NIH POLICY MANUAL
1340 - NIH Occupational Safety and Health Management
Issuing Office: ORS/DOHS 301-496-2960
Release Date: 2/27/06
-
Explanation of Material Transmitted: This chapter establishes the
scope and objectives of the Occupational Safety and Health Program and
details the responsibilities of NIH personnel to foster a safe work
environment.
- Filing Instructions:
Remove: NIH Manual 1340, dated 11/29/96
Insert: NIH Manual Chapter 1340 dated 2/27/06
PLEASE NOTE: For information on:
A. Purpose:
This chapter outlines the scope, objectives, and responsibilities of
employees for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Occupational Safety
and Health Management Program. It represents the NIH commitment to actively
promote a comprehensive and effective Occupational Safety and Health Program
and provides the foundation for the development and maintenance of the
various program components.
B. Policy:
The objective of the Program is to assign responsibility to support the
development, implementation, maintenance and improvement of a comprehensive
Occupational Safety and Health Program that reflects the NIH policy to:
Provide the highest practical degree of safety and health for employees in all
activities of the NIH;
Minimize losses in property damage and human resources due to accident, injury, or
illness; and
Comply with Public Law 91-596 (The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970), Executive
Order 12196, and other regulations, standards, and guidelines governing the occupational
safety and health of HHS employees.
C. Scope:
The objectives and responsibilities set forth in this manual are
applicable to all NIH employees and are directed toward providing a
comprehensive and effective Occupational Safety and Health Program.
Institute and Center (IC) Directors and Supervisors will actively support
the Occupational Safety and Health Programs within their respective areas of
responsibility and comply with the specified directives and
responsibilities. NIH
employees will comply with applicable regulations and guidelines; perform
their duties in the safest possible manner and report hazards, accidents,
injuries and illnesses to the appropriate NIH authorities.
D. References:
- Executive Order 12196 of February 26, 1980, Occupational Safety and Health Programs for
Federal Employees
- Public Law 91-596, Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Federal
Agency Safety Programs and Responsibilities
- Title 10 CFR Part 21, Reporting of Defects and Noncompliance; Section 21.21,
Notification of failure to comply or existence of a defect and Section 21.61, Failure to
notify; Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Title 29 CFR Subpart G, Part 1910.96, Ionizing Radiation; Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), Department of Labor
- Title 29 CFR Part 1960, Basic Program Element for Federal
Employee Occupational Safety and Health Programs and Related Matters; OSHA, Department of Labor
- Health and Human Services (HHS) Transmittal No. 88.01 Safety
Management Manual, Issue Date 09/23/88.
E. Responsibilities:
The Office of Research Services (ORS), through the Division of
Occupational Safety and Health (DOHS), the Division of the Fire Marshal (DFM)
and the Division of Radiation Safety (DRS), have overall responsibility for
Occupational Safety and Health at NIH. The promotion of safety and health
policies, practices and procedures is the responsibility of each member of
the NIH Community. Employees are expected to perform their work in a safe
manner and to ensure that they do not place themselves, co workers, visitors
or support services personnel at risk of injury or illness due to unsafe or
unhealthful conditions, actions or infractions. When operating a government
or public vehicle, employees are expected to wear seatbelts and obey traffic
regulations. When representing the NIH on official business, employees
should ensure that their contributions exhibit safety and health concerns.
- Director, NIH:
a. Through the ORS, DOHS and DRS, provides executive leadership in
the development, promulgation and implementation of occupational safety
and health policies, standards and procedures applicable to the NIH.
b. Supports a staff necessary to effectively administer a comprehensive occupational
safety and health program for NIH.
- NIH Safety Committees: (See Appendices 1-4 for charters for the:
1) Occupational Safety and Health Committee, 2) IC Safety and Health Committees, 3) Institutional Biosafety Committee and
4) Radiation Safety Committee, at the National Institutes of Health.
a. Assist the Director, NIH, the Division of Occupational Health and
Safety, Division of the Fire Marshal and the Division of Radiation
Safety in providing oversight required for compliance with applicable
safety and health laws and regulations.
b. Assist with the organization and administration of the NIH Occupational Safety and
Health Program.
c. Provide technical advice, assistance, and management-level support;
recommend and set policies regarding occupational safety and health as
authorized by the Director, NIH.
d. Provide the foundation for the development and maintenance of a
Safety and Health Committee in each IC.
e. Provide a means by which employees can use their knowledge
of workplace operations to assist management in the improvement of
policies, conditions, and practices.
- Office of Research Services:
a. Serves as the primary operational component in developing and implementing NIH-wide safety
and health programs through surveillance, consultation, training, and education.
b. Provides administrative management for the comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health
Program in compliance with NIH policy and applicable federal, state, and local
regulations.
c. Prepares and coordinates the NIH position on proposed legislation
and regulations pertaining to safety and industrial hygiene, fire
safety, occupational safety and health, education, training, promotion,
etc., that are applicable to the NIH. Activities for engineering and
environmental hazards control are provided through the Office of
Research Facilities Development and Operations.
d. Monitors, investigates, prepares reports and maintains records of NIH
work related injuries and illnesses. Develops and implements methods to
prevent these work related losses. Conducts and/or assists in the
conduct of investigations of hazardous conditions. Engineering
issues pertinent to the NIH are managed by the Office of Research
Facilities Development and Operations.
e. Performs workplace reviews as are considered appropriate to evaluate compliance with
occupational safety and health policies and procedures.
f. Provides technical assistance to NIH employees at all levels of responsibility on
matters pertaining to the Occupational Safety and Health Program. Assesses the need for
and develops training programs to promote occupational safety and health.
- Supervisors (all levels throughout NIH):
a. Ensure and promote safety in the work area under their jurisdiction.
b. Comply with and enforce all applicable occupational safety and health standards, rules,
regulations and orders by competent authority pertaining to the activities under their
jurisdiction.
c. Ensure that employees are instructed and/or trained in safe practices
and methods of job performance as such pertain to their assignments.
Ensure that all visitors and support services personnel are
appropriately informed about the existence of hazards present and
special precautions required to prevent adverse exposure to these
hazards. Acquire the knowledge and information needed to recognize and control
hazardous conditions in the workplace. Select and employ standard
operating procedures that reduce the potential for injury or illness to
the lowest practicable level.
d. Ensure that employees performing official duties and who become ill or are injured on
the job have access to appropriate first aid and/or medical attention.
e. Investigate and report each accident and/or injury in accordance with established
procedures. Initiate within the limit of their authority and capability, such actions
necessary to correct unsafe or unhealthful working conditions determined to exist and
promptly advise management when such conditions require corrective actions
beyond their jurisdiction.
f. Review work practices to ensure compliance with such standards, codes, regulations,
rules, and orders identified by occupational safety and health personnel as being
applicable to the work area concerned.
g. Obtain assistance from the appropriate occupational safety and health personnel on
the interpretation and application of specific standards, codes, regulations, or rules.
h. Ensure that employees under their supervision are aware of their responsibilities and
follow the appropriate procedures for conducting their work safely.
- Employees:
a. Comply with all occupational safety and health standards, rules, regulations,
orders, and safe operating procedures applicable to the NIH.
b. Promptly advise the supervisor regarding all work related accidents resulting in
personal injury, illness, and/or property damage.
c. Promptly report to the supervisor, appropriate occupational safety and health
personnel and/or IC Safety and Health Committee Members, any unsafe or
unhealthful conditions in the work environment.
F. Reporting Occupational Safety and Health Concerns:
- Employees are encouraged to report legitimate concerns for their occupational
safety and health and may do so without fear of any form of reprisal.
- Employees may request an inspection of their workplace by giving notice of alleged
unsafe or unhealthful conditions directly to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
Employees may request such an inspection anonymously.
- NIH employees shall report any unsafe or unhealthful condition to
their Supervisor, the Division of Occupational Health and Safety,
Division of Radiation Safety, Division of the Fire Marshall, and/or IC
Safety and Health Committee Members. Reports involving physical,
chemical, or biological hazards shall be reported to the Division of
Occupational Health and Safety. Reports involving radiation hazards
shall be reported to the Division of Radiation Safety (see the NIH
Telephone and Service Directory for information). Employees will be
notified by their supervisor, Division of Occupational Health and
Safety, Division of Radiation Safety, or Division of the Fire Marshall
personnel of the actions taken in response to their report of unsafe or
unhealthful conditions.
- All reports of job-related accidents, personal injury, or illnesses are initiated
through the Occupational Medical Service (OMS), Division of Occupational
Health and Safety, when the injured party
presents to the OMS. The OMS will ensure that appropriate accident report forms are
completed, filed, and appropriately distributed.
- Employees may also report alleged unsafe and unhealthful conditions to
the Health and Human Services (HHS) designated Safety and Health Official or applicable
agencies outside the HHS (Department of Labor, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Occupational
Safety and Health Administration).
G. Additional Information:
For further information on this manual chapter, contact the Division of
Occupational Health and Safety, Office of Research
Services on 301-496-2346.
H. Records Retention and Disposal:
All records (e mail and non e mail)
pertaining to this chapter must be retained and disposed of under the
authority of NIH
Manual 1743
"Keeping and Destroying Records," Appendix
1, NIH Records Control Schedule, Item 1300B and 2300-792 Safety and Health
Programs.
NIH e mail messages. NIH e mail messages (messages, including attachments,
that are created on NIH computer systems or transmitted over NIH networks)
that are evidence of the activities of the agency or have informational
value are considered Federal records. These records must be maintained in
accordance with current NIH Records Management guidelines. Contact your IC
Records Officer for additional information.
All e mail messages are considered Government property, and, if requested
for a legitimate Government purpose, must be provided to the requestor.
Employees' supervisors, NIH staff conducting official reviews or
investigations, and the Office of Inspector General may
request access to or copies of the e mail messages. E mail messages must
also be provided to Congressional oversight committees if requested and are
subject to Freedom of Information Act requests. Since most e mail systems
have back up files that are sometimes retained for significant periods of
time, e mail messages and attachments may be retrievable from a back up file
after they have been deleted from an individual's computer. The back up
files are subject to the same requests as the original messages.
I. Management Controls:
The purpose of this manual issuance is to outline the scope, objectives,
and
responsibilities of employees for the NIH, Occupational Safety and Health
Management
Program.
- Office Responsible for Reviewing Management Controls Relative to
this Chapter (Issuing Office): Through this manual issuance, the
Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) is
accountable for the method used to ensure that management controls are
implemented and
working.
- Frequency of Review (in years): Annual Review
- Method of Review: Other Review: The DOHS will maintain oversight and ensure effective
implementation and
compliance with this policy through annual IC worksite safety surveys and
the OSHA annual
Agency report on occupational safety and health issues.
- Summary Reports are sent annually to: Department of
Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary, Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management.
Appendix 1. Charter for the NIH Occupational Safety and Health
Committee:
The NIH Occupational Safety and Health Committee (OSHC) provides safety
policy recommendations to the Director of the NIH, or his/her designee, in
matters pertaining to occupational health, accident control and fire prevention.
Duties of the Committee:
- Meets quarterly, or more often as required, to identify substantive
biomedical research areas and institutional support programs where
occupational health, safety and fire hazards may exist.
- Recommends policies regarding occupational health, accident control, and fire prevention.
- Provides technical advice, assistance and management-level support to
the Directors of the Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS),
Division of Radiation Safety (DRS) and the Division of Fire the Marshal
(DFM) in matters regarding occupational health,
accident control and fire prevention.
- Encourages the development of and supports the activities of IC Safety
and Health Committees and maintains liaison with these committees.
- Monitors and reviews inspection reports, safety
and health training programs; plans for abating hazards, medical
surveillance initiatives, reports of occupationally acquired illnesses and injuries,
responses to reports of hazardous conditions, safety and health program deficiencies and
complaints regarding safety and health programs.
- Provides to the Director, NIH, or his/her designee a summary report
reviewing the results of the annual workplace inspections of all NIH
facilities.
- Conducts annual reviews of the NIH Chemical Hygiene Plan and performs
Committee responsibilities as specified in the Plan.
- Establishes working groups and appoints ad hoc members to the Committee, as necessary, to effectively carry out its duties.
Membership and Organization of the Committee:
The Committee is composed of 10 or more voting members appointed by the
Director of the NIH
or his/her designee.
All members should be recognized as persons of good judgment and should
represent the diversity of occupational areas and accident experience of the
NIH. The disciplines of chemistry, toxicology and medicine must be
represented on the Committee. At least 5 members are selected from among the
current chairpersons of established IC Safety and Health Committees. One
member should be an Intramural Principal Administrative Officer, to provide
an administrative perspective and approach. One member is the American
Federation of Governmental Employees (AFGE) Health and Safety Officer from
the NIH Local. The Director, Division of Occupational Health and Safety or
his/her designee, serves as Executive
Secretary. The Director, Division of Environmental Protection, Director
Division of Fire Marshal, Medical Director, Occupational Medical Service,
DOHS, and a representative appointed by the Director, Office of Research
Facilities Development and Operations, serve as permanent, non-voting,
resource members of the Committee. The Director of the NIH or his/her
designee selects the Chairperson from among the Committee membership. The
Chairperson serves a two- year term. The members serve overlapping terms of
three years duration. The Chairperson and members may be reappointed for
additional terms.
Appendix 2. Charter for the IC Safety and Health
Committees:
A. Purpose:
The promotion of safety and health policies, practices and procedures is the responsibility
of each member of the NIH Community. Employees are expected to perform their work safely
and not place themselves or others at risk of injury or illness due to unsafe or unhealthy
conditions, actions or infractions. This policy establishes guidelines to assist each
Institute and Center (IC) in conveying NIH occupational safety and health regulations to ensure compliance with NIH Manual
1340. It represents the NIH commitment to actively promote a comprehensive and effective Occupational Safety and Health
Program and provides the foundation for the development and maintenance of a Safety and
Health Committee in each IC. Each IC is required to establish an IC Safety and Health
Committee.
B. References:
1. NIH Manual 1340, NIH Occupational Safety and Health Management.
2. Public Law 91-596, Williams-Steiger, Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970,
Federal Agency Safety Programs and Responsibilities.
3. Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 21, Reporting of Defects and
Non-compliance; Section 21.21, Notification of failure to comply or existence of a defect
and Section 21.61, Failure to notify; Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
4. Title 29 CFR Subpart G, Part 1910.96, Ionization Radiation; Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Labor.
5. Title 29 CFR Part 1960, Basic Program Elements for Federal Employee Occupational
Safety and Health Programs and Related Matters; Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, Department of Labor.
6. Health and Human Services (HHS) Transmittal No. 87.01, Safety Management Manual,
Issue Date 9/18/87.
7. Executive Order 12196 of February 26, 1980, Occupational Safety and Health Programs
for Federal Employees.
C. Scope:
The objectives and responsibilities set forth in this policy are applicable to all NIH
employees and are directed toward providing a comprehensive and effective IC Safety and
Health Committee Program. IC Directors and Supervisors will actively support the IC Safety
and Health Committee within their respective areas of responsibility and comply with the
specified directives and responsibilities. NIH employees will perform their duties in the
safest practical manner and report hazards, accidents, injuries and work-related illnesses
to the appropriate NIH authorities as detailed in Manual 1340.
D. Policy:
The IC Safety and Health Committee serves as a conduit for communication between the IC
employees, management, the Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) and the
Division of Radiation Safety (DRS) concerning occupational safety and health matters. The
objective of the IC Safety and Health Committee is to support the development,
implementation, maintenance and improvement of a comprehensive Occupational Safety and
Health Program that reflects NIH policy to:
• provide the highest practical degree of occupational safety and health for employees
in all activities of the NIH;
• minimize losses in human resources and property damage due to accident, injury or
work-related illness; and
• comply with Public Law 91-596 (The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970),
Executive Order 12196, and other regulations, standards and guidelines governing the
occupational safety and health of HHS employees.
E. Responsibility:
The IC Safety and Health Committee will report to the IC Director through the Scientific
Director. In those ICs that do not have a Scientific Director, a senior administrator,
appointed by the IC Director, will serve to facilitate safety related communication between the Committee and the IC Director. The IC Safety and Health Committee in an effort to
monitor and assist in the execution of the NIH's safety and health policies and programs
shall:
1. Meet at least on a quarterly basis and report through the Scientific Director to the
IC Director.
2. Keep minutes of all IC Safety and Health Committee meetings, distribute the minutes
to all members and the IC Scientific Director, and make copies available upon request, to IC
employees.
3. Monitor performance of safety and health activities of the IC and make recommendations to the IC Scientific
Director on the effectiveness of these activities.
4. Develop policies and programs in coordination with the DOHS and the DRS specific to
the IC in regard to occupational safety and health matters.
5. Perform annual workplace surveys with the assistance of the DOHS to assure
compliance with NIH and OSHA safety and health policies and standards. These surveys will
be conducted using standardized criteria developed by the DOHS. A corrective action plan
will be prepared and implemented, addressing any deficiencies found during the survey. The
IC will disseminate the results of these surveys and corrective actions to the IC Scientific
Director, NIH Occupational Safety and Health Committee (OSHC) and the Director of the Office
of Intramural Research, as appropriate.
6. Develop procedures for handling occupational safety and health suggestions,
recommendations and reports of hazardous conditions from IC employees.
7. Review and comment on proposed NIH policies, guidelines and standards concerning
occupational safety and health as requested by the OSHC.
8. Assist in the development of prevention strategies for work related accidents
resulting in personal injury, illness and/or property damage.
9. Assist the Office of Intramural Research, the DOHS and the DRS in the dissemination
of safety information in the event of an emergency or on an as-needed basis.
F. Membership and Organization of the Committee:
The Committee is composed of IC employees selected by the IC Scientific Director or his/her
designee, who represent the diverse occupational areas of the organization. Membership shall
include (where applicable), but not be limited to the following individuals.
• Senior research personnel
• Principal Administrative Officer
• Facilities management staff
• A representative from each IC operating component (branch, laboratory, etc.)
• Occupational Safety and Health Specialist
• Health Physicist
The IC Scientific Director or his/her designee shall select the chairperson from among the
Committee membership. The chairperson serves a two-year term. The members serve
overlapping terms of three years duration. The chairperson and members may be reappointed
to serve additional terms.
Appendix 3. Charter for the NIH Institutional Biosafety Committee:
The NIH Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) provides recommendations for safety policy to the Safety
and Health Council for approval by the Director, NIH, or designee, in matters pertaining
to the control of hazards associated with the intramural use of microbiological agents and
their vectors and serves as an advisory body to the Division of Occupational
Health and Safety (DOHS), Office of Research Services (ORS).
Committee functions include those designated for the Institutional
Biosafety Committee in the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA
Molecules.
Duties of the Committee:
- Recommends policies regarding biosafety to the Deputy Director Intramural Research
and the Director, NIH.
- Provides technical advice, assistance, and management-level support to the
DOHS, ORS, and to the NIH Biosafety Officer in matters regarding
biosafety.
- Identifies substantive biomedical research areas where biohazards may exist.
- Recommends procedures for approving operations involving microbiological agents and
their vectors that require maximum containment for biosafety and for agents
that, in
the judgment of the Committee, may constitute unique or serious hazards.
- Performs function of an Institutional Biosafety Committee as specified in the NIH
Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules.
- Reviews accidents resulting in personnel exposures to hazardous microorganisms or
widespread area contamination and reports of non-compliance with established national and
NIH policies regarding the safe conduct of research involving hazardous microorganisms.
- Establishes working groups and appoints ad hoc members to the Committee, as the
Committee deems it necessary, to effectively carry out its duties.
- Annually reviews the NIH Exposure Control Plan for Non-Hospital Personnel.
- Can initiate reviews of emerging biosafety issues of particular interest or concern
to the NIH and the surrounding community.
Membership and Organization of the Committee:
Membership and Organization of the Committee:
The Committee is composed of ten members appointed by the Director, NIH, or designee. Six
members are nominated from among the intramural research community; five are scientists
representing a diversity of disciplines relevant to biomedical research, infectious
diseases, and recombinant DNA technology and one is a non doctoral employee from a
biomedical research laboratory. Intramural research community members must be senior,
tenured researchers within their respective Institutes. The NIH Biosafety Officer is a
member and serves as the Executive Secretary. Members are also selected from the general
public who are not affiliated with the NIH apart from their membership on the Committee.
One member who is nominated by the Director, Office of Research Facilities
Development and Operations, shall have expertise pertaining to design, operational capability, and
maintenance of NIH research facilities. The Director, NIH, or designee selects the
chairperson from among the Committee membership. The chairperson serves a two year term.
The members serve overlapping terms of three years duration. The chairperson and members
may be reappointed for additional terms.
Appendix 4. Charter for the NIH Radiation Safety Committee:
A. Mission Statement:
The Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) is responsible to the Director, NIH for oversight of
the NIH Radiation Safety Program to ensure the safe use of radioactive materials and all
sources of ionizing radiation throughout NIH and those NIH-occupied buildings included in
the NIH Radiation Safety Program. The RSC is responsible for formulating policy with regard
to radiation protection matters in the intramural research program that involve NIH
employees and members of the general public, routine clinical and clinical research
programs, and protection of the environment to ensure compliance with Federal regulations,
including those of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Radioactive Drug Research
Committee is a subcommittee of the NIH Radiation Safety Committee. The Radiation Safety
Officer (RSO) is responsible to the Director, NIH, for management and operation of the Radiation Safety Program as well as policy directives of the RSC. The RSO and RSC shall be
provided sufficient authority, organizational freedom, and management prerogative to
accomplish these goals. These responsibilities and authorities are limited to the NIH's
intramural research program and client agencies served under USNRC license 19-00296-10.
B. Duties of the Committee:
- Ensures the safe use of all radioactive materials and sources of radiation throughout
NIH and those NIH-occupied buildings included within the NIH Radiation Safety Program, for
the Director, NIH.
- Delegates to the NIH Radiation Safety Officer the authority to implement the
Radiation Safety Program and enforce applicable Federal regulations and NIH radiation safety
policies and procedures to ensure the radiation safety of persons and protection of the
environment.
- Provides technical advice, assistance, and management-level support to the Radiation
Safety Officer in implementing the Radiation Safety Program and the NIH program for
maintaining radiation exposures to employees, patients, and research subjects as low as
reasonably achievable (ALARA).
- Reviews the Radiation Safety Program at least annually to determine that all activities
involving radioactive materials and sources of radiation are being conducted safely
and in
accordance with applicable Federal regulations and NIH radiation safety policies.
- Reviews the qualifications of licensed physicians and grants approval for the use of
radioactive materials in human subjects. If a Committee member is an investigator who may
participate in the research being proposed in an application to the Committee, he or she
shall abstain from voting on the approval or disapproval of the application.
- Performs functions of the Radioactive Drug Research Committee in accordance with
applicable regulations of the Food and Drug Administration, DHHS.
- Approval of the RSC is required before the initiation of approved clinical research
studies involving exposure of human subjects to ionizing radiation for research purposes
from which the subject does not benefit, i.e., when normal volunteers or patient volunteers
are involved and the use of radiation or radioactive materials is not a standard medical
procedure which is required for the clinical management of the patient. Research uses
subject to this review shall include all studies involving normal volunteers and
experimental procedures for diagnosis or treatment, including uses for which an
Investigational New Drug (IND) application is required by the FDA and radioactive research
drugs regulated under FDA regulations contained in 10 CFR 361, §361.1.
- The Chairperson of the Radiation Safety Committee acts for the Director, NIH, in all
matters relating to Federal or state radioactive material or radiation source licensing.
- Establishes and revises radiation safety policies, consulting with the Office of the
Director through the Management Representative on issues that require involvement of upper
level management, e.g., in cases when there is significant potential for impact on the NIH
mission.
- Establishes working groups and appoints ad hoc members to the Committee, as the
Committee deems necessary.
C.
Membership and Organization of the Committee:
The membership of the Committee shall include the following: The Radiation Safety Officer; a
representative of the Office of the Director of the NIH who is not an Authorized User (this
person serves as the "management representative"); a physician who is Authorized by the RSC
for clinical use of radioactive materials; a person who is Authorized by the RSC for the use
of radioactive materials in laboratory research; a representative of the nursing service.
Members are appointed by the Director of the NIH or his designee. The Medical Board may be
consulted to identify nominees for membership on the RSC to represent clinical care areas;
the Board of Scientific Directors may be consulted to identify nominees for other positions. Membership shall include representation of the various types of users of radioactive
materials and radiation sources at NIH. Additional members may be added to the RSC, upon
recommendation of its Chair to enable effective action by the Committee. The following are
highly recommended: the Chair of the RDRC; a health or medical physicist with training and
experience in radiation dosimetry of radioactive materials administered to humans, a
radiopharmacist; physicians with expertise in diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, and
radiation therapy; individuals with these qualifications in the list of mandatory members
may serve the RSC in these areas of expertise. Members shall serve three-year terms, with
staggered terms to provide for continuity. With the member’s consent, the Chairperson may
renew a member’s appointment. The Chairperson’s appointment shall be effective until the
Chairperson resigns or until another Chairperson is appointed by the Director, NIH. When
members are replaced, new appointees shall be chosen to maintain the balance of members
required under 10 CFR 35.
The Division of Radiation Safety shall provide administrative support to the Committee and
shall maintain the official Committee files.
Meetings shall be conducted at a frequency sufficient to meet the requirements of 10 CFR
35. A majority of Committee members shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of official
Committee business.
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