The increased possibility of terrorist attacks employing chemical, biological or radiological agents in the United States emphasizes the need for the security and control of radioactive materials (RAM).� In September 2001, an Inspection Team from the Division of Radiation Protection of the North Carolina Department of the Environment and Natural Resources suggested that Duke should improve its control of radioactive materials and radioactive waste.� Accordingly, the Duke Administration and the Radiation Safety Committees have directed the Radiation Safety Officer to implement an improved RAM inventory control system.

Duke's total RAM inventory is a sum of its parts.� Each campus laboratory that uses radioactive materials has an individual inventory that is reported to Radiation Safety each month.� Therefore, the quality of our institutional inventory depends upon the quality of the reports that the laboratories send us.� We believe that the best way to obtain the most complete picture of our RAM holdings is to use actual RAM receipts as the basis for the reports. The Radiation Safety Division compiles receipt information in electronic form as part of our RAM shipment ordering and delivery process.� This data is being made available to laboratory staff through ordinary web-browsing software, and will be the basis for all future inventory reports.�

Radiation Safety plans to begin using the new inventory control system during March 2002.  We will be offering informational sessions to Authorized Users, their Laboratory Managers and other interested personnel.� Please check your email for updates, and go to Radiation Safety€™s €œNew and Views€� (http://www.safety.duke.edu/radsafety/news/index.htm) for links to a €œdemonstration€� version of the system and updates.