Safety Programs
Radiation Safety
The mission of the Radiation Safety Program is to provide institutional support, service, and oversight in all matters pertaining to the receipt, use and disposal of radioactive materials, and x-ray producing equipment, as well as compliance with applicable State and Federal regulations.
The Radiation Safety Program is responsible for the proper licensing and registration of regulated sources of radiation and liaison activities with pertinent regulatory agencies. These services include the performance of mandated Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) functions, facilitating the performance of the Institutional Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) and its associated sub-committees, monitoring of employee radiation exposures, oversight and audit of the use of sources of radiation, and other compliance activities.
Radiation safety services are extended to all UT Southwestern Clinics and Hospitals, all medical research laboratories, and associated Hospital Systems such as Parkland Memorial Hospital and Children’s Medical Center.
Laser Safety
Laser Safety actively supports all staff, faculty, and residents with the use of lasers at UT Southwestern University Hospitals, Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Parkland Memorial Hospital, and the VA North Texas Health Care System. The Laser Safety staff evaluates recommendations for the purchase, maintenance, repair, documentation, registration, utilization, disposal, and administration of all medical lasers. Laser Safety is also responsible for monitoring operations of all lasers to ensure compliance with national, state, and institutional regulations and policies.
Occupational Safety
The Occupational Safety program promotes a safe work environment and assists to prevent work place injuries. This part of the program encourages voluntary compliance with OSHA standards, provides safety training on pertinent topics including office/lab safety and injury prevention, and conducts investigations of Workman’s Compensation Insurance injury claims.
Occupational Safety inspects various occupancy types for code compliance and conducts periodic inspections of these labs and offices.
Occupational Safety will also assist in Fire and Life Safety Evacuation Drills to ensure the safety of all occupants on campus.
MR Safety
The Magnetic Resonance (MR) Safety program assists to prevent work place injuries in the MR area. This program encourages voluntary compliance with the American College of Radiology White Paper on MR Safe Practices and provides safety training on pertinent topics including hazard zone identification, access requirements, and identification of ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic equipment.The MR safety staff performs audits in the MR environment for both research and clinical settings to provide suggestions for improvement in safety.
Biological and Chemical Safety
The Biological and Chemical Safety Office maintains regulatory compliance in support of research, teaching, and service endeavors conducted at UT Southwestern Medical Center and its affiliated hospitals. The Biological and Chemical Safety Office has responsibilities in several areas, each with a specific regulatory law framework reflecting a combination of practices involving: policies, action plans, inspections, sample testing, teaching/training, and program documentation. Biological and Chemical Safety regulates all use of infectious substances, pathogens, and chemicals. The staff is responsible for all lab inspections and audits in order to ensure safety and compliance in dealing with these hazardous materials.
Fire Safety
The mission of the Fire Safety Program is to prevent fires by minimizing or eliminating fire hazards on campus. Fire Safety is responsible for educating faculty, staff, and students on fire prevention and protection, life safety, emergency preparedness, and hands-on fire extinguisher training. Another mission of the Fire Safety Program is to protect life and property, and to assist UT Southwestern in compliance with the National Fire Codes.