BNL Nuclear Chemistry Summer School (NCSS): Best Practices in Work Planning & Control for Students

1. The BNL Nuclear Chemistry Summer School (NCSS): Best Practices in Work Planning & Control for Students. Richard A. FerrieriSite Director BNL NCSShttp://www.bnl.gov/ncss/ ISM Workshop 2007

2. Topics • Introduction: the need for nuclear education programs (why National Labs) • Work planning • Appointment process for students • Control of operations for safe student involvement in hands-on laboratory experiments

3. Nuclear Science Education National Research Council, 2007 “Although the United States still leads chemical research worldwide, its dominance in nuclear science and radiochemistry is being challenged.”

4. Nuclear Science Education 1978—ACS DNCT reported on the declining vigor and magnitude of academic training in nuclear science.

5. NCSS History 1984 — 1st school created at San Jose State University. 1989 — 2nd school created at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The schools are operated under the auspices of the ACS DNCT. Program support derives from US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences (Heavy Element Program).

6. NCSS Program Mission Undergraduate nuclear education to help meet the needs for enhancing the workforce pipeline into radiochemistry and chemical physics academic programs. This is a long-term investment in the training of future nuclear scientists. Philosophy: By attracting “the best and the brightest” to the field of nuclear science, there will be a positive impact on the field in the long term as these students will emerge as the scientific leadership of tomorrow.

7. BNL NCSS Program Goals • Generate awareness and acceptance of basic and applied nuclear science. • - Stimulate interest in future career opportunities in fields founded in nuclear chemistry and technology. • Provide a safe environment for the proper education and training of students in basic nuclear & radiochemistry techniques. • - Instill a sense of safe work practices. • - Foster attitudesthatScience and Safety go hand-in-hand.

8. BNL NCSS Model: CHE-361 • 5 weeks of lectures(teamed approach) • -- Pioneers in nuclear science, nature of radioactivity • -- Decay kinetics, interaction of radiation with matter • -- Nuclear structure • -- Nuclear reactions • -- Nuclear reactor chemistry • Subject area symposia/seminars • -- Nuclear science in the environment • -- Nuclear medicine and biology • -- Career opportunities in nuclear science • Program field trips • --RHIC, NSLS, BLIP, MSKCC, SBU NSL

9. BNL NCSS Model: CHE-362 CHE-362 curriculum: structured around hands-on laboratory modules. Principles of ionization detectors Nature of radioactivity Pulse height analysis Gamma spectroscopy Radioisotope generators Radiobiology Isotope dilution analysis Solvent extraction PET radiopharmaceutical synthesis Secular equilibrium Environmental radioactivity Liquid scintillation counting

10. Work Planning for NCSS Experiments • Experimental Safety Review Document (ESR) • Identifies hazards and controls in laboratory work practices (eg. chemical, radiological, instrumental). • Defines the workspace for students. • Defines training requirements for students/staff. • Defines PPE required for safe work practices. • Identifies the chemical and radiological waste stream, and outlines best practices for their disposal.

11. Work Planning for NCSS Experiments • Committee review of ESR:Each year the NCSS ESR is subjected to a committee review to ensure that safe work practices are in place. The committee is represented by: - Department ES&H Coordinator - Radiological Control (FSR) - Building Management - Industrial Hygiene - Environmental Compliance

12. Work Planning for NCSS Experiments Committee review of ESR (incorporation of feedback & lessons learned from previous year) - miniaturization of work/materials to minimize waste stream, reduce program costs. - coordination of radioisotopes to make use of decay in storage policies - placement of instrumentation to minimize transport of radioactive material outside of posted areas - minimize student exposure to VOC’s (monitoring by Industrial Hygiene)

13. Work Planning for NCSS Experiments • Inspection of the Workplace - ensures that the laboratory space is adequate for the planned work - ensures that facilities have a waste management plan to handle chemical and radiological waste

14. Work Planning for NCSS Experiments • Creation of Radiation Work Permit - coordination between NCSS Director and Radiological Control Division (FSR) - defines radiological controlled areas and required training for entrance into the workplace - sets limits for student/staff exposure - defines terms for exiting the workplace

15. Work Planning for NCSS Experiments • Generation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) - document is based on the NCSS Laboratory manual which describes scope of work, safety concerns and cleanup of workspace. - student deliverables (reinforcement of safety concerns in each experiment performed).

16. Control of NCSS Operations • Student Appointment Process - BNL Office of Education Programs coordinates site registration of students - students assigned guest ID numbers - students assigned to a JTA, facilitating tracking of their training - a Director’s letter and information packet is sent to student’s 2 months prior to the start of the program outlining training requirements.

17. Control of NCSS Operations NCSS Web-based Training Requirements • TQ-GSO Guest Site Orientation • TQ-LYME1 Lyme & Tick-borne Disease Prevention • GE-CYBERSEC Cyber Security Training • HP-IND-220 Laboratory Standard • HP-RCRIGEN3 Hazardous Waste Generator Training • TQ-RW1-PART1 Radiation Work Training Part 1.

18. Control of NCSS Operations • Opening Day-Welcome Orientation - Safety orientation—life at BNL! - student NESO forms distributed • Day 2- Radiation Safety Training - 4 hour classroom training with written exam • Day 3- Benchtop Dispersibles Training - Classroom training with practical exam

19. Control of NCSS Operations • CHE-362 Lab Orientation - review and signing of RWP - view safety video on PPE donning & doffing - students hand in completed NESO forms • Pre-Lab Lecture: Each lab experiment is preceded by a short lecture that covers theory, practice and safety. Students are quizzed on these elements before they enter the workspace.

20. Control of NCSS Operations Feedback and Improvement - Student/staff feedback on scope and success of program. - Lessons learned integrated into subsequent season during ESR review.

21. NCSS Future Prospectus Evolving from “Good-to-Great”:Can we challenge these students further in a safe working environment? • Structured Research: Introduction of a capstone laboratory module. Students would be introduced to basic radiochemistry techniques in the scope of the CHE-361 curriculum then asked to solve an environmental remediation problem involving radioactivity using their newly acquired skills. Students could also participate in research linked with established DOE research programs.