1/9/2015

514 Radiation Instrumentation Lab

Instructors:

HSCI 514
Radiation Instrumentation Lab
Spring 2015
Monday, 10:30-1:20p, CIVL-1292
Linda Nie, Assistant Professor
Jim Schweitzer, Director, REM
School of Health Sciences
Purdue University

Course Description

This course introduces laboratory techniques required for

the handling of radiation and radionuclides. Practical
aspects of radiation monitoring using various instruments,
instrument calibration, radiation fundamentals and statistics
will be covered.

Lab

Linda Nie, Ph.D. Office: CIVL 1277

James Schweitzer, Ph.D. Office: CIVL B173

School of Health Sciences

Purdue University
Office Hours: Mon, 1:30-3:30 pm,
(or by appointment)
Office Phone: (765) 494-2625
Email: hnie@purdue.edu

Radiological and Environmental Management

Purdue University
Office Hours: by appointment
Office Phone: (765) 494-2350
Email: jfschweitzer@purdue.edu

Teaching Assistants:
Mindy Hsieh
Office: PHYS 96
Office Hours: TBD
Phone: Please use email.
E-mail: hsiehm@purdue.edu

Course Webpage

https://mycourses.purdue.edu/

All course related materials and announcements are

available on the course webpage listed above. Lab sheets,
lectures and assignments (when applicable) can be
downloaded each Friday evening before the class.

It will be the students responsibility to download and print

the course materials and bring the print-out to the class!

Lab Reports

Experiments will be performed in groups (preferably groups

of 2), depending on the availability of the instruments

lab reports are due one week after the experimental work is
completed at the beginning of the next lab period

Classes start with a quiz covering last weeks lab and

introductory material for the present days lab - so come on
time!

each student (not group!) is required to submit a report for

each lab performed

Most laboratory periods will start with a brief lecture

covering the necessary principles and a discussion of the
experiment to be performed

late lab reports may be submitted by email within 2 hours

from the end of the class, without penalty

The class will last for 3 hours, with a lecture on the

principles and procedures; the length of the lecture may
vary; the lab begins right after the lecture; feel free to have
a 5-10 min break before you start the lab

late lab reports after this time should be submitted directly

to the instructor or put into the Dr. Nies mailbox in CIVL
1263. Points will be deducted for late submission! Please
see the instructor if you need to turn in your lab late.

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Lab Reports

Attendance

Lab reports should be neat, organized, and concise. Your reports must be typed,
except where impractical. A lab report should consist of:
1.

b.
c.
d.
e.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

A title sheet that contains:

a.

title of the experiment

day and date of experiment
lab section
your name
partners name when working in pairs or groups

Brief description of procedure

Neatly tabulated data
Calculations whenever necessary
Graphs if necessary
Results and Conclusions
Answers to questions, if any, on the information sheet (discussion)
A discussion of the results, including comments or reasons for anomalous data
obtained

You may work on the reports with your lab partners, but the final write-up must be in
your own words.

Absences and late reports

lab attendance is mandatory

labs can not be made up
therefore the lowest quiz and lab report score will be
dropped
see me if you need to miss a lab for an excused reason
excused reasons:
illness
personal crisis (e.g. accident, death of relative,
weather condition that make it impossible to get to
the university)
required attendance at an official Purdue activity (e.g.
exam conflict, athletic event, band concert)

Grading

The following rules apply to absences and late reports:

1.

Excused absentees may hand in their reports 1 week after the

original due date without penalty.

2.

Unexcused absentees who submit reports will have that lab report
grade reduced by 50 percentage points. (So you will start with a 50
before it is even graded)

3.

Unexcused absentees who do not submit reports will receive a 0

grade for that lab report.

4.

Late lab reports will result in the reduction of 10 percentage points

for that lab for each day late.

Twenty (20) points may be earned for each laboratory experiment

report and 10 points for each quiz. Final grades will be based on the
following percentage breakdowns (lowest lab report and quiz scores
will be dropped):
1. Lab reports
50%
2. Quizzes
20%
3. Two tests
30%

The average required for your final letter grade will be determined
after all averages have been computed. Letter grades will be
assigned as indicated in the Table in next slide.

For the purpose of final grading, fractions of a percentage will not be

rounded up.

Schedule

The average required for your final letter grade

will be determined after all averages have been
computed. However, you are guaranteed a
letter grade indicated by the following:
90 A

80 B

70 C

60 D

< 60 F

For the purpose of final grading, fractions of

a percentage will not be rounded up.

Lab 1
Lab 2
Lab 3
Lab 4
Lab 5
Lab 6
Lab 7
Lab 8
Lab 9
Lab 10
Lab 11
Lab 12

Jan 12
Jan 26
Feb 02
Feb 9
Feb 16
Feb 23
Mar 2
Mar 9
Mar 23
Mar 30
Apr 06
Apr 13
Apr 20
Apr 27

Radiation Instrumentation Overview

Characteristics of Geiger-Mueller (G-M) Counter
Electron Transportation, Absorption, and Backscattering
Statistics of Radiation Decay
Gamma Ray Scintillation Spectrometry (NaI)
Liquid Scintillation Counting
Test #1
Germanium Gamma-Ray Spectrometry (HPGe)
Radiation Safety Training and Laser Safety Survey
Diagnostic X-ray Survey/ Analytical X-ray Survey
Radiation Dosimetry/ TLDs
Chemical Dosimetry, Irradiators, and Ion Chamber
Bioassay (H-3, I-125, and I-131)/ Review
Test #2/ Final Exam

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Safety in the Lab

Safety in the Lab

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED IN A

RADIONUCLIDE LABORATORY
1.

No smoking, eating, drinking, or application of cosmetics is permitted

in a radionuclide laboratory. Gum chewing may not be permitted at
some places.

2.

No storage or preparation of food is permitted in a radionuclide

laboratory.

3.

Never pipette radioactive solutions by mouth. This is also a good

rule for any caustic or toxic material. There are ways to remotely
pipette anything

4.

Use protective gloves whenever working with unsealed sources.

Usually disposable plastic gloves are used.

Safety in the Lab

10.

5.

Clothing covering all skin, except for the face and hands, must be
worn. Shorts and open toed shoes are not permitted when working
with open sources (LSC Lab!).

6.

A laboratory coat must be worn in the laboratory but not outside of

the laboratory.

7.

Safety glasses must be worn when eye contamination is possible.

8.

Always work in a hood if there is any chance of radioactivity

becoming airborne (volatile materials, fumes, dusts, mists).

9.

Appropriate monitoring equipment must be available and operating

at all times. Survey meters, portable and/or stationary, must be
calibrated.

General Emergency Procedures

Personnel monitoring devices must be worn when needed. These

include a film badge, a ring badge, or a pocket dosimeter. Students
in teaching labs are exempt.

11.

A caution label must be placed on all storage or unattended

containers actually containing or contaminated with radioactivity
until cleaning can be performed.

12.

Use absorbent paper and trays to minimize potential

decontamination problems. Paper is expensive. Use Kleenex or
paper towels on absorbent paper when appropriate.

13.

Always monitor your hands (and feet) before leaving the laboratory.

14.

Report accidents, spills, etc. to the instructor immediately.

15.

Use common sense!

General Emergency Procedures

FOR ANY EMERGENCY: CALL 911

FOR ANY EMERGENCY: CALL 911

Evacuation Procedures FIRES
Activate the alarm
When fire alarm is activated, evacuation is mandatory
Call for help 911
Warn others
Evacuate IAW the Building Emergency Plan or at the
nearest exit
Evacuate immediately, if possible take your belongings
Evacuate to an area that does not impede responders
Assist persons with disabilities, if possible
DO NOT USE ELEVATORS
Do not re-enter the building until authorized by Public
Safety officials

General Emergency Procedures

FOR ANY EMERGENCY: CALL 911

SHELTER IN PLACE - TORNADO WARNINGS

SHELTER IN PLACEACTIVE SHOOTER

If the All Hazards Sirens are activated or you are notified of a warning,
immediately seek shelter in nearest facility Proceed to the lowest level. If a
basement is not available, seek an interior hallway or small interior room on
lowest level, away from windows and doorways All clear will be announced over
the local TV and radio stations or expiration of the initial National Weather
Service warning

If advised to shelter for an active shooter incident, immediately seek shelter in

nearest facility If possible, secure yourself and others inside a room Do not
leave your area until authorized by Public Safety officials

SHELTER IN PLACE - HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (HAZMAT) RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

If advised to shelter for a HAZMAT incident, immediately seek shelter in nearest

facility Close and lock all windows exterior doors, and any opening to the
outside If possible, move to an interior room above ground floor with fewest
windows and vents Do not leave the building until authorized by Public Safety
officials

http://www.purdue.edu/emergency_preparedness/

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Questions?

Introduce yourself