The Radiation Safety Fee Structure for the Office of Radiation Safety is designed to provide sufficient funds in support of the University of Chicago and Hospitals license conditions and requirements of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), Division of Nuclear Safety regulations. These fees along with financial assistance from the University€™s Budget Office provide the Office of Radiation Safety with funds to ensure that the University of Chicago & Hospitals is a safe environment to work and visit.

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The fee structure is based on estimated projections provided by the Office of Radiation Safety each year. The radiation safety rates may be adjusted each year to cover any deficit or surplus occurring during previous fiscal years.�

Explanation of Radiation Safety Service Fees:

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1. ���� Personnel Monitoring (Radiation Badges)

The wear period for personnel radiation monitoring dosimeters for hospital staff monthly; therefore, the monitors will be charged at a monthly rate. (e.g. fetal monitors have a monthly wear period). Please note that the department will be assessed an additional regulatory fee for delinquent or late badge returns or lost or unreturned badges.

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2. ���� Laboratory Surveys

The Office of Radiation Safety will survey all clinical laboratories on a monthly basis. These surveys will be charged at the "Routine Survey" rate. The Office of Radiation Safety will conduct a follow-up survey within 3 to 6 days for any lab survey that yields a violation to ensure the violation has been corrected. This follow-up survey will be charged at the €œSpecial Survey€� rate. The Office of Radiation Safety will conduct a closeout survey when a laboratory is moving, renovating or discontinuing the use of radioactive material in a laboratory. The closeout survey will be charged at the €œSpecial Survey€� rate.

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3. ���� Leak Testing of Sealed Sources

The Office of Radiation Safety will conduct leak testing on sealed sources on a semi-annual frequency. In most instances one test will be used for one source, unless a unit/device has two sealed sources mounted in the same source holder. In this case one test would be used and charged for the two sealed sources.

4.����  Radioactive Material Procurement Services

The radioactive material package handling fee supports ORS to maintain the Hospital€™s radioactive materials program and radioactive waste disposal.

5.����  Radioactive Material Inventory

Since the quarterly inventory is a regulatory requirement, a deadline is provided for the authorized user/department to complete their inventory. A delinquent or late inventory surcharge will be assessed to the authorized user/department that fail to return their inventory record by the deadline. In addition, if there is failure by the laboratory to return the inventory after the deadline, ORS staff will conduct the inventory and the authorized user/department will be charged for this service at the hourly rate.

6.����  Radiation Safety Training

A training class cancellation fee will be assessed to the authorized user or department whose laboratory staff are registered for an ORS training course and fail to attend the scheduled course without a 24 hour cancellation notice to ORS.

7.����  Survey Instrument Calibration and Repair

Survey instruments must be calibrated annually and after repair or adjustment. The Office of Radiation Safety charges a fee for the calibration service; however there is no extra charge for staff time for on-site repairs. However, any parts needed for repair or replacement will be charged at cost. Manufacturer calibrations and repairs will be charged at the invoice amount. 

8.����  General Radiation Safety Services

The Office of Radiation Safety will provide general radiation safety services for consultations, regulatory affairs, project management, facilities design, and program review at an hourly rate. There is no fee a promptly reported spill or incident; however, if a spill or incident is not reported in a timely fashion a fee may be assessed per hour to cover ORS staff time. A fee will be assessed to a department for ORS staff providing services for patient care procedures.

9.����  General Supplies

The Office of Radiation Safety will charge for lead foil, batteries and instrument parts; however, there is no charge for waste management supplies or warning signs/tape. However, an instrument check source must be returned to ORS when an instrument is taken out of service or prior to an instrument leaving campus. A authorized user or department that does not return the instrument check source to ORS when leaving the Hospital or losses an instrument check source will be charged a fee to replace the check source.

 Please take a moment to review the fee structure. If you should have any specific questions regarding the cost of your radiation safety program, please feel free to contact our office at 2-6299.