ABSTRACT
Radiation safety programs exist to maintain control of radioactive sources, to minimize human radiation doses, and to control or eliminate radioactive contamination in the workplace. Detailed records are generated to document these procedures because the use of radioactive materials is licensed and regulated by governmental authorities. For the individuals who collect air samples and for the analysts who operate the radioactivity counting laboratory, the above safety goals apply. In addition, due to the frequent requirement to measure low levels of radioactivity and to maintain low background count rates in measurement equipment, these safety considerations emphasize stringent control of contamination in the laboratory. The typical requirements of a radiation safety program are outlined below. Often, a professional such as an institutional health physicist will lead the program.
