MISSION

The mission of the Office of Radiation Safety Services (ORSS) is to manage the radiation safety program for the Newark campus.  This program is aimed to preserve the radiological health and welfare of the University and the general public, as well as to ensure compliance with local policies and State and Federal Regulations.  ORSS ensures the safe handling and use of radioactive material and radiation producing equipment for research, diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Additionally, ORSS provides radiation safety orientation, refresher and emergency training to all Newark campus University personnel who may come in contact with radiation or radiation producing equipment.

ALARA

Acronym for "As Low As Reasonably Achievable. This is a basic concept of radiation protection that specifies that radiation exposure to personnel be kept as far below regulatory limits as feasible. This means that every activity involving exposure to radioactive materials and/or radiation producing equipment should be planned so asto minimize unnecessary exposure to individual workers and also to the worker population. A job that involves exposure to radiation should be scheduled only when it is clear that the benefit justifies the risks assumed. All design, construction, and operating procedures should be reviewed with the objective of reducing unnecessary exposures.