The Radiation Safety Committee (RSC), is appointed by the Senior Vice President for Administration with the advice of the Senior Associate Vice President for Career and Protective Services.  The Committee is responsible for ensuring that radioactive materials and radiation-producing devices are used safely and in accordance with State and Federal Regulations.

The RSC is responsible for:

• Formulating general policy governing the use of radiation-producing equipment and radioactive materials at USC.

• Reviewing and approving all requests for the use of radiation-producing machines and radioactive material at USC.

• Determining that all individuals authorized to use radiation-producing machines and radioactive materials have sufficient training and experience to enable them to perform their duties safely.

• Establishing a program to ensure that all individuals whose duties may require them to work in the vicinity of radioactive material or radiation-producing machines are properly instructed about all appropriate health and safety matters.

• Conducting an annual review of the Radiation Safety Program to determine that all activities are being conducted safely and in accordance with California Radiation Control Regulations and the University’s Radioactive Materials License issued by the State of California Radiologic Health Branch.

The RSC meets at once each quarter, and its members include a representative of the administration, the Radiation Safety Officer, a representative of the nursing staff, physicians with expertise in the use of radioactive materials and radiation-producing machines for diagnosis and therapy, and individuals with expertise in the use of radioactive materials for non-human research.

Policies and Procedures

USC’s policies and procedures related to the use of radiation-producing equipment and/or radioactive materials may be found in the USC Radiation Safety Manual.

Education and Training

California law provides that an institution with an approved license for the use of radioactive material must provide appropriate training, including (1) basic radionuclide handling techniques and (2) the clinical uses of radioactive materials, for any individuals who work with or in the vicinity of radioactive material or radiation-producing machines.  This includes all individuals, regardless of employment classification (e.g., faculty member, post-doctoral fellow, graduate student, research associate, laboratory technician). For a detailed explanation of the required education and training required by California law and administered by the Department of Career and Protective Services, please review USC’s Radiation Safety Manual.