Small program, big needs.
Resources are typically scarce in any safety program, but they may be especially limited and difficult to access when the program is relatively small. California State University, Fullerton, has a broad-scope radioactive material license with around ten faculty-users, so while the amount of radioactive material used is not large, its obligation to provide support to those users is. Research is conducted primarily using undergraduate students, so emphasis on safety is paramount. Additionally, when one's duties also include oversight to the biosafety program and support of the hazardous waste program, the ability of a single person to provide what is needed becomes part art, part miracle. I have created a program that conforms to the license's regulatory requirements, while drawing on resources in a variety of places to produce a highly-visible, high-quality program from this one-person office (me). Using humor, respect, good science and good grammar, anyone can get a higher quality, and more compliant radiation safety program than he or she thought possible. This model could be expanded to fit larger programs as well.
Fisher
Susan A
SA
California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA. sfisher@fullerton.edu
D002140:California; D007857:Leadership; D017146:Models, Organizational; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014495:Universities / Q000458:organization & administration*