Information for Radiation Safety Officers (RSO)
As an employee, you will support your employer in implementing accident prevention and health protection provisions.
You will follow the approved safety rules and instructions of your employer in relation to occupational safety and health protection and report any deficits that could impair occupational safety and health protection.
Working with ionizing radiation, e.g. with radioactive materials of a particular activity and/or X-ray instruments, is subject to authorization. In addition, a radiation protection officer who has received training approved by the Swiss Federal Department of Public Health (FOPH) must be appointed.
To apply for a permit, temporarily carry out research with radiation exposure abroad or if you have any general questions about radiation protection, please contact Dr. Silke Kiesewetter.
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Chemical Wastewater and Water Protection
The most important tasks and responsibilities for the laser safetyofficers in terms of water conservation are the following::
- Being familiar with the chapters of the DownloadETH Waste Disposal Guideline (PDF, 307 KB) which are related to your line of work
- You perform briefings in accordance with the disposal guidelines of ETH Zurich and monitor compliance with the guidelines
- You follow instructions in relation to water conservation and implement them within your laboratory
- Not discharging any chemicals, e.g. verifiable toxic and persistent substances such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, or heavy metal compounds into the wastewater
- Not using water jet pumps
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Hazardous waste
The DownloadETH Waste Disposal Concept (PDF, 307 KB) applies to all areas of ETH – excluding the cafeterias – and regulates the flow of materials and the responsibilities of all those charged with waste disposal. The aim is to use resources sparingly and to reduce waste.
Hazardous waste is any kind of waste that ‒ on the basis of its composition, its chemical, physical or biological properties ‒ requires special technical and organizational measures to dispose of in an environmentally compatible manner. Included in this category are, for example, acids, alkalis, solvents, medications, and chemicals. Hazardous waste must be collected separately and disposed of at one of the hazardous waste disposal points at ETH Zurich.
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Transport of Dangerous Goods
Transporting dangerous goods requires special safety precautions that are regulated by law. Dangerous goods are substances and items that pose a threat for people, animals or the environment and whose transport is only allowed according to Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods on the Road (ADR). It is not permitted to transport dangerous goods via public transportation or bicycle. Please note that there are even more stringent requirements on the transportation of radioactive materials than there are on transportation of non-radioactive dangerous goods. Information on the transportation of dangerous goods can be found here.
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You can hand over radioactive waste of short-lived nuclides and H-3 and C-14 waste during regular opening hours to ETH’s hazardous waste disposal facilities. For transport, you have to shield the waste accordingly. To hand over other than the specified nuclides, please arrange a meeting in advance.
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The termination of a laboratory approved for handling open radioactivity needs time. All materials (labware, scientific instruments, fridges, consumable materials, etc.) are subject to a clearance measurement and must be transferred into another laboratory. Decisions have to be taken on the transfer or disposal of remaining radioactive substances, all radioactive waste must be disposed of and the whole laboratory (walls, floor, ceiling, sink, etc.) is subject to a clearance measurement. Finally, the Swiss Federal Department of Public Health (FOPH) must release the laboratory from their supervision. To plan this process, please contact Dr. Silke Kiesewetter early on.
To initiate the corresponding modifications with the FOPH please contact Dr. Silke Kiesewetter early on if one of the following applies. A laboratory approved for handling open radioactivity or an X-ray instrument shall be handed over to another person e.g. in the course of retirement in emeritus status. You as radiation protection officer are leaving ETH and another person is supposed to take over that task.
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Training to become a radiation protection officer must be held by a certified course provider, who will award you a certificate once the relevant tests have been passed. 16 hours of training must be completed within 5 years to provide proof of further training. There are a variety of courses and providers. Please contact in order to find the right course.
Weitere Kurse und Kenntnisse müssen/können abhängig vom Arbeitsbereich besucht respektive erworben werden:
- Fire safety course
- Gas-Seminar
- Nanoparticles
- Guided tour of the hazardous waste disposal points
- Handling electricity