Process Summary

1. Process

   Use of Single Crystal X-ray Diffractometer.

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2. Hazardous Chemical - Chemical Class

   Not Applicable

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3. Potential Hazards
   • Exposure to Ionizing Radiation (X-rays) Can Cause:
     • skin burns
     • blindness
     • damage to genetic material

     According to Section .1604, Chapter 11 of Title 15A of the North Carolina Administrative Code, the exposure limits for adults are as follows:

     1) an annual limit, which is the more limiting of:
        (A)  the total effective dose equivalent being equal to five rems
             (0.05 Sv); or
        (B) the sum of deep-dose equivalent and the committed dose equivalent
            to any individual organ or tissue other than the lens of the eye being
            equal 50 rems (0.5 Sv); and
     
     2) the annual limits to the lens of the eye, to the skin, and to the
        extreminities which are:
        (A) an eye dose equivalent of 15 rems (0.15 Sv), and 
        (B) a shallow-dose equivalent of 50 rems (0.50 Sv) to the skin or to
            each of the extreminities.
     

     The X-ray Structural Facility keeps copies of excerpts of the North Carolina Regulations for Protection Against Radiation (the yellow covered copy) and Handbook for Protection Against Ionizing Radiation (gray covered booklet). Authorized users of the Facility are responsible for reading all of the yellow covered photocopy and the sections pertaining to devices which produce ionizing radiation as part of their training. The Facility copies of these materials are located where the Facility's Safety Plan is located. Additional copies may be obtained by contacting Radiation Protection Services (5-2894).

   • Contact with High Voltage from X-ray generator can cause:
     • Severe electrical shocks
     • Electrical burns
     • Death

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4. Personal Protective Equipment

   None, however this is the most appropriate place to mention general safety. Common sense is your greatest piece of personal protective equipment. When you enter the laboratory, note which diffractometers are generating X-rays. This is indicated by the large red light on top of the tube shield located near where the HV cable comes out of the tube shield. The shutter open (2 red) indicator lights are also located on top of the tube shield near the collimator. Never open the radiation safety enclosure when an experiment is in progress.

   Normal operation of the equipment never requires exposure to X-ray generator. Therefore, never open the back of the generator. Only qualified repair technicians and the authorized user in charge are authorized to do this, and only when the repair or maintenance of the equipment requires it.

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5. Engineering/Ventilation Control

   Not Applicable.

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6. Special Handling Procedures and Storage Requirements

   Not Applicable

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7. Accident Procedures
   • If you think you have been exposed to X-rays, contact the Director of the Facility, and Radiation Protection Services (5-2894).

   • If someone in the Facility is contact with a live electrical circuit, do not touch the person! You may also be injured. Cut the power first. All laboratory personnel should know where the circuit breakers for the Facility's equipment are located.

   • In case of Fire: power down all equipment, particularly the X-ray generators as these are high voltage units and may cause a health risk to the fire fighters. Time permitting, do a proper shutdown of the computers rather than just hitting the off button; this will help preserve data.

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8. Special Precautions for Animal Use.

   Not Applicable

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9. Decontamination.

   Not applicable.

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