The NIH Radiation Safety Program is designed to achieve strict compliance with applicable Federal Regulations. Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 19, Section 12, "Instructions to Workers" (10 CFR 19.12) is the regulation requiring training of individuals working in or frequenting any portion of a restricted area associated with radioactive materials or radiation. To meet the regulatory mandates on the training of users and others, the DRS operates an extensive training program.

The NIH Radiation Safety Program requires that all individuals working with or around radioactive sources receive entry level radiation safety training as well as periodic refresher training. Note that many of the training items pertain to circumstances and license conditions specific to the NIH; therefore, it may not be assumed that this initial instruction has been adequately covered by prior radiation safety training at another institution.

Under the current NIH broad license agreement with the NRC, the Division of Radiation Safety must establish and implement the model training program that was published in Regulatory Guide 10.8, Revision 2(1987), Guide for the Preparation of Application for Medical Use Program. Included under the model program is a requirement for refresher training on a regular basis. Also included under the irradiator licenses are training requirements for irradiator users. Records of this training, including documentation of attendance, are required to be maintained for review by NRC inspectors. All training determinations are incorporated by reference into the current NIH license; any breach of such agreements constitutes a license violation.

Definitive policies exist for what type of initial and refresher training is required. All personnel (e.g. researchers) working with radioactive materials and all ancillary personnel (e.g. nurses, housekeepers, security, maintenance) whose duties may require them to work in the vicinity of radioactive materials must receive instruction about radiation hazards and appropriate precautions as specified in 10 CFR 19 and Regulatory Guide 10.8. NIH training requirements also exist for new or returning radioactive material users.

When a person is registered with the Division of Radiation Safety, they are assigned a user type code according to the nature of their involvement with sources of radiation at NIH. The type of radiation safety training required depends on their assigned user type.

The NIH Radiation Safety Training Program is comprised of a number of regularly scheduled courses and many specialized training sessions tailored to the specific needs of certain occupational groups, as well as periodic refresher training for radioactive material users and support personnel who may, occasionally, frequent a restricted area.

Courses that are routinely scheduled include Radiation Safety in the Laboratory (RSL) , Radiation Safety for Authorized Users (RSAU), Radiation Safety for Irradiator Users (RSIU), and Refresher Training (REF).

In addition to the regularly scheduled radiation safety courses, specialized training sessions are given for certain occupational groups whose duties may require them to work in the vicinity of radioactive materials. Typically, these groups include the firefighters, the security police, instrument repair staff, maintenance and engineering staff, transportation personnel, animal handlers, irradiator users, Operating Room staffs, Intensive Care Unit staffs, housekeeping staff, patient-care personnel for patients who have received a procedure involving radioactive material, clinical laboratory staff who may be handling specimens from patients given radioactive drugs, and others. These courses are tailored to the specific needs of each occupational group and are designed to inform the personnel about radiation hazards and appropriate precautions. The sessions typically last about an hour or as long as needed. There is no regular schedule for these courses; rather, they are conducted on an as-needed basis. For a complete list of specialized courses, refer to this page.

The Radiation Safety Training Office has developed an online orientation course for new NIH research personnel. This orientation course is the absolute minimum training for NIH and special appointment personnel prior to engaging in the use of radioactive materials, with the understanding that they MUST register for, take, and pass one of the next two available Radiation Safety in the Laboratory courses. The new user is oriented and closely supervised by the Authorized User until they take and pass the Radiation Safety in the Laboratory course. The Radiation Safety Training Office has also developed training materials, including pamphlets, for a number of groups at the NIH.

Currently, the Radiation Safety Training Office is coordinating and planning for the use of computer-based training for various radiation safety courses; hence, many computer-based training modules are under development.

Users may contact the Radiation Safety Training Office (drstraining@mail.nih.gov) for additional course information.