Augusta University Radiation Safety Committee

The AU Radiation Safety Committee is responsible for the oversight of radiation and radioactive materials used for research, education, and development purposes.

Charge: Augusta University is authorized by the State of Georgia to use radioactive material in patient care, education, research, and development activities under the terms of specific licenses of broad scope. The AU Radiation Safety Committee may authorize individual staff or faculty members to use radioactive material or radiation sources based on a review of the proposed use, adequacy of facilities, training and experience of the applicant, and recommendation of the Radiation Safety Officer.

The AU RSC has three component subcommittees, Use of Ionizing Radiation Subcommittee, the Laser Safety Subcommittee, and the Safeguards and Security Subcommittee.

The Use of Ionizing Radiation Subcommittee has the responsibility and authority to act in matters involving non-human research uses of radioactive materials or radiation sources, and the human use of Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometers (DEXA) in research. It is the responsibility of the subcommittee to review proposed uses of radioactive materials or radiation sources and to evaluate the qualifications of the individuals requesting Principal Authorized User status to conduct experiments with the radioactive material or radiation sources requested. Uses of radioactive material or radioactive sources may be approved provided that greater than 50% of the subcommittee members respond and a majority of the respondents are affirmative. A subcommittee member may request full Radiation Safety Committee review of a protocol.

The Safeguards and Security Subcommittee meets on an as-needed basis to consider issues involving the university’s radioactive sources of national security concern. The Laser Safety Program is governed by a separate manual.