By Xoel Cardenas, Sr. Communications Specialist, Office of the Vice President for Research
For the University of Utah’s Environmental Health and Safety Radiation Safety team and U radiation safety, 2024 has been a stellar year.
In July, the EHS Radiation Safety team was presented the award for “Outstanding Radiation Safety Program” at the annual meeting of the Health Physics Society (HPS) in Orlando.
The award, given every two years, honors exceptional radiation safety programs at academic, industrial, or research institutions that utilize radioactive materials or radiation producing devices.
“This award represents national recognition of the excellent performance and professionalism of the Radiation Safety team,” said Frederick Monette, executive director of Environmental Health and Safety and radiation safety officer of the U. “It’s well deserved.”
The Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has multiple divisions, including Radiation Safety, and has the authority and responsibility for ionizing and non-ionizing radiation safety oversight.
The EHS Radiation Safety team develops university-wide procedures; maintains eight radioactive material licenses; conducts frequent audits and inspections; oversees clinical and research use of radiation; and maintains and administers four oversight committees. Radiation Safety provides dosimetry, conducts surveys and inspections, evaluates research proposals, calibrates instruments, conducts training, and provides incident and emergency response.
The Radiation Safety program has 10 dedicated full-time staff members. The program also has Utah’s first issued radioactive material license.
Recently, Monette was asked to present on the U’s Radiation Safety program to HPS/Academic, Industrial and Research Radiation Safety (AIRRS) section members during an HPS online meeting. Virtual attendants learned about the history, scope, and recent activity of U of U radiation safety.
“The University of Utah has a legacy of safely using radioactive material in research that dates to the Manhattan Project,” said Monette. “The Utah Radiobiology Project, which lasted from 1950 until 1988, was the largest and longest federally funded program in U of U history. The EHS Radiation Safety team continues that legacy by supporting basic research, our TRIGA reactor, the Intermountain Radiopharmacy, two production cyclotrons, and diagnostic and therapeutic medical uses of radioactive material on a daily basis. Very few organizations manage such a broad scope of radiation uses.”
Another highlight for U Radiation Safety this year was hosting Wasatch Thunder during the summer. Nearly 200 people from the U of U and local, state, and federal agencies practiced their response to radioactive materials falling into the wrong hands and how the U is working to help safeguard against this scenario. University of Utah Magazine published a story on the event and its topic.
During his presentation, Monette said the University of Utah is dedicated to becoming a regional and national leader in radiation safety. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in EHS and radiation safety — including award wins, hosting events as well as trainings, and more — the U is clearly on its way to doing just that.
For more information on the Office of Environment Health and Safety, click here.