Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)
The RSO oversees the safe use of radioactive materials at an Ac-225 facility, ensures compliance with regulations, and maintains the radiation protection program. The RSO is the institution's accountable person for radiation safety — and the primary point of contact with the regulator.
Responsibilities
Safe handling and use
Ensuring that RAM is handled and used safely in accordance with federal and state requirements and the facility's RAM license.
Radiation safety program
Overseeing and holding primary responsibility for the facility's radiation protection program — including ALARA, dosimetry, bioassay, surveys, contamination control, and incident response.
Training
Completing radiation safety training appropriate for understanding the hazards associated with all RAMs listed on the license, including alpha-specific contamination and daughter-isotope considerations.
Independent authority
Holding independent authority to stop operations deemed unsafe — a non-delegable role that does not require sign-off from clinical leadership before acting.
Incident reporting
Reporting incidents and medical events to regulatory authorities as part of the licensee's radiation protection program, on the timelines set by the regulator.
For an Ac-225 program, the RSO is often an authorized individual or an AU. The RSO may be on-site or remote depending on program scope and the regulator's expectations. Training and experience requirements follow 10 CFR §35.50 (or Agreement State equivalent).
Certification methods
Board certification
Certification by an approved board whose certification process is recognized by the NRC or an Agreement State for the medical use of RAM.
Authorization expansion
Requesting authorization for additional medical uses as a currently authorized RSO — appropriate for institutions extending an existing RLT RSO authorization to cover Ac-225.
If your RSO is also an AU, it's worth planning ahead for administration days — someone with stop-work authority should always be available who isn't in PPE pushing the dose. For small programs, naming a Backup RSO at the same time as the RSO helps cover this.
- 10 CFR §35.50 — Training for Radiation Safety Officer.
- NRC list of recognized medical specialty boards.
- NRC Medical Uses Licensee Toolkit.