from the Radiation Safety Committee whose function it is to safeguard radiological health at the institution. When a request is approved, an authorization for radiation use is issued that specifies what radioisotopes or machines can be used, where they may be used, how much activity may be used, and what special radiation safety precautions must be followed. 

The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), appointed by the administration, is responsible for managing the radioactive materials license and the overall radiation safety program by utilizing the resources of the Office of Radiation Safety (ORS). The RSO communicates the requirements of the license to the principle investigators (PI) through the Radiation Safety Manual, the authorization for radiation use, lab postings, training sessions and personal communications. The Radiation Safety Manual, besides being a presentation of the organization and requirements of the radiation safety program at LLU/LLUMC, also contains practical information about the use of radioisotopes and radiation-producing machines at the facility. Principle investigators are required to become familiar with the Radiation Safety Manual and to enforce its' requirements in their labs and/or facilities.  

Dose Limits for Radiation Workers - Acceptable limits of exposure to radiation have been identified for radiation workers. If these limits are not exceeded, there should be no evidence of harm to the worker or his/her offspring. Current dose limits for radiation workers are listed in Table 4. Because the risk from radiation exposure may be greater for young people, the dose limits for those under 18 years of age are 10 percent of those listed in Table 4.

Expected Doses at LLU/LLUMC - The annual whole body exposure that you are most likely to receive while working at LLU/LLUMC is only a small percentage of the dose limits listed in Table 4. Even though your expected dose will most likely be small, it is prudent and your responsibility to do what you can to keep your annual dose ALARA. 

Expected Doses from Background Radiation - Each one of us is exposed to radiation every day of our lives. This radiation comes from 1) the naturally occurring radioactive materials that are in the food we eat, the building materials in our homes and workplaces, the air we breathe, and 2) the radiation that reaches us from outer space (cosmic radiation). In addition, there are man-made sources of radiation that contribute to our annual dose equivalent. Man-made sources include medical treatments, radioactive sources used in consumer items (e.g., luminous dials and smoke detectors), and cigarettes. 

Special Concerns in Case of Pregnancy - Employees who are pregnant are strongly encouraged to declare their pregnancy in writing to the Office of Radiation Safety. These employees will be provided with training in the risks of prenatal radiation exposure and may be provided with a fetal dosimeter. Declared pregnant employees have a dose limit to the fetus of 500 mrem during the term of the pregnancy. 

While the Office of Radiation Safety is required to take reasonable steps to ensure that radiation exposure rates are kept as low as reasonably achievable in work areas, it is your responsibility to decide whether the exposure you are receiving is sufficiently low to protect your unborn child. Declared pregnant workers also have the option to request a work assignment in an area with less radiation exposure.

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